Sphinx Educational Fund and Thurgood Marshall College Fund Brunch

We enjoyed an excellent experience at our Thurgood Marshall College Fund Brunch on November 1 in Phoenix.

During the brunch, we discussed the impact of AI on health, business and education; we honored with our Award of Merit; and we recognized our five scholarship recipients!

Thank you to sponsors, community partners, panelists, planning committee and guests for making this event possible! It was a tremendous success!

For more information, visit sphinxeducationalfund.org.

📸 Thank you for the wonderful photos!

✨ Join us for the 21st Annual Thurgood Marshall College Fund Brunch!

This year’s theme — “Artificial Intelligence at the Helm: Driving Innovation in Business, Health, and Education” — features leaders from healthcare, technology, education, and business driving progress and impact.

🎤 Emcees: Leslie Fuqua Williams & Darrell Cunningham

🎙️ Moderator: Celestine Pressley

💬 Panelists: Marion Kelly, Dr. Edmond Baker, Dr. Raquel Jones, Dr. Stacia Wilson, Dr. Antonia Farmer-Thompson, David Cane, Dr. Barbara H. Whye, Jonathan Lindsey

📅 Nov 1 | 9AM–12:30PM
📍 Arizona Biltmore Hotel

Tickets are still available at sphinxeducationalfund.org!

Congratulations to Marion Kelly, who has been selected as our 2025 Award of Merit honoree. Kelly serves as Director, Community Relations within Communications at Mayo Clinic. Kelly holds a lifetime membership in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He also serves the community as a co-founder of Coalition of Blacks Against Breast Cancer, co-founder and board member of the Diversity Leadership Alliance, a partner of Maricopa County Community Health Partnership and as a board member of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce.

Join us on November 1 when we recognize Kelly at the SEF 21st Anniversary Thurgood Marshall College Fund Brunch at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.

Tickets and sponsorships are available at sphinxeducationalfund.org.

The Sphinx Educational Fund is proud to continue our annual tradition of honoring deserving students here in Arizona with the Dr. Eugene & Thomasena Grigsby Scholarship. We encourage male High School graduates with a 3.0 GPA in Maricopa County to apply for this scholarship.

The submission deadline for the Dr. Eugene & Thomasena Grigsby Scholarship is May 1, 2025.

Click here to access the 2025 Scholarship Application: http://sphinxeducationalfund.org/?page_id=953

Our 20th Anniversary SEF Thurgood Marshall College Fund Brunch was a resounding success today. With support from the Phoenix Alphas, local businesses and corporations, the Divine 9, and many generous organizations/individuals, we were able to raise thousands of dollars in scholarship funds for college-bound youth. Thank you to the community for showing up and showing out, once again!

📸 Edward Cole of Kappa Alpha Psi

We’re excited to announce that we will host a raffle at our 20th Anniversary SEF Thurgood Marshall College Fund Brunch for two weekend passes to the Arizona Jazz Festival in Glendale on October 25-27! You must attend the brunch on September 21 in order to enter the raffle!

Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, The O’Jays, The Isley Brothers, Fantasia and many other jazz and R&B artists will take the stage at the Arizona Jazz Festival!

Buy your brunch tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/20th-anniversary-sef-thurgood-marshall-college-fund-brunch-tickets-876555530187?aff=oddtdtcreator

Our keynote speaker for our 20th Anniversary SEF Thurgood Marshall College Fund Brunch is Michael T. Bivens, the first African American Mayor of Whitehall, Ohio. Click here to learn more about Mayor Bivens: http://sphinxeducationalfund.org/?p=6336

We are thrilled to announce that we are honoring Dr. Camilla A. H. Westenberg, Professor Emeritus of Phoenix College, with our 2024 Thurgood Marshall Award of Merit! Please click here to learn more about Dr. Westenberg: http://sphinxeducationalfund.org/?p=6333

The Sphinx Educational Fund, Inc. (SEF) and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) are proud to present the 20th Anniversary SEF Thurgood Marshall College Fund Brunch to the Phoenix community on September 21. This year’s Award of Merit recipient is Dr. Camilla Westenberg, Professor Emeritus of Phoenix College. This year’s keynote speaker is Michael T. Bivens, the first Black mayor of Whitehall, Ohio. Click here to learn more about tickets and sponsorship opportunities for this cherished local event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/20th-anniversary-sef-thurgood-marshall-college-fund-brunch-tickets-876555530187?aff=oddtdtcreator