Thurgood Marshall College Fund 35th Anniversary Gala: A Legacy of Excellence
Theme design and rollout for an annual fundraising gala in support of HBCU college students.
From the Program
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the PK-12 and higher education space. The organization is also a source for top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
Our Approach
The TMCF annual black tie gala is one of the most high-profile events on the organization’s calendar. After a break from live events due to Covid, they were eager to make the in-person gathering a success while honoring the past leadership of the organization.
We were provided with the theme of the Art Deco era and the setting of New York City. Building upon that guidance, we developed a look-and-feel for the event that hearkened back to the era of The Great Gatsby while still feeling contemporary enough for a sophisticated audience ranging from ambitious college students to Fortune 100 companies (and the TMCF leadership team).
The Result
The sold-out event was a success. Hosted by Terrence J and attended by students from TMCF’s Leadership Institute and corporate sponsors, guests were entertained by stars ranging from Yolanda Adams and Tamia to Patti LaBelle.
Discipline
Event Design
Client
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Responsibilities
Visual theme direction, environmental graphics, printed event guide and sponsor package development, save-the-date layout, website and social media graphics, sponsor recognition presentation, ticket design
Project Team
Elliot Strunk, Studio H
Khadija Campbell, TMCF Senior Director of Brand Engagement
Andrea Horton, TMCF Chief Marketing Officer