The 80th annual UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball took place on Dec. 21 at the Signia Hotel, raising nearly $4 million to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Black college students. This event, hosted by actor-comedian Anthony Anderson, brought together over 1,400 attendees, including civic leaders, entertainers, business executives, and elected officials.
Mayor Andre Dickens and UNCF President Dr. Michael Lomax welcomed guests, including figures such as Ambassador Andrew Young and Atlanta Voice publisher Janis Ware. The event began with a VIP reception and dinner, followed by an awards ceremony. Guests enjoyed a performance by singer Charlie Wilson, with additional entertainment at the After The Masked Ball after-party.
Dr. Lomax said in a Facebook post: “Walking into the final and largest UNCF event of the year and celebrating an incredible year honoring UNCF’s 80th anniversary! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported the UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball and HBCU students in Atlanta. … A special thank you to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Anthony Anderson for their long-standing support“.
The event’s co-chairs were Jason Morris, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Norfolk Southern, and LaSonja Scott, Vice President of Sustainability, Finance, Strategy & Governance at the Coca-Cola Company. Major sponsors included Chick-fil-A, Delta Air Lines, Target, Google, and Nike, along with HJ Russell & Company, Morehouse School of Medicine, Verizon, and Publix Supermarket Charities.
Proceeds will benefit UNCF’s efforts to support HBCUs and provide scholarships to students of color. UNCF has raised over $5 billion since its inception, helping more than 500,000 students pursue higher education. Atlanta’s four UNCF-member institutions—Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and the Interdenominational Theological Center—continue to benefit from this support, alongside other local students attending UNCF-affiliated colleges.
