Ann S. Kheel Award Recognizes Those Who Fight for the Rights of All
Michele Cahill, Vice President, National Program, Carnegie Corporation of New York was named the recipient of the New York Urban League’s Ann S. Kheel Award at the social service organization’s annual Frederick Douglass Awards Dinner this week in New York City.
The award recognizes individuals who, in the spirit of the late Ann S. Kheel, founder of the Frederick Douglass Awards Dinner and longtime member of the NYUL Board of Directors, advocate for civic engagement, fight for the rights of all and demonstrate exceptional leadership and service to humanity.
In the award letter, Arva R. Rice, President and CEO of the New York Urban League (NYUL), writes, “Michele’s professional, civic and philanthropic work truly embodies the spirit of Mrs. Kheel’s legacy. For more than 30 years, Michele has been instrumental in effecting systemic change across a K-16 continuum. She has carved pathways to educational and economic opportunity to improve the lives of public and private school students alike. The New York Urban League is delighted to recognize Michele Cahill’s extensive commitment to education reform, youth development and urban affairs, with this esteemed accolade.”
In addition to Michele Cahill, NYUL bestowed its most prestigious awards on New York Times Columnist Charles M. Blow, R&B Artist KEM and Applebee’s franchisee Zane Tankel.
The Frederick Douglass Awards Dinner was initiated in 1965 to acknowledge and honor leaders in the private and public sectors whose contributions to society serve to eliminate racial barriers and promote opportunities for the disadvantaged. The award was named in honor of Frederick Douglass, a former slave who escaped to freedom to become one of the nation’s most prominent and influential abolitionists. Based on the strength and brilliance of his advocacy and writings, Douglass is widely regarded as the "Father of the Civil Rights Movement."
Proceeds from the Frederick Douglass Awards Dinner enable The New York Urban League to positively impact the lives of more than 15,000 directly and 35,000 indirectly under-resourced residents each year. During this current period of increasing economic challenges, your support of the awards dinner and the Urban League’s programs and services is ever more critical.
- Education
