A number of celebrities and entertainers attended the Apollo Theater’s 2023 Spring Profit Monday evening.
The theater honored NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with the Influence Award, which was offered to him by filmmaker Spike Lee, Sean “Diddy” Combs with the Icon Award and on-line glasses retailer Warby Parker with the Company Award.
Whereas Combs was unable to attend the occasion in individual attributable to a flight delay, he recored a video message thanking the Apollo for honoring him. He additionally made a $250,000 donation to the theater.
Outgoing Apollo President and CEO Jonelle Procope was additionally honored for her 20 years of service to the theater. Procope is being succeeded by former Essence Communications President Michelle Ebanks.
“Working right here on the Apollo has been so particular,” Procope informed the viewers. “Again in 2003, once I first grew to become its President, I couldn’t imagine that my workplace was really within the theater, the place all of the magic was being made. For practically 1 / 4 of a century, the music wafting by way of the halls and on the stage of the Apollo created essentially the most stunning soundtrack for this era in my life. The soundtrack that’s completely imprinted on my thoughts and in my coronary heart.”
The profit live performance was hosted by Apollo Govt Producer Kamila Frobes. This 12 months’s gala theme was “The Subsequent Motion” specializing in what’s forward for the Apollo Theater, together with the opening of the brand new Victoria Theater and the Apollo’s personal multimillion greenback renovation.
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Opening this 12 months’s profit was R&B singer STOUT, who paid tribute to the late Tina Tuner with a rousing rendition of “Proud Mary.” Wyclef Jean, MC Lyte, DJ D-Good and Gladys Knight additionally took the stage.
Apollo legend and musician Ray Chew served as music director for the night.
The occasion raised a complete of $2.2 million. Proceeds from the celebration will assist the nonprofit group’s year-round, creative, training and neighborhood programming.
Following the live performance, attendees have been handled to an after social gathering with music offered by DJ D-Good and DJ Kool at a particular tent created by superstar occasion planner and Apollo Board Member Bronson van Wyck within the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Workplace Constructing Plaza.
