Stephen Janis, The Baltimore Examiner?s senior investigative reporter, received an award Saturday at the Fullwood Foundation?s 20th Anniversary Benefit and Recognition Breakfast in Woodlawn.
Hundreds of people packed Martin?s West for the annual breakfast and awards ceremony, one of the largest fundraisers in Maryland.
Janis was presented with a “Valued Hours” award, which is given to people “who have invested their time to promote the spirit of ?caring and sharing? throughout the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. … They have successfully transcended their jobs and personal lives to uplift others,” according to the Fullwood Foundation.
“I was extremely honored to receive recognition for my work,” Janis said. “It?s inspiring and I think it shows The Examiner is making a difference.” Last year Janis won the NAACP President?s Award from the Baltimore chapter.
Founded by Elnora Fullwood and the late Harlow Fullwood Jr., the Fullwood Foundation raises money for scholarships, awards grants to organizations, and honors individuals who improve the quality of life for Maryland residents. Harlow Fullwood Jr. was a Baltimore philanthropist whose career including playing for the Baltimore Colts and being a Baltimore police officer. He later owned several Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises. Fullwood died last year.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Earl Graves Sr., founder and publisher of Black Enterprise Magazine. Graves gave a stirring speech, pleading with the audience to “take back our black.”
“We need to reclaim our race,” he said, citing irresponsible parenting, wearing droopy pants, and disrepecting women with vulgar language as examples of negative influences. He said such behavior marginalizes blacks and undermines the gains blacks have made.
Graves said young black males are of particular concern and are greatly outnumbered in higher education. Of the 10 Fullwood scholarship winners announced Saturday, he noted that only one was a male.
“Howard and Morgan are both 70 percent female. Any given day you can walk across Morgan State and think it?s an all-woman?s school, he said. “Why is this happening?”
Later, Lt. Col. Richard Hite of the Baltimore Police Department, who won a Valued Hours award, recalled how Harlow Fullwood Jr. tried to explain the difference between being involved and being committed. Fullwood used the example of a breakfast plate, Hite said.
“If you look at the eggs, the chicken was involved. But if you look at the bacon and the ham, you know that hog was committed,” Hite said Fullwood told him.
Other notables who won “Valued Hours” awards include: Kirby Fowler, Downtown Development Corp.; Judge Robert Gordon, U.S. Bankruptcy Court; Delegate Keith Haynes; Secretary John Porcari, Maryland Department of Transportation; and Lt. Charline Stokes, Baltimore City Fire Department.
Other Winners:
Other “Valued Hours” award winners are: Doris Browning; Rhonda Bagby; John Bass; Arthur Leon Britain; Kenneth Brown, Lynda Brown, Lori Bush, Annette Butler, Laura Byrd, Lynnadiene Curry, Donyall Dickey, Cassandra Vaughn-Fox, Rev. William Hamilton, Mitchell Henderson, Dr. Arthur Hill III, Kimberli Hammonds-Hite, Rev. Ernest Humphrey, Virginia Johns, Maurice Lauher, Rev. John Lunn Sr., Valarie Maddox, Gloria Jean Richardson Marrow, Marco Merrick, Elner Prater, Joyce Quick, Pastor Tony Smith, Kenneth W. Telsee Sr., Melvin Thorpe; Grace Wallace; and George White.
Special Recognition Award winners
» Lifetime Achievement Award: Earl Graves Sr., publisher/founder, Black Enterprise magazine
» Principal of the Year: Susan Burgess, George Washington Elementary School in Baltimore
» Volunteer of the Year: Mark Amatucci, Calvert Hall varsity basketball coach
» Humanitarian of the Year: Dr. Ben Carson, professor of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins
» Renaissance Award: Dr. Samuel Ross, CEO of Bons Secours Baltimore Health System
» Distinguished Church Leadership: The Rev. Jamal Bryant, pastor of the Empowerment Temple in Baltimore
» Outstanding Community Service: Brock Abernathy, sales manager, WUTB-Channel 24
» Dr. Martin Luther King I Have a Dream Award: The Rev. Dr. Alfred C.D. Bond
Examiner Staff Writer Stephen Janis contributed to this story.
