The MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon will be held prior to the Civil Rights Game on Saturday, August 24 at the Chicago Marriott Magnificent Mile
Proceeds from the Luncheon will Benefit the Chicago Urban League and La Rabida Children’s Hospital
Former MLB All-Star Bo Jackson and legendary 18-time Grammy Award-Winning recording artist Aretha Franklin will receive MLB Beacon Awards at the 2013 MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon on Saturday, August 24 at the Chicago Marriott Magnificent Mile, and will be recognized on the field prior to the Civil Rights Game at U.S. Cellular Field. The MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon is one of the Civil Rights Game weekend events, which were developed to pay tribute to all of those who fought on and off the field for equal rights for all Americans. The 2013 Civil Rights Game will be played between the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers at U.S. Cellular Field on Saturday, August 24, airing nationally on MLB Network and locally on Comcast SportsNet in Chicago.
“Baseball has played a unique role in advancing the civil rights struggle,” said Andrea L. Zopp, president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. “Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color line in 1947 challenging and changing American culture.”
Proceeds from the MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon benefit Chicago Urban League and La Rabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago. Founded in 1916, Chicago Urban League is committed to empowering African-Americans with the skills and resources needed to enter the economic and social mainstream, including helping Chicagoans find jobs, affordable housing, educational opportunities, and grow businesses. La Rabida is a private, non-profit hospital that serves approximately 7,500 children annually who require primary and specialty care to address complex and challenging medical conditions. Services and programs include treatment for chronic illnesses such asthma, diabetes, and sickle cell disease, and developmental disabilities.
The 2013 Civil Rights Game is the seventh installation of an annual event that began in Memphis in 2007, centering on an exhibition game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians. After another exhibition game in Memphis in 2008, the Civil Rights Game moved to Cincinnati (2009-2010) and then Atlanta (2011-2012) as Regular Season contests. As the site of the Chicago Freedom Movement, which some consider to be the most ambitious civil rights activity in the North, the city of Chicago played a crucial role in the civil rights movement. Additional ancillary activities surrounding the Civil Rights Game will include the Baseball & the Civil Rights Movement Roundtable Discussion on Friday, August 23rd and a youth baseball and softball clinic on Saturday, August 24.
Information for the Civil Rights Game and the MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon, which recognizes individuals whose lives have been emblematic of the spirit of the civil rights movement, can be found at MLB.com/civilrightsgame or whitesox.com/civilrightsgame.
Friday, August 23
Baseball & the Civil Rights Movement Roundtable Discussion
12:30 PM-2:00 PM
Chicago Cultural Center
Saturday, August 24
MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon
11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Downtown Chicago Marriott Magnificent Mile
7th Annual Civil Rights Game
6:00 PM Texas Ranger vs. Chicago White Sox
U.S. Cellular Field
