Centennial Captains Campaign Opens Phase II Following $100K In Pledges During Quiet Phase
GOAL: 100 Alpha Rho Chapter Brothers Aligning To Bring Centennial Experience And Westside Scholarship Consortium To Life
By APCAA Staff
An international spotlight will be sharply focused on Atlanta January 5-7, 2024 when more than 1,000 Alpha Rho Alums, Alpha national members, and cultural dignitaries make a momentous return to the city for Alpha Rho Chapter Alumni Association's (APCAA) Centennial Weekend Experience, a 3-day observance of the 100th anniversary of the date that Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. chartered its 38th chapter on the campus of Morehouse College. This milestone celebration is made possible by the underwriting strength of APCAA's Centennial Captains — 100 Alpha Rho Chapter Alumni who have signed-on to emphasize that our centennial fundraising remain true to the association's founding mission: scholarships.
Also in keeping with the founding mission, the APCAA has designated this once-in-a-lifetime gathering as the launch of the non-profit's Westside Scholarship Consortium that will benefit incoming Morehouse College undergraduates who live in the neighborhoods adjacent to the southwest Atlanta campus. APCAA Chief Scholastic Officer Robert P. Williams (Spring 1999) — Principal of Westside Atlanta's M. Agnes Jones Elementary School — has crafted a mentorship pipeline that engages high school-aged young men (and their families) from 9th grade through their undergraduate studies at the college. This scholarship initiative is the centerpiece of the APCAA's founding mission, and will serve as the association's continuing legacy and community engagement program as the Chapter enters the next century.
The Chapter's January 6, 2024 "Great Gathering" experience is being developed as a two-part happening: A black-tie VIP reception & dinner, followed by a live performance of the original stage play "The Alpha Rho Show" — a multi-act presentation on the Chapter and its luminaries throughout the past century. Brothers M. Lavell Sanders (Fall 1979) and Richard Makerson III (Spring 2001) serve as Co-Chairmen of the weekend's signature experience at the legendary Marriott Marquis Hotel in downtown Atlanta.
"With our scholarship mission defined and the celebratory details finalized, it's now time to align the Brotherhood with the underwriting campaign that will provide for a spectacular centennial weekend, and solidify the APCAA's dedication to educational excellence," stated BMaynard Scarborough, APCAA President and Founder. He continued, "this is the culmination of ten years of research, network development, and event planning by a dedicated team of Chapter members and industry professionals."
Benefits of becoming an Alpha Rho Chapter Centennial Captain:
Levels of participation:
APCAA is a fully sanctioned 501(c)(3) by the IRS as a private charitable foundation (EIN: #47-4661553), and is also certified by the State of Georgia Secretary of State's Office. Donations per the schedule above are welcomed from individual Alpha Rho Brothers (or their donor advised fund accounts) and can be made in the form of direct deposit, electronic transfer, check, money order, matching corporate funds, or cash. Proceeds from the January 2024 Centennial Weekend Experience will support the APCAA's Westside Scholarship Consortium.
The Centennial Captains Campaign is the primary Brotherhood sponsorship cycle for the Chapter's January 2024 Centennial Celebration and Westside Scholarship Consortium. The campaign will feature 100 individual Captains at the $25K, $15K, $5K, and $1K levels. Individual Centennial Weekend packages (second Brotherhood sponsorship cycle) will be offered mid-summer 2023 for attendee-only rates for the January 5th Welcome Reception & Toast, January 6th Town Hall, AUC Woodruff Library Archives Opening Exhibition, and Great Gathering. General attendee packages will also be released at that time. [Contributions are tax-deductible (excluding food/beverage) in accordance with IRS guidelines for federally sanctioned Section 501(c)(3) non-profit private foundations (EIN: 47-4661553)].
The quiet phase of the Centennial Captains Campaign (CCC) opened in April 2023 with leadership pledges in all three of its top-tier accounts, and has attracted participation from a wide spectrum of the Alpha Rho Brotherhood, including Brothers Rahn K. Bailey (Spring 1984), Farris T. Johnson (Spring 1972), John Lewis, Jr. (Spring 1985), Kelvin J. Taylor, Jr. (Spring 1985), Keith D. Wright (Spring 1985), Aty T. Biswese (Spring 2001), Gregory T. Burrell (Spring 1987), Gordon D. Greenwood (Spring 1984), Rollie H. Farthing (Spring 1982), Charles "Chuck" F. Key, Jr. (Fall 1982), and Jerome A. Luke (Fall 1976).
In recognition of their 25th anniversary in Alpha Phi Alpha, and in keeping with their "resurrection" role in the storied legacy of Alpha Rho Chapter, the Brothers of the Anastasis 25 (Fall 1998) is rising up to initiate a challenge to all lines for member and dollar leadership donations to the Westside Scholarship Consortium by way of participation as Centennial Captains. The challenge will recognize lines for the highest cumulative donation and highest percentage of donors during the APCAA Town Hall on Saturday morning January 6th, and will be featured in the 125+ plus page Centennial Keepsake publication. [Please note: Donations must be made from individual Brothers in order to receive tax-deductible certification for the IRS. All individual donations for a particular line will be calculated to determine challenge rankings. A bulk donation listing all members of a particular line will not be considered for ranking or receive tax-deductible certification for the names listed.]
In a move that demonstrates the Alpha Rho Chapter Alumni Association's resolve to work and conduct business in the community where it all began in 1924, the association has selected historic Citizens Trust Bank (CTB) as their financial partner for their upcoming Centennial Experience and Scholarship Consortium in January, 2024. The two organization's have longtime ties — whereas alumni members of the association have led the bank both from near bankruptcy into solvency, and also into current day prominence.
Banking executive Ilon Owen Funderburg (Alpha Rho Spring 1944) is credited with rescuing CTB, the third largest black-owned bank in the United States, from bankruptcy in the 1970s. The Legacy of Alpha Rho Alums' leadership with CTB continues into the 21st century, highlighted by the June 2021 appointment of Brother C. Howie Hodges II (Spring 1980) to the Citizens Bancshares Corporation Board of Directors.
About Alpha Rho Chapter and APCAA:
Alpha Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was chartered on the campus of Morehouse College on January 5, 1924, and is the 38th chapter established since the fraternity was founded in 1906. Today, there are more than 730 active chapters in the Americas, Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. It is the largest predominantly African-American intercollegiate fraternity with some 290,000 members. During its near-100-year history, 1,344 Morehouse College undergraduates have been initiated into the fraternity by way of the Alpha Rho Chapter — "The Great 38."
The Alpha Rho Chapter Alumni Association — also known as APCAA, is the federally sanctioned 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2014 to provide scholarship opportunities for undergraduate students at Morehouse College. The association currently has 810 active members worldwide.
All RHOads Lead To ALPHA RHO CHAPTER
— January 5-7, 2024 —
Our Historic CENTENNIAL EXPERIENCE!
By APCAA Staff
Atlanta's landmark Westin Peachtree Plaza has been named as the host hotel for Alpha Rho Chapter's Centennial Weekend in January 2024, and we are now accepting hotel reservations for our upcoming event stay. Based on our Chapter-wide survey of potential attendees conducted on August 25, 2022, with some 166 responses captured within a 24-hour period, the Brotherhood was clear in their lodging needs.
Through our exclusive website link featured below you can book or modify your hotel reservations and receive updated information about the events.
Reservation Link👇
As planning stewards for this highly anticipated gathering of some 500-600 Alpha Rho Men from seven decades of Morehouse College life, we have dedicated the past 6 months to careful alignment of experiences and locations that will make the entire Brotherhood proud.
Here's an early overview of how the Alpha Rho masses will move about the city during the weekend. It should be noted that the Great Gathering and Ecumenical Service are open to AP Brothers and guests, while the Welcome Reception and Town Hall are exclusive to AP Brothers. The Farewell Reception is a separately ticketed event and not included in the weekend packages.
Atlanta's landmark Westin Peachtree Plaza was named as the host hotel for Alpha Rho Chapter's Centennial Weekend earlier this year. Our Chapter-wide survey of potential attendees was conducted on August 25, 2022, and some 325 responses captured within a 24-hour period helped determine our approximate lodging needs, and drove our negotiating strategy with the hotel.
We look forward to seeing you during Centennial Weekend!
Notes on booking:
The exclusive rate of $179 is valid until the entire AP hotel block is filled.
When completing the on-line reservation, simply keep the default setting to "1 guest" in place, regardless of whether there will be a companion in your stay or not.
The booking portal will remain exclusive to Alpha Rho Brothers from December 20, 2022 thru May 31, 2023.
To eliminate any undue financial risk to the APCAA, we will closely monitor booking levels, and will authorize additional blocks in increments of 50/rooms. If you are "wait listed" at the time of booking, please contact alpharhochapteralumni@gmail.com and we will force book and confirm on your behalf.
Hospitality suite and guest room suite rates will be made available in late Spring 2023. It is highly recommended that at a minimum, a standard room reservation be made within the AP block at this first offering, and later upgraded when those rates have been negotiated.
Local (Atlanta) Brothers can take advantage of private hotel-to-venue executive coach transport included in their hotel bookings. (A separate transport fee will be levied for transient passengers who are not host hotel registrants).
Modifications/cancellations can be made as late as 3 days prior to check-in with no penalty
Reservation Link👇
About the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel:
The Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta is the tallest hotel in the state of Georgia and the third-tallest in the country. The Downtown Atlanta hotel is one of the best luxury hotels in Atlanta. Rising 723 feet above the heart of the city, The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta features world-class service, superb amenities, and an unparalleled location. The hotel is moments away from Atlanta's best-known attractions - from the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola to State Farm Arena, Centennial Olympic Park, and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. With amazing 360-degree views of the entire city, The Westin Peachtree Plaza is a distinctive landmark on the Atlanta skyline.
Revitalizing Guest Rooms — Restore your body and mind at the end of the day in one of our comfortable 1,073 guestrooms, featuring:
24 luxury suites, including two bi-level Presidential and Chairman Suites.
Floor-to-ceiling windows.
Signature Heavenly® Bed and Bath amenities, including a rain shower and curved curtain rod.
42-inch flat panel television, high-speed internet access, Starbucks® coffee with Westin WakeCup® brewer, laptop safe, and large work desk with an ergonomic chair.
Make a Green Choice Program.
In-Room Dining, available 24-hours; refreshment center options available upon request.
Complimentary entrance into WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio and indoor/outdoor pool.
Mobile Check-In & Mobile Key — Guests can check in before their stay, receive instant alerts when their room is ready and check out by skipping the front desk. Additional any iOS user can use their mobile phone as a secured room key.
Dining The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View Innovative regional fine dining in a glass-walled dining room with 360-degree views of the city from 73 stories up.
Bar 210 Newly renovated Bar 210 is the place to catch up with friends and colleagues, indulge in signature cocktails, a light bite or unwind for the evening.
The Café Southern-style buffet breakfast including eggs made to order, fresh pastries, Belgian waffles and fruit. A la carte items are also available.
Starbucks® Coffee Bar A variety of coffee and fresh, rich-brewed, Italian-style espresso beverages, pastries, small snacks and confections.
Reservation Link👇
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