Saturday, December 20, 2014
Saturday evening was star studded for the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball. Celebrities with Atlanta ties and the upper crust of the city filed into the ballroom of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis dressed in formal attire and masks as music played and dinner was served. After dinner, some of the 1,300 attendees danced through the ballroom for the Parade of Masks followed in short order by a performance by 10-time Grammy award winning recording artist Chaka Khan as people crowded the dance floor into the evening. The fundraiser provided the UNCF with over one million dollars in just one evening. Chris Tucker, Christopher Bridges, better known as Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Antwan Big Boi Patton, Jonathan Slocumb, Jasmine Burke, Faune Chambers Watkins, Derrick Watkins, better known as Fonzworth Bentley, author Eco Roberts, Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed and his wife Sarah-Elizabeth and many more were in attendance for the cause. It was definitely a fancy affair that I will not soon forget.
Former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young (right) and his wife Carolyn are introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Will Packer (right) is introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Shelly Garrett (right) and his wife Doris are introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Dr. John S. Wilson Jr., president of Morehouse College, and his wife Carol are introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Dr. Beverly Tatum (left), president of Spelman College and her husband Travis are introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Carlton Brown (right), president of Clark Atlanta University, and his wife T. LaVerne Ricks Brown are introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice (center) and her husband Melvin are introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian is introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Antwan Big Boi Patton (right) and his wife Sherlita are introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Faune Chambers Watkins (left) and her husband Derrick “Fonzworth Bentley” Watkins are introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Jasmine Burke is introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Jonathan Slocumb is introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Chris Tucker (right) and Cynee Simpson are introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Ivory Young and his wife Shalise are introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell is introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Dr. Michael Lomax (right) and his wife Cheryl are introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Atlanta mayor Kasin Reed (center) and his wife Sarah-Elizabeth are introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Atlanta mayor Kasin Reed (right) and his wife Sarah-Elizabeth are introduced during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Young Jeezy (right) talks with guests during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Christopher Bridges, better known as Ludacris, stands in the lobby during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Eco Roberts (left) and Latrice Blocker walk through the silent auction during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Rhonda Thompson (left) looks in a mirror as she tries on different masks during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Michelle Brown stands in the lobby during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Maurice E. Jenkins Jr., executive vice president of national development for the UNCF, speaks to the crowd during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Comedian Jonathan Slocumb emcees the Parade of Masks during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Celeste Marshall leads the Parade of Masks during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Dr. Doris Derby (left) and Don Rivers walk in the Parade of Masks during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Dr. Barbara Brown (left) and her husband Darrell walk in the Parade of Masks during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Atlanta mayor Kasin Reed (center) speaks to the crowd during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Ludacris (left) stands on stage with Atlanta mayor Kasin Reed during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Young Jeezy (right) stands on stage with Will Packer (left), Chris Tucker and Ludacris during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Chris Tucker (center) stands on stage with Will Packer (left), Atlanta mayor Kasin Reed and Young Jeezy during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Will Packer (center) stands on stage with Chris Tucker (left), Ludacris and Atlanta mayor Kasin Reed during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Atlanta mayor Kasin Reed (center) stands on stage with Chris Tucker (left), Ludacris, Young Jeezy and Jonathan Slocumb during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Chaka Khan performs on stage during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Chaka Khan performs on stage during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Chaka Khan performs on stage during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Chaka Khan performs on stage during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Chaka Khan (left) performs on stage during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
Trayce Toles (left), Shainna Gibson and other guests dance as Chaka Khan performs on stage during the 31st annual United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in downtown on Saturday, December 20, 2014.