National CARES Mentoring Movement’s 10th Annual For The Love Of Our Children Gala March 6th in New York City
Taraji P. Henson, Tina Knowles, Drs. Yusef Salaam & Iyanla Vanzant to be Honored at National CARES Mentoring Movement’s 10th Annual For The Love Of Our Children Gala on March 6th in New York City
The Gala Celebrates Those Who Have Devoted Themselves to Helping Our Children Heal and Soar at a Time When Black Child Suicide Rates Have Exploded
Emmy Award-Winner Sherri Shepherd to Host Evening
Whoopi Goldberg, Honorary Chair
(February 13, 2025 – New York, NY) – National CARES Mentoring Movement, founded as Essence CARES by its CEO, Susan L. Taylor, best-selling author, renowned journalist and Essence Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Emerita, will hold its milestone 10th Anniversary For The Love of Our Children Gala at the historic Edison Ballroom in the heart of New York City’s vibrant theater district. Emmy Award-winning and multi-hyphenate entertainer Sherri Shepherd, returns to host the elegant evening of deep intention–to demonstrate that transformation is possible, and we have all we need to secure our precious young.
“As we gather for our 10th Gala, we stand in both deep gratitude–and an even deeper commitment,” shared Susan L. Taylor. “We could not have grown our work and programming without the generosity of those who support us. But with depression and Black child suicide at epidemic levels, our work must not only be sustained, but grown. Our children have to know that we love them and that we are unwilling to lose them.”
The Gala’s esteemed North Star Award will be presented to award-winning actress, producer, and mental health advocate Taraji P. Henson; mentor and philanthropist Tina Knowles; social justice hero, member of NYC’s Council District 9 and the celebrated Exonerated Five, Dr. Yusef Salaam; and renowned author, attorney, spiritual teacher and television personality, Dr. Iyanla Vanzant. With special performances by America’s Got Talent star, Journeyy and Hip-Hop legend Doug E. Fresh, the Gala promises to be an unforgettable night!
Funds raised will help support and help grow National CARES’ trauma-healing programming at an extraordinarily urgent moment. Its evidence-and-curriculum-based initiatives have been found by independent evaluators to be exceptionally effective tools in countering the life-shredding harms of poverty, violence and social isolation that have contributed to the breathstealing 144 percent rise in Black child suicide—the highest amongst all children, some of whom are thankfully seeing a drop in the tragedy.
Stunningly, there is no national response to this heart-shattering experience-–which is one we know we can solve. Most suicides are driven by depression, which is one of the most treatable and manageable mental health illnesses. The driving mission of National CARES has always been to ensure that every child has the opportunities and skills they need to not simply live but thrive! The March 6th Gala is immensely proud to pay tribute to this year’s honorees, presenting each with the North Star Award for their healing work—seen and unseen. In different forums and cities and space, each one has been holding open their arms and hearts for our young ones, and then walking the walk…for the love of our children.
Since its founding nearly 20 years ago, National CARES has recruited, trained and placed some 250,000 mentors in its own programs in schools, communities and detention centers across America, and supported its partners like Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Boys and Girls Clubs of America who are in need of African American mentors. Working in collaboration has allowed the organization to serve more than 300,000 youngsters.
For the Love of Our Children Gala was first presented in January of 2016. Some of the luminaries who have participated in our annual For the Love of Our Children Gala or invested in our work include: President Barack Obama • First Lady Michelle Obama • Oprah Winfrey • Alicia Keys • Maxwell, • Jon Baptiste • Common • LaTanya Richardson Jackson & Sam Jackson • Lee Daniels • Tamron Hall • and Robert F. Smith. It’s cherished late, great friends include Harry Belafonte. Dr. Maya Angelou and Cicely Tyson.
For more information about the National CARES Mentoring Movement and Gala Tickets or Sponsorships can be found at www.caresmentoring.org.
