51st Annual Bethune/Height Recognition Awards Luncheon Set for May 17, 2025
The New York State Coalition of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) will proudly host the 51st Annual Bethune/Height Recognition Awards Luncheon on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Leonard’s Palazzo in Great Neck, New York. This annual statewide gathering will bring together over 500 African American women representing 17 NCNW sections from across New York—from the boroughs of New York City, Long Island to Upstate New York—in a day of fellowship, empowerment, and purpose.
This year's theme, “Speak Truth to Power: Silence Is Not an Option,” honors the bold legacy of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, two of the most influential leaders in the civil rights and women’s empowerment movements. The Bethune/Height Recognition Program (BHRP), established in 1974 and renamed in 2010 to include Dr. Height, is NCNW’s national fundraising initiative that honors those who exemplify service, advocacy, and leadership in their communities.
Event Highlights
Keynote Speaker: Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley, National President & CEO of NCNW — a nationally recognized health equity and civil rights leader, and the sixth member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated to lead the historic organization.
Honorees: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated and The Order of Eastern Star — two of NCNW’s esteemed affiliate organizations, honored for their decades of transformative service and impact.
51st Anniversary Celebration: With attendees from all 17 NCNW sections across New York State, including robust participation from Buffalo and Western New York, this landmark event promises sisterhood, scholarship, celebration, and a chance to “reach for the stars.”
Photos from last years event.
Celebrating a Living Legacy
The Bethune/Height Recognition Program honors two trailblazing NCNW matriarchs:
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune (1875–1955) was an educator, advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and NCNW’s founder. Her life’s work championed education and civil rights, particularly for Black women and youth.
Dr. Dorothy Irene Height (1912–2010), who led NCNW for four decades, is known as the “Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement.” She stood at the helm of national change, often as the sole woman at the table, and dedicated her life to advancing racial and gender equity.
The Bethune/Height Awards reflect their united vision: a movement rooted in education, justice, and the elevation of African American women.
A Day of Sisterhood and Celebration
The 51st Annual Luncheon will feature inspiring speakers, a dynamic keynote, and tributes to this year’s honorees. Attendees will enjoy access to curated vendor offerings, a commemorative souvenir journal, and the joyful presence of NCNW members, affiliate sisters, and community leaders. Elected officials and dignitaries are expected to join the celebration, further affirming the event’s importance and impact.
In a joint statement from the National BHRP Co-Chairs, Johnnie M. Walker and Dawna Michelle Fields, they affirm:
“BHRP has been a support beam for our National Initiatives. This year will not be different. We're reaching for the STARS!”
Joint statement from the New York State BHRP Chairs, “Our commitment and dedication to supporting, empowering, and advocating for women and communities of color is an undeniable 50-Year Labor of Love — and we wouldn't have it any other way.”
As NCNW continues to uplift, mobilize, and honor Black women across generations, the Bethune/Height Recognition Awards remain a signature reflection of the organization’s purpose. This May 17th, New York State stands together in unity, legacy, and strength.