Doug Banks, Kym Whitley, Dwyane Wade Among Stars Praising HBCU Calendar as Important Black History Month Memento

CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --With the success of the film epic "12 Years A Slave" and a newly intense interest in African-American history, stars including Angela Bassett, Doug Banks, Kym Whitley and NBA great Dwyane Wade are taking to the airwaves and SM to advocate for purchasing the 2014 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Resource Guide and Calendar.

The celebrities, who are also featured in the calendar, are using Facebook, Twitter and other social media and broadcast outlets to trumpet the resource guide, which is a fundraiser for the schools featured inside.

Radio super jock Banks recently teamed with comedienne/actress Whitley to promote the calendar on his national show. "This may be one of the most important purchases that we can make now to honor and salute the African-American heroes who have paved the way for us all," said Banks.

TV's"The View" hostSherri Shepherd, also featured, made a scheduled visit to a Los Angeles-basedWalgreens in November to personally sign copies of the calendar.

The eighth annual HBCU resource guide has been renamed "Our History Our Health" to reflect the growing concern of the health of Black America.

Also among the supporters featured in the 2014 edition are the first woman leader of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Bishop Vashti McKenzie; Gary, Indiana Mayor Karen Freeman; and businesswoman and mentorTina Lewis.

More than $400,000 had been donated to HBCUs through a partnership between Chicago-based Danielle Ashley Group, the producer of the calendar through its Black History Educational Network philanthropic arm, and Walgreens Corporation, the original retailer.

The calendar is a part of the African-American History curriculum of middle and high school districts in Illinois and Indiana. It spotlights 12 of the more than 100 HBCUs every year.

The 2014 issue features Florida Memorial University, Grambling State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lane College, LeMoyne - Owen College, Lincoln University, Mississippi Valley State University, Morehouse College, Oakwood College, University of the Virgin Islands, Virginia Union University and Wiley College.

Each month reveals the dates of the most important events in African-American history.

In addition to Walgreens and Wal-Mart, the 2014 HBCU Resource Guide is available online at www.BlackHistoryHBCU.com, or by calling 312.470.0270.

Formore information:
Denise M. Spencer
[phone] X2006
[e-mail]

SOURCE Black History Educational Network