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Defender Charities to Award $300K in Scholarships
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Group marches in Bud Billiken parade (Flickr: Kojoman86)
This weekend, Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood will beat with the drums of marching groups from across the country as hundred of thousands of individuals line M.L. King Drive for the 80th annual Bud Billiken Parade. Started in 1929 by Chicago Defender's founder Robert S. Abbott to reward the paper's newsboys, the event has now grown into the nation's oldest and largest African-American parade. For 80 years, the Bud Billiken Parade has been synonymous with families, fun, and history. Prominent figures who've enjoyed the parade have includedMuhammad Ali, Oprah Winfrey, Lena Horne, Spike Lee, Michael Jordan and President Harry S. Truman, President (then Senator) Barack Obama.
While many people are familiar with the parade, the philanthropic achievements of the Chicago Defender Charities is not always known. Founded in 1946, the Chicago Defender Charities has been the official sponsor of the parade, along with funding many initiatives within the community it serves. This Thursday, the organization will award over $300,000 in scholarships to several African-American students. The event, to be held at the DuSable Musuem, will recognize and celebrate the students' scholastic endeavors while highlighting the importance of education.
Although the Defender charities continue their cornerstone programs, such as donating food basket during the holidays and providing scholarships, they are also building partnerships and embracing 21st century challenges. The Sun-Times reports that the group, in conjunction with the Illinois Institute of Technology, has been working with 50 students in training program designed to introduce them to green technology and jobs. As this weekend's events get underway, it is great to know that this group continues to celebrate children today while supporting their futures tomorrow.
If you're planning to attend the parade, the festivities will kick off at 10am on Oakwood Boulevard and King Drive.
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