Who:Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall Blake, President of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation and vice president, Community Affairs, Independence Blue Cross; Dr. Azubuike Ezeife, founding president of IDU USA and AndyWetherill, extension educator, Small Farms Program, Delaware State University.

What: 7th Annual FunTimes Magazine Gala and Awards Ceremony.

Awardees:

• Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall Blake, 2017 FunTimes Magazines Hero of the Year Award
• Dr. Ezeife, 2017 FunTimes Magazine Life Achievement Award
• Andy Wetherill, Jeff Brown Award for Community Engagement.

When: Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 6:30 p.m

Where: Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia City Avenue, 4100 Presidential Boulevard.

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Andy Wetherill, Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake and Dr. Azubuike Ezeife

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Philadelphia PA-FunTimes Magazine will host its 7^th Annual Gala and Awards Ceremony on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia City Avenue, 4100 Presidential Boulevard.

During the event, the FunTimes Magazine Board of Advisors will honor three influential leaders who are positively impacting the community. Honorees include Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall Blake, President of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation and vice president, Community Affairs, Independence Blue Cross; Dr. Azubuike Ezeife, founding president of IDU USA and Andy Wetherill, extension educator, Small Farms Program, Delaware State University.

Marshall Blake will be honored with the 2017 FunTimes Magazine Shero of the Year Award, for her lifetime of civic and humanitarian service. She is being recognized for her leadership in the community and mentorship of youth and young adults and empowering of women.

Marshall Blake also serves as an associate minister at Vine Memorial Baptist Church. She has merged her ministry of serving others into her professional and community positions and activities which have helped hundreds directly and thousands indirectly, through her dedication to many organizations and causes seeking the betterment of others. She is affiliated with more than 30 professional, civic and faith-based organizations.

Dr. Ezeife will receive the 2017 FunTimes Magazine Life Achievement Award.

He is being recognized for creating upward mobility and enhancing the growth of members of the community.

As the founding president of IDU USA, he worked tirelessly to realize the dream of building the Shaw Institute for Cultural Art, (SICA), in Igbo Ukwu of Anambra State. Ezeife is known for his philanthropy and engagement with his community.

He was board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and retired after more than 30 years of practice and delivering of over 10,000 babies.

Wetherill will receive the Jeff Brown Award for Community Engagement. As the extension educator for the Small Farms Program at Delaware State, he is responsible for expanding agribusiness opportunities in urban and rural America, the Mid-Atlantic States, Africa and the Caribbean. Wetherill engages the community through his outreach programs.

The ceremony will begin with networking at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will be served 7:30 p.m., followed by the award ceremony, entertainment and dancing.

For sponsorship and tickets for the gala visit funtimesmagazine.com or call (215) 954-6300. Proceeds will benefit FunTimes Charities Internship Program.

About FunTimes Magazine

Founded in 1992, FunTimes Magazine’s mission is to celebrate Africa and the Diaspora. FunTimes is the predominant culture and lifestyle magazine for African, Caribbean and African American communities in the Mid-Atlantic region.

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