The Trumpet Awards Foundation presents the 20th Annual Trumpet Awards, a milestone achievement, with a group of historymaking honorees slated to receive the 2012 esteemed Trumpet Award. The twenty-six honorees join a list of some of the most celebrated personalities in this nation and abroad. The 20th Annual Trumpet Awards black-tie ceremony, sponsored by the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc. will be hosted by Wayne Brady, star host of CBS’s Let’s Make A Deal. The event will be held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.
The following is a complete list of the 2012 TRUMPET AWARDS honorees: Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr. – Medicine, Ambassador Nicole Avant– International, Mayor Cory Booker – Political Leadership, Mary Parker — Business, Emmitt and Pat Smith, NFL Hall-of-Fame – Humanitarian, Earth, Wind, & Fire – Lifetime Achievement, Tyrese Gibson – – Pinnacle, Rev. C.L. Franklin; accepted by his daughter, Aretha Franklin – Civil Rights, First Lady Michelle Obama – President’s Award (pending), Ted Turner – Golden Trumpet and.Black Hotel General Managers – Power at the Front Door
For the 20th Anniversary, the Trumpet Awards Foundation decided to honor a group of individuals who have helped to change the face of the hotel industry at the front door.
“In the past, African Americans did not hold key positions at prominent hotels. The hotel industry has recently seen a significant change in its leadership as more African Americans move into positions of leadership. We want to bring awareness to this compelling fact,” said Xernona Clayton, founder and executive producer of the Trumpet Awards, and president and CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation Inc. The “Power at the Front Door” award was created to salute 17 black hotel general managers.
“We have come so far since we started this project in 1993 and I am extremely obliged to those individuals who saw the vision and who have worked with us for nearly twenty years. We are most jubilant to bring this event to the world and to celebrate the achievements of those who had an impact on our community,” says Ms. Clayton.