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Dear Donors, Sponsors, Partners, and Supporters,
It is with tremendous excitement that we introduce Ambassador Andrew J. Young and Virginia W. Harris as the distinguished Honorary Co-Chairs of the 11th Annual LEDI International Life Changers Awards and Fundraising Gala, taking place Saturday, October 24, 2026, in the Grand Ballroom of the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway Hotel. Click here for the press release.
These are two extraordinary leaders whose lives and service have touched communities across Atlanta, our nation, and the world. On October 24, both Ambassador Young and Mrs. Harris will be in the ballroom with us, helping make this year's Gala one of the most distinguished galas LEDI has hosted.
A Living Legacy of Leadership
Ambassador Andrew J. Young is one of America's most consequential civil rights, civic, and diplomatic leaders. A close confidant and strategist to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he helped advance the Civil Rights Movement before carrying that commitment to public service into the United States Congress. He later served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations and as a two term Mayor of Atlanta, helping strengthen Atlanta's emergence as an international city.
His remarkable story continues today. At 94, Ambassador Young remains a vibrant and influential voice for peace, opportunity, economic development, and human dignity. As Chairman of the Andrew J. Young Foundation, he continues to advance leadership, humanitarian service, economic development, and stronger communities. His extraordinary journey and enduring influence have made him a towering figure in this country and around the world.
LEDI is especially honored to welcome Ambassador Young back after recognizing him with the 2023 LEDI International Life Changers Award.
Leadership, Advocacy and Empowerment
Virginia W. Harris is a nationally respected civic leader, advocate, and public servant whose decades of leadership have been dedicated to expanding opportunity and strengthening communities. As National President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., she leads a nationally recognized organization advocating for Black women and girls in education, health, economic empowerment, and public policy.
Her distinguished record includes approximately three decades of service to the Coalition in major national leadership positions, including National President, National Executive Director, and National Treasurer. Her official biography credits her leadership with helping raise more than $4.75 million to advance programs and initiatives. Her extensive civic and community leadership has also earned her recognition among the Atlanta Business League's 100 Most Influential Women.
Mrs. Harris remains actively engaged in national leadership and advocacy today, and we are deeply honored that 2026 will mark her second consecutive year as an Honorary Co-Chair of the LEDI Gala.
Under the theme “We Are The Light,” this year's black tie and red carpet Gala will bring together an exceptional gathering of dignitaries, business and civic leaders, senior executives, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, professionals, influencers, and community changemakers.
The evening will create an elegant setting for networking, meaningful conversations, new connections, and relationship building, while celebrating extraordinary individuals whose leadership and service are changing lives. It will be the kind of room where remarkable people, important conversations, and new possibilities come together.
We want you in that room.
Your Presence Helps Change Lives
At the heart of this extraordinary evening is a greater purpose.
Every ticket, table, advertisement, sponsorship, and contribution helps advance LEDI's mission of reducing poverty and changing lives through education, literacy, technology, artificial intelligence, innovation, youth and community empowerment, and economic opportunity.
Your support also helps advance LEDI's development of a multimillion dollar modern public Library and Technology Center in Liberia, envisioned as a transformative hub for literacy, digital learning, technology, artificial intelligence, innovation, and opportunity for future generations.
We invite you to attend the Gala, reserve a table for your family, friends, colleagues, or organization, showcase your business through Gala advertising, or become a sponsor of this extraordinary evening.
📅 Date & Time: Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 5:30 PM EDT
📍 Location: Grand Ballroom | Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway Hotel
🎟️ GENERAL ADMISSION: $150 | VIP: $500 | TABLE SPONSORSHIP: $2,500
GET YOUR TICKET TODAY | SPONSOR A TABLE AT
RSVP by October 10, 2026
www.ledifundraiser.org
We look forward to welcoming you to the ballroom alongside Ambassador Andrew J. Young, Virginia W. Harris, our distinguished 2026 honorees, and an extraordinary gathering of leaders and changemakers.
To learn more about LEDI and our global mission, please visit www.ledinow.org. To explore the 2026 LEDI International Life Changers Awards Gala, including event details, please visit www.ledifundraiser.org. We also invite you to click here and here to watch highlights from previous galas and click here to view our gala photo gallery and experience the impact of our work.
With gratitude,
Joan Curran Darkortey
CEO & Co-Founder, LEDI | 678-661-1334
Thank you for standing with us to make the impossible possible.
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