L-R: Maurice Jenkins, Erick Moton, Jr., Carol Bell, Gordon Cone, DeAnna Bryant, Areya Simmons, Bert Tennenbaum, & Dr. Thomas Lockamy. When you support Savannah's 100 Celebrity Men Who Cook, you help many local students and our local colleges & universities. Several local students receive scholarships to attend the 39 member United Negro College Fund Schools, and many receive the Gates Millennium Scholarships.

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) administers the Gates Millennium Scholars Program in partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the Organization of Chinese Americans and the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars. UNCF's mission is to enhance the quality of education by providing financial assistance to deserving students, raising operating funds for member colleges and universities, and increasing access to technology for students and faculty of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

The Gates Millennium Scholars initiative, funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is aimed at expanding access and opportunity to higher education to those citizens who will help reflect the diverse society in which we live. The Foundation seeks to increase the number of African Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Americans, and Hispanic Americans enrolling in and completing undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The goal is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for thousands of outstanding students to reach their fullest potential. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has established this initiative to encourage and support students in completing college and in continuing on to earn masters and doctoral degrees in disciplines where ethnic and racial groups are currently underrepresented. The Gates Millennium Scholars awards will enable thousands of young Americans to attend undergraduate and graduate institutions of their choice and be prepared to assume important roles as leaders in their professions and in their communities.

The Gates Millennium Scholars program, established in 1999, was initially funded by a one billion dollar grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The goal of GMS is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for outstanding minority students with significant financial need to reach their highest potential.

Four local Gates Millennium Scholars attended this year's Corporate Breakfast: DeAnna Bryant, a Savannah State University sophomore Business Management major, Gordon Cone, a Savannah State University senior Electrical Engineering Technology major, Eric Moton, a junior Savannah State University Computer Engineering major, and Areya Simmons, a sophomore Savannah College of Art and Design Film and Television major. These students expressed their gratitude to UNCF and the Gates Millennium Scholars Program. Gordon Cone commented, "This summer I had the opportunity to intern in one of the UNCF programs - UNCF/Oracle Program. I interned in San Francisco as a service engineer. After completing the internship, I was awarded $10,000 for school. UNCF has been good to me! I thank you all!"

When you purchase your $25.00 ticket for the ninth annual Savannah's 100 Celebrity Men Who Cook, your dollars will go a long way. The event will be held Sunday, December 14, 2008, 3:00P.M.-5:00P.M. at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront.

For tickets or additional information, call 232-6048.