2012 Charity Contest Winners

Midnight Velvet Announces 2012 Contest Winners

Midnight Velvet celebrated their 25th Anniversary by launching a charity contest. There were three winners chosen and each received a $5,000 donation to the charity of their choice.

Verna Brown in Bronson, Florida started The Children’s Table charitable organization and was nominated by her granddaughter and volunteer, Fatima Knapp who wrote that, “Verna helped found The Children’s Table with food from her own garden and has grown to an organization providing two million pounds of food a year to people in need Without the heart of Verna helping to start this organization a lot of families would have went hungry. She is a true hero.”

Victor Junious in Chicago, Illinois nominated himself and a charity he founded called Imago Dei Ministries, which mentors youth from disadvantaged communities in Chicago through various activities such as a choir, violence prevention seminars, or playing basketball. He shared, “Overall the organization seeks ways to restore our communities to make them better places to live.”

Debbie Hamilton nominated her friend Matthew Okebiyi, Founder and Executive Director of the African American Planning Commission in Brooklyn, NY. Debbie wrote in her nomination, ”Matthew’s selfless act has transformed the lives of many people who otherwise would be homeless, remain substance abusers, unemployed, or living in abusive relationships.”

“We developed this new contest to celebrate and recognize people who inspire change and uplift their communities,” says Ann Bush, Midnight Velvet President. “For 25 years, we have been celebrating beauty inside and out. We wanted to give back to our customers and the communities they are involved in.”