Media Contact:
Butch Wing Butch.wing@gmail.com
510.701.8955

For Immediate Release

Reverend Jesse Jackson and Rainbow PUSH Coalition Present $55,000 in College Scholarships to Forty Bay Area Students

OAKLAND (APRIL 21, 2008) -- Reverend Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition are pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Rainbow/PUSH Scholarship Awards Program to be held on Wednesday, May 21st at the University of California Berkeley, Pauley Ballroom - Martin Luther King Student Union from 6:30 - 8 pm.

Nationally, Rainbow PUSH provides nearly $500,000 a year in educational scholarships. Led by Rainbow PUSH Coalition Director Butch Wing and Scholarship Program Director Vikki D. Williams, the Third Annual Scholarship Reception and Program will present over $55,000 in college scholarships to Bay Area students. The "Push for Excellence" scholarships range from $5,000 "Jesse Jackson Fellows" to $1,000 PUSH for Excellence scholars, all on a one-year basis.

This exciting evening is hosted by our Mistress of Ceremonies, Janice Edwards, Community Relations Director, Producer and Host of "Bay Area Vista" for NBC11. There will be entertainment by The Oaktown Youth Jazz Ensemble, Dimensions Dance Theatre, the East Oakland Youth Development Center, Youth Speaks and a special step presentation by Omega Psi Phi. Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. will personally present the scholarship awards to our recipients.

The 2008 Nominating Partners are: American Indian Child Resource Center, Asian Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy and Leadership, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Beebe Memorial CME, Berkeley High School Parent Resource Center, East Bay Asian Youth Center, Family Violence Law Center, Korean Community Center East Bay, Marcus A. Foster Educational Institute, Third Baptist Church, XCEL Educational Services, Dimensions Dance Theatre, Berkeley High School, East Oakland Youth Development Center, Word Assembly Baptist Church, Spanish Speaking Citizen's Foundation, East Bay Asian Youth Center, Oakland Community Organizations, Youth Speaks, Youth Uprising, St. Benedicts Church, Leadership Excellence, Imani Church, 100 Black Men, Allen Temple Baptist Church, SEIU UHW, YMCA Urban Services, United Playaz and Omega Psi Phi.

Tickets to the event are $25.00 for adults and $10.00 for youth.

For sponsorship information, please contact Butch Wing at 510-701-8955. For information on the event and placing an ad in the Program Booklet, please contact Vikki Williams at 510-677-3611.


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