IPA supports the 38th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. dinner honoring Operation Hope’s John Bryant

International Profit Associates was a major event sponsor on Saturday, January 14, 2006 of the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner. The event, presented by the Suburban Human Relations Commission (SHRC) honored John Bryant, Chairman and CEO of financial literacy and empowerment organization Operation HOPE, Inc. He received the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Excellence in Leadership Award presented to those who best embody the ideals of the late civil rights icon and who are keeping King’s dream alive through their example.

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. dinner is dedicated to celebrating the life, principles and ideals of the late civil rights leader, who would have turned 77 this year. His birthday, an observed national holiday since 1986, was celebrated on Monday, January 16.

"We’re pleased and honored by the strong corporate support for this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. dinner," said Suburban Human Relations Commission President Reverend Clyde H. Brooks.

Don Lemon of NBC 5 and Merri Dee of WGN-TV served as the masters of ceremony. The black-tie dinner was held at the Chicago Hilton Towers and began at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7. The occasion brought together more than 1,000 leaders from the business, civil and social communities.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley served as event honorary chairs. Gregg Steinberg, President of International Profit Associates and Larry Wert, President and General Manager of NBC 5 were the event cochairs.

The Suburban Human Relations Commission (SHRC) is deeply committed to advancing peace and good will between and among all people. The mission of the Suburban Human Relations Commission (SHRC) is to promote understanding, acceptance, involvement and unity across racial and cultural lines through the creation and execution of programs to advance human relationships.

The Suburban Human Relations Commission is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization. The Commission is governed by a Board of Directors representing business, education and the religious communities. Programs of the Commission are based on the need to:

• Address conflicts across racial and cultural lines.
• Identify resources needed to address causes for human relations disparities, and to apply these resources to address identified disparities.
• Involve public and private sector leaders in the creation of human relations building models.

Sponsors included:

Event Sponsors:
Bank of America
E-Trade
H&R Block
International Profit Associates
NBC 5
Toyota

Benefactors
Citigroup
Com Ed, an Exelon Company
Private Bank and Trust
US Bank
Walgreens

Golden Sponsors:
American Airlines
Banco Popular
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
Charles Schwab Bank
Clear Channel
First American Corporation
Harlem Irving Plaza
Host Marriott
Midway Airport Concessionaires
Peoples Energy
Premiere Radio Network
TransUnion
University of Illinois
Wells Fargo
WGN Television

Silver Sponsors:
Bulkmatic
Comerica Bank
Evanston Northwestern Healthcare
Hayes Mechanical
HSBC
Motorola
Mount Prospect National Bank
National City Bank
Norfolk Southern
Shorebank
The Kaleidoscope Group