18th
Annual
i Labor
Day Weekend · August 31 - September 3, 2007
2007 Grand Baba and Grand Yeye
Grand Baba
William
Garth Sr. is publisher and CEO of the Chicago Citizen Newspapers
Group, Garthco, Inc. and Chairman of the Quentis Bernard Garth
(QBG) Foundation. Garth is the guiding force behind what is
known as the largest Black-owned chain of weekly newspapers
in the Midwest (the Citizen
Newspapers).
Having started with the company in 1969 as an advertising
salesman under the leadership of former Congressman Gus Savage,
Garth purchased the Chatham Citizen, SouthEnd Citizen and
Chicago Weekend in 1980. He later added the South Suburban
and the Hyde Park editions, and founded Garthco Publications,
which published PUSH Magazine, a bi-monthly national publication.
With Chicago's population being nearly 50% Black, the Citizen
has effectively reached this market. Citizen Newspapers has
a total circulation of 121,000 and a weekly readership of
over 400,000. The circulation areas cover Chicago's South
and West sides and the South Suburbs.
As
a tribute to his business acumen, Garth became the first Black
person to be elected President of The Illinois Press Association
(IPA).The IPA is the state's largest newspaper association.
The IPA is the official trade organization for Illinois' weekly
and daily newspapers. Garth is only the second Black person
in the nation elected president for a statewide press association.
Garth currently sits on the Board of Government Affairs Committee,
Jliinois Press Association. He has served as a board member
for 15 years. In addition to this, Garth was elected a stockholder
in the Cook County South Suburban Publishers Association His
business savvy and knowledge in the publishing industry allowed
him to also serve as Chairman of The Midwest Black Publishers
Association. In December 1998, Garth received honors when
he was appointed a member of Governor-Elect George Ryan's
Transition Team. Garth served as a member on the Illinois
Public Safety and Violence Prevention Team. Governor- Elect
George Ryan appreciated Garth's role and support of his election
and appointed him a member of the Board of Directors for the
Illinois Inauguration 1999, Inc.
In
1995, Garth founded the QBG Foundation in memoiy of his youngest
son, Quentis lB. Garth. Garth is Chaixrnan of the Foundation,
which currently provides scholarships to 25 students attending
various universities and colleges around the country. The
scholarships for 1998 totaled over $115,000 in annual tuition
disbursements.
A
dedicated activist and leader in the business community, Garth
maintains memberships and positions with several business
organizations. He is Chairman of the Chatham Business Association,
and serves as a board member of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
He is also a board member of the Government Affairs Committee
of The National Newspaper Publishers Association, and holds
memberships with the Far Southside Business Association, the
NAACP, Chatham Lions Club and Chicago Association of Black
Journalists.
Garth
has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, both
locally and nationally, for service and philanthropy. These
awards have become trademarks of his extraordinary character
and commitment to the Black community.
Grand Yeye
Merri
Dee, Director of Community Relations, celebrates over 30 years
at Chicago's WGN-TV. She serves as liaison between WGN-TV
and community organizations, ensuring the station serves the
needs of the diverse coverage areas and represents Tribune
Company nationally.
This
role enables her to oversee WGN's various public service campaigns,
reaching over 56 million homes. As manager of WGN-TV Children's
Charities, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, 25
million dollars have been raised and donated to organizations
focusing on children's issues.
Dee
began her career as a radio personality, quickly moved to
WGN-TV as newscaster, Talk Show Host, Staff Announcer and
Editorial Spokesperson.
Dee
is known for her extensive charitable work in various communities
and her commitment to social service. She is a nationally
recognized motivational speaker and is in constant demand
as a toastmistress, panelist moderator and fund-raising strategist
while also hosting a variety of television specials.
Merri
Dee has made the welfare of children waiting to be adopted
in Illinois her pet project. Illinois' Governor recently commended
Dee and WGN for increasing the number of adoptions in the
State of Illinois over 50 percent. Most recently, she was
selected by the U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services
for the Adoption Excellene Award for her exceptional work
and accomplishments in creating permanency for children who
wait in foster care. A strong believer in education, Dee has
hosted the United Negro College Fund's "Evening of Stars"
25 years, serving two years as the "volunteer" general
chairman of the nationally televised event, assisting in raising
over 30 million dollars for student scholarships.
She
is one of the founders of "Athletes for a Better Education,"
where she worked with high school athletes, their parents,
coaches, educators, and other sports representatives. Six
of these athletes are professional basketball players, coaches
or managers.
Dee
is considered both unique and courageous because of her strength
to survive gunshot wounds to the head when she and a television
guest were kidnapped from the TV station. Lobbying state and
city politicians, she assisted in the passage of Illinois'
first Victims Bill of Rights legislation that has served as
the model for the United States of America. Today she travels
nationwide sharing her knowledge on how "A Victim Becomes
a Survivor." She is the recipient of numerous awards,
including:
"Outstanding
Media Person," AT&T
"Outstanding
Community Role Model," Kellogg's Corporation
"Volunteer
of the Year Award," Chicago Board of Education
"The
National Voice Award," Nat'l. Comm. to Prevent Child
Abuse
"Adoption
Activist" North American Council on Adoptable Children
"Adoption
Spokesperson Award," the Adoption Information Center
of Ill.; Child Care Assoc. of Ill., One Church One Child,
and the Depart. of Children and Family Services
"Outstanding
Leadership Award," YWCA of Metro. Chicago
"Woman
of the Year," Today's Chicago Woman News
"Mercedes
Mentor Award," Chicago Magazine "Community Service
Award," National Baptist Institute
"Silver
Circle," Chicago Academy of TV Arts and Sciences
"Lifetime
Achievement Award," Univ. of Ill. Center on Women and
Gender
"Gracie
Allen Award" for Adoption Campaign, National Assoc.
of American Women in Radio and TV