Local, national, and International friends of the Honoree will come to Atlanta in March and celebrate the amazing life and legacy of civil rights leader and broadcasting executive Xernona Clayton, the Xernona Clayton Foundation is pleased to announce a celebration of epic proportions celebrating the life, legacy, and accomplishments of Atlanta’s beloved icon Xernona Clayton. The celebration will kick-off with an inspirational breakfast on March 25, 2017 at 9:00am at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, culminating with a black tie Purposeful Life & Legacy Dinner at 7:00pm with VIP reception and silent auction at 6:00pm.A Celebrated historic figure, Ms. Clayton has been on the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement and bridging the gap between people of all races and ethnicity for decades through her service to the National Urban League and Southern Christian Leadership Conference, where she became involved in the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A groundbreaking visionary, Ms. Clayton was the first African American in the south to host her own television show.
The Xernona Clayton show aired in 1967. She later became corporate vice president for urban affairs for Turner Broadcasting. In 1993, Ms. Clayton created the Trumpet Awards to honor the achievements of African Americans who have succeeded against immense odds and in 2016 through an agreement with the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Bounce TV acquired the program. The Trumpet Awards has been televised annually and distributed Internationally to over 185 countries around the world and remains one of the most highly acclaimed African American awards shows in The United States.
In memorandum of this momentous occasion dignitaries, corporate brass, and Atlanta’s elite will join in celebration of the many facets of Ms. Clayton’s life and legacy. Honorary hosts are Her Royal Highness Princess Basma Bint Saud Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia; Archbishop Desmond TuTu; Governor and Mrs. Roy Barnes; Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Mayor Kasim Reed, Ambassador and Mrs. Andrew Young, Mr. Ted Turner, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Blank, and Congressman John Lewis. The celebration will include Ms. Clayton’s current philanthropic initiatives including the Motherless Daughters Foundation, the Africa School in Ghana, Race Relations Projects, and numerous ancillary Trumpet Awards activities. According to Ms. Clayton, “It is indeed an honor to be celebrated, but my life and legacy is about service. I look forward to using this event to build support for the important work the Xernona Clayton Foundation undertakes within the community.”
