THE “A CANDLE IN THE DARK” VIRTUAL GALA SPONSORSHIP AND MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES
CANDLE IS...ACHIEVEMENT, INSPIRATION, STYLE, COMMUNITY, TRANSFORMATION
Past Corporate Sponsors: 3M 755 Restaurant Corporation Aaron's Inc. Abbott Laboratories Ackeman & Co. AGL Resources AIG Valic Allen & Co. American Airlines American Development Corp. American Express Anheuser Busch Aramark Facilities AT&T Atlanta International RMI, Inc. Bank of America Bank of New York Mellon BET Networks Blackstone Blackstone Charitable Foundation Boeing BP, Inc. Catholic Healthcare West Cerner Government Services Chick-Fil-A Cigna Foundation Citi Citizens Trust Bank
PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE FIRST VIRTUAL
“A Candle In The Dark” Gala In keeping with the spirit of philanthropy, leadership, service, and innovation, Morehouse will again host its signature “A Candle in the Dark” Gala. However as a result of continued challenges presented by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the College has developed an exciting alternative solution for celebrating the upcoming deserving and distinguished honorees during Founder’s Weekend 2021. For the past 32 years, this elite Atlanta affair has drawn more than 1,500 corporate executives, alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends throughout the nation to this exemplary evening of achievement, which helps to make our transformative institution, even greater. On Saturday, February 13, 2021 the Gala will shift from an in-person evening of awards, dinner and dancing to a virtual honors format that acknowledges outstanding African American leaders for their contributions to society and their personification of excellence in their careers. While travel, hotel accommodations, formal attire and a delightful three-course meal will not be on the menu, donations from Morehouse alumni and friends, as well as corporate Gala sponsorships will remain a priority. It is our hope, especially during these uncertain times, that you will support the College’s largest and most successful scholarship event like never before. Of course, we understand and appreciate the fact that for many of you, your investment in Gala is not just in your annual budget, but also in your heart. You know firsthand that your contributions to the Morehouse College General Scholarship Fund elevate Black male excellence and encourage our scholars to forge their own paths to greatness and service. In fact, motivated by your spirit of generosity, as well as your pure passion to assist those in pursuit of a Morehouse degree, we are planning a phenomenal virtual program that pays tribute to what Gala truly means to those who support it. Appropriately coined “Candle Is...” this year’s scholarship event will examine all that the “A Candle in the Dark” exemplifies: Achievement, Inspiration, Style, Community and Transformation. We hope that you will join us for this very special evening as a virtual supporter at one of the following sponsorship and marketing opportunity levels. THE ‘A CANDLE IN THE DARK’ GALA SPONSORSHIP AND MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES 2
Past Corporate Sponsors: Classic Tents & Events Commonwealth Fund Costco Wholesale Cox Enterprises, Inc. Cummins, Inc. Deloitte Delta Air Lines Deutsche Bank Diversified Search Donald & Marilyn Keough Foundation Equifax Ernst & Young Exxon Mobil Corporation Fidelity Bank Fiduciary Inv. Advisors, LLC Flowers Foods, Inc. Freddie Mac General Electric General Motors Georgia-Pacific Corporation Georgia Power Gibson Dunn Goldman Sachs Google Grant Thornton Heidrick & Struggles Highgrove Partners, LLC Hyatt Regency Atlanta
SPONSORSHIP AND MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES Mystique Sponsor- $150,000
Founder’s Day Legacy Sponsor - $100,000
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Virtual Gala Title Sponsor Special Gala Introduction and 2-minute video remarks from CEO or his/her designee One full Page, four-color Ad displayed during virtual programming One full Page, four-color Ad displayed in digital downloadable Gala program Corporate Name listed in digital Gala program at Mystique Sponsor Level Company Name listed in Virtual Gala Credits Opportunity to submit a 60-second, pre-recorded corporate video to be streamed during virtual event
Platinum Sponsor - $50,000 • • • • •
Virtual Reflections of Excellence Lead Sponsor Special Reflections of Excellence Introduction and 1-minute video remarks from CEO or his/her designee) One full Page, four-color Ad displayed in digital downloadable Gala program Corporate Name listed in digital Gala program at Platinum Sponsor Level Company Name listed in Virtual Gala Credits
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Virtual Gala Presenting Sponsor Special Gala Introduction and 1-minute video remarks from CEO or his/her designee One full Page, four-color Ad displayed during virtual programming Corporate Name listed in digital Gala program at Legacy Sponsor Level Company Name listed in Virtual Gala Credits Opportunity to submit a 30-second, pre-recorded corporate video to be streamed during virtual event
Gold Sponsor - $35,000 • • • • •
Virtual Reflections of Excellence Secondary Sponsor Special Reflections Company Mention by Moderator One full Page, four-color Ad displayed in digital downloadable Gala program Corporate Name listed in digital Gala program at Gold Sponsor Level Company Name listed in Virtual Gala Credits
Eddie S. Glaude Jr. ‘89, Ph.D. Chair, African American Studies, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor, Princeton University 2020 Bennie Trailblazer Award honoree
Candle is...
ACHIEVEMENT
Silver Sponsor - $25,000
Bronze Sponsor - $15,000
Corporate Sponsor - $10,000
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One Half Page, four-color Ad displayed during virtual program Corporate Name listed in digital Gala program at Silver Sponsor Level Company Name listed in Virtual Gala Credits
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One Quarter Page, four-color Ad displayed during virtual program Corporate Name listed in digital Gala program at Bronze Sponsor Level Company Name listed in Virtual Gala Credits
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One Quarter Page, four-color Ad displayed during virtual program Corporate Name listed in digital Gala program at Corporate Sponsor Level Company Name listed in Virtual Gala Credits
Please click here to secure your gala sponsorship. THE ‘A CANDLE IN THE DARK’ GALA SPONSORSHIP AND MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES 4
Past Corporate Sponsors: ICV Partners Jackmont/Sodexho The JME Group, LLC Johnson & Johnson JP Morgan Chase & Co. K&G Fashion Superstore Kaiser Permanente Key Bank Lexis Nexis Line Mechanical Services Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Macy*s Masada Resource Group McDonald's McKesson Men's Wearhouse Mercedes-Benz Merrill Lynch & Co. Microsoft Moody Construction Moody's Corporation Morehouse School of Medicine Morgan & Morgan Morgan Stanley Newell Rubbermaid Nomura Securities Int., Inc. Parkwood Entertainment Pfizer, Inc. PRM Consulting Group
SOUVENIR PROGRAM ADVERTISING Full Page Ad (Mystique, Legacy, Platinum & Gold sponsors) 8.5” W x 11” H with bleed 7.5” x 10” H without bleed
Hon. John Lewis Former U.S. Congressman 2016 Candle Award honoree for Lifetime Achievement in Civil Rights and Public Service
Half Page Ad (Silver & Bronze sponsors)
Candle is...
INSPIRATIONAL
8.75” W x 4.5” H with bleed 7.5” x 4.5” H without bleed
Quarter Page Ad (Corporate sponsors) 3.5” W x 4.75” H
Ad Deadline: January 29, 2021 BY 5 P.M. EST Book Trim size is 8.5” x 11” Non-bleed size is 7.5” x 10” Color: Full-Four Color Format: Acrobat PDF (press-quality)
Morehouse College will not be able to design company ads. Incomplete or incorrectly prepared artwork will not be accepted.
Samuel L. Jackson ’72 Academy Award nominated Veteran Actor 1996 Bennie Trailblazer Award Honoree
Candle is...
STYLE
Past Corporate Sponsors: Prudential Financial Publix Charities Reed Smith R.H. Bolton Company R.L.J. Equity Partners, L.L.C. Radio One Riboli Family of Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett LLP Southwire Company Spelman College Standard Office Systems State Mutual Bank SunTrust Bank The Atlanta JournalConstitution The Coca-Cola Company The Ford Motor Company The Home Depot The Lovett School The Southern Company Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. Turner Broadcasting UBS Universal Music Group UPS Verizon Walmart Stores, Inc. Wells Fargo Xerox Corporation
GALA HISTORY The “A Candle in the Dark” Gala got its name from Morehouse College’s official history book written by Edward A. Jones ‘26. Since its founding in 1989 by Robert H. Bolton ‘86 and Hardy “Petey” Franklin ‘83, the Gala has become one of the nation’s premier events that celebrates African American achievement and raises much needed scholarship funds for deserving students. This exceptional evening of elegance and accomplishment has honored more than 200 luminaries over the past 33 years. Former honorees include philanthropists Robert F. Smith (Hon. ‘19) and Kenneth I. Chenault (Hon. ‘20); Academy Award winning filmmaker Spike Lee ‘79, actors Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington (Hon. ‘06), Roscoe Lee Browne and Danny Glover; renowned historian and educator John Hope Franklin; legendary sports figures Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Henry “Hank” Aaron (Hon. ‘09), Muhammad Ali and Arthur Ashe; civil rights leaders Lonnie King ‘69 and Julian Bond ‘71; former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher ‘63; former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Louis J. Sullivan ‘54, noted scholar and professor Cornel West, as well as a host of other extraordinary achievers. Please click here to secure your gala sponsorship.
Ambassador Andrew Young Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Former U.S. Congressman, Former Mayor of Atlanta 1995 Candle Award in Government Honoree
Candle is...
COMMUNITY
Oprah Winfrey Media Mogul, Academy Award Nominated Actress, Writer, Film and Television Executive Producer, Philanthropist 2004 Candle for Lifetime Achievement in Humanitarian Service
Candle is...
TRANSFORMATIONAL
THE ‘A CANDLE IN THE DARK’ GALA SPONSORSHIP AND MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES 8
Committee Contacts
HENRY M. GOODGAME, JR.
ARDIS M. BLANCHARD
VICE PRESIDENT EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT henry.goodgame@morehouse.edu 470.639.0213
DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS AND EVENT SPONSORSHIPS ardis.blanchard@morehouse.edu 470.639.0644
9 THE ‘A CANDLE IN THE DARK’ GALA SPONSORSHIP AND MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES
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