African American Achievement Award
Embassy Suites Columbia
The African American Achievement Award was established in 2003 by the South Carolina Chapter of the March of Dimes to honor and recognize the commitment and dedication of those positively impacting the African American community.
This event is an opportunity to raise awareness of the racial disparities that exist in infant mortality and premature birth within the African American community of South Carolina. Infant mortality rates are twice as high for African American babies as for Caucasian babies. In addition to this, babies are nearly twice as likely to be born prematurely as Caucasian babies and African American mothers have the highest rates of inadequate prenatal care compared to other maternal race categories. The March of Dimes is working for a day when all babies are born healthy.
The event honors Revs. Dr. Ronnie E. (Carolyn) Brailsford, Sr. and Dr. & Mrs. Ronald (Joyce) Epps.
Reverend Ronnie Brailsford has provided 29 years of faithful and visionary leadership in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He is the pastor of Historic Bethel A.M.E. Church in Columbia. Rev. Carolyn E. Brailsford is an ordained Itinerant Elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and is Preacher of the Gospel who ministers as Psalmist/Vocal Artist, speaker, teacher of vocal workshops, and presenter on the special topic of Praise and Worship.
Dr. Ronald Epps served as superintendent in the Richland One School District for six years. He is currently an educational consultant serving as an executive coach to superintendents throughout the nation and also doing superintendent searches for school districts. Mrs. Epps is part of the faculty of Benedict College. In addition, she is involved in the pre-induction phase of the lives of the college’s perspective teachers. She also is an active member of the Columbia Board of the March of Dimes.
Sponsors include:
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
DHEC
Primerica
Benedict College
Childs & Halligan, P.A.
First Citizens
Johnson, Toal & Battiste, PA/Leevy’s Funeral Home
Kent Washington, DDS
SC Community Bank
South Carolina Bank & Trust
South Carolina Community Bank
South Carolina Primary Health Care Association
Tom Sawyer Company
USC School of Medicine/SC Solutions
Unison Health Plan
Media Sponsors:
Kiss 103.1 FM
Millennium Magazine
Supporters:
Alpha Phi Alpha
J. Todd Rutherford Law Firm
Johnson Toal & Battiste, P.A.
Leevy’s Funeral Home
SC Public Health Institute
Darcie Rosenthal, drosenthal@marchofdimes.com
(803)252-5200
Midlands Division
240 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 206
Columbia, SC 29210
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