On February 29, the National CARES Mentoring Movement (CARES) held its 9th Annual For the Love of Our Children Gala celebrating three women of courage who have devoted themselves to uplifting Black children and Black communities: Dr. Trisha Bailey, Susan Taylor Batten, and Grace Vandecruze. Hosted by Sherri Shepherd, actress, comedian, and Emmy and NAACP Image Award-Winning host of the talk show “SHERRI,” the event included a special appearance by the evening’s Honorary Co-Chair, Courtney B. Vance and exciting performances by Kenny Lattimore and DJ Daychia Sledge. A gathering of leaders in business, education, philanthropy and public policy joined CARES’ CEO & Founder, Susan L. Taylor, including Rev. Al Sharpton, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and Bevy Smith and more than 400 other members of the caring community.
The Gala opened with an inspiring video of Dr. Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey reciting the pledge to our children written by Dr. Angelou for National CARES. It was followed by jessica Care moore who dazzled the audience with her powerful spoken word performance, a tribute to Black women whom she crowned “The Original G.O.A.T.S.”
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CARES Founder and CEO, and Essence magazine Editor-in-Chief Emerita Susan L. Taylor, and Honorary Co-Chair Courtney B. Vance, underscored the crucial work the organization does to ensure our young people whose lives are being shredded by poverty have access to the support needed to thrive. “Our work centers on healing traumas born of poverty and social marginalization. Our leaders and mentors that guide our young along pathways to emotional, social and financial well-being,” Taylor shared—along with her gratitude for the ongoing support shown by Vance and Angela Bassett, his wife and Gala Co-Chair.
CARES is especially focused on the epidemic of Black child suicide which, despite its terrible rise, has had little national response. The rate of Black children’s deaths by suicide have risen even as the tragedy is declining among all others. “Our Braintrust and our partners at the Association of Black Psychologists have created a blueprint for healing trauma and sadness,” said Taylor. “ It is the framework that guides our evidence-based recovery initiatives in communities. Our Galas are dedicated to raising awareness of the deepening crises impacting our children and the need for resources to address their pain,” she concluded.
In his moving remarks on Gala night, Courtney Vance shared that he has personally been affected by the issue; both his father and godson died by suicide, which he discusses in his new book, The Invisible Ache: Black Men Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming Their Power. Vance offered that his “love and respect for Susan Taylor runs long and deep because she has always been at the forefront of finding ways to improve, enhance, and nurture lives in the Black community.” He added, “Susan’s focus on our children through the incredible work of the National CARES Mentoring Movement is perhaps her most important endeavor. This is because the work CARES does with our youth is a direct reflection of what the future can look like.”
The Gala also featured a powerful video, written and produced by Asha Bandele and directed by Preston Miller, about Khalid McCombs, a young man who was transformed by the Rising Program, CARES’ curriculum-based, national, signature initiative devoted to helping our children override the breadth of disparities derailing many young lives. Award-winning talk-show host and author Tamron Hall narrated the video. But what the audience did not know was that Khalid, who is now an engineer but who’d considered suicide during high school after the deaths of his mother and grandmother, was in the audience.
When Taylor introduced him, the crowd leaped from their seats to give Khalid a long and thunderous standing ovation, which continued as he moved from his seat to join Taylor and Vance on stage. Afterwards, Sherri Shepherd introduced the three dynamic North Star Award Honorees, Dr. Trisha Bailey, Susan Taylor Batten and Grace Vandecruze, highlighting all of the incredible work these women are doing to uplift Black children, moving millions of dollars into poorly-served communities where our young ones live. Guests also participated in a call for donations and raised over $300,000 within 20 minutes. The evening ended with a brilliant performance by the soulful Kenny Lattimore, followed by the beats of DJ Daychia Sledge.
National CARES gratefully acknowledges the generous support of their sponsors including Premier Sponsors, the Hope & Robert F. Smith Family and the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation; Presenting Sponsors, Bailey’s Medical Equipment & Supplies, Casey Family Programs, FedEx, Grace Global Capital and The Coca-Cola Company; and Gold Circle Sponsors AARP, and Lawana Kimbro and the Stardust Fund; Silver Sponsors, American Urban Radio Networks; Bank of America; Comcast NBC Universal; Marva Smalls/Paramount; and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Finally, CARES’ work would not have the breadth and depth it does without its Community Action Partners: the Association of Black Psychologists; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Jack and Jill of America, Inc.; The Links, Inc.; the National Black Child Development Institute; the National Coalition of 100 Black Women; and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. With their steady engagement and support, CARES is helping to build the world that all of our children deserve.
