Atlanta, USA – Patsy Jo Hilliard, former Mayor of East Point, Georgia will become an Honorary Citizen of Liberia at this year’s United for Liberia Global Health Fundraising Gala.
The dinner will take place on Saturday Sept. 30, 2017, at Morehouse School of Medicine starting at 6p.m.
“I have always thought of myself as a Liberian citizen, so I am thrilled to finally have this honor. The six years we spent in Monrovia, Liberia, were some of the best years of my life,” Hilliard said.
Each year, the University Consortium for Liberia (UCL) honors an influential U.S. citizen with honorary Liberian citizenship. Past Honorary citizens include award winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr. Honorary citizens are selected based on their service to Liberia or their Liberian ancestry.
In 2016, Hillard travelled to Liberia with the Liberian Consulate in GA for the Liberian Business Summit, but her relationship with the country extends further back. Hilliard taught first grade at Bright Functions School in Monrovia, Liberia, in 1964.
While in Liberia, she also served as volunteer coordinator for the organization of American Women in Liberia. Her husband Asa Hilliard was Chief of Staff for the Monrovia Consolidated School System in the early 1960s.
She is a true history maker, becoming the first African American and first woman elected Mayor of East Point, Georgia, in 1993.
Cynthia Blandford, Honorary Consul General Republic of Liberia and UCL Board Chair said – “It will be my distinct honor to award Patsy Jo Hilliard with Liberian Citizenship.
Her service above self was further shown while in Liberia with me in December 2016, where Patsy Jo brought Pen Pal letters from the Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School in Atlanta, GA, to a school in Liberia where letters were exchanged.
She has more than demonstrated her love for Liberia and the honorary citizenship is well overdue.”
Hilliard also helped to establish the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in Monrovia and, in 2014, helped to distribute supplies to the A.M.E. Church in Liberia with retired Bishop John Adams and his wife.
Bishop E. Earl McCloud, Jr., 127th Bishop of the AME Church in Atlanta, Georgia, will also be present. McCloud represents Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire and Togo-Benin.
As UCL’s third annual United for Liberia Gala approaches, sponsors and guests continue to grow. The latest sponsor, Brussels Airlines, has demonstrated its commitment to education as the gala’s featured sponsor.
“With over 90 years of aviation experience on the continent, Brussels Airlines considers Africa its second home,” Andrea Bonaiuto, Brussels Airlines Marketing and Online Sales Manager North America said.
“We are thrilled to be celebrating Liberia’s commitment to global health and education.” said Bonaiuto. Brussels Airlines will be making a $5,000 donation to the UCL Scholarship program.
You are invited to join UCL, its institutional partners, donors and special guests at the 2017 United for Liberia Fundraising Gala.
Help the organization raise funds to help bring brighter futures through education and understanding.