Baltimore, MD — Associated Black Charities (ABC) will hold its 2025 Gala, “40 Years of Triumph and Truth,” on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at The Hall at Live! Casino in Hanover, Maryland. This landmark event will honor four decades of ABC’s unwavering commitment to eliminating structural racism, closing racial wealth gaps, and building thriving Black communities across Maryland.
This year’s Gala will center around a powerful tribute to four trailblazing women – Mary Demory, Donna Jones Baker, Barbara Blount-Armstrong, and Diane Bell-McKoy – who will be recognized as the Leading Ladies of ABC. Each of these honorees has played a pivotal role in building the strength, strategy, and soul of ABC throughout its 40-year history.
“This year, we’re not only celebrating a milestone – we’re making a statement,” said Chrissy M. Thornton, president and CEO of Associated Black Charities. “In a time when equity efforts are being scaled back, silenced, or politically targeted, ABC is standing firm. We do this work for progress, and we are calling on our partners, supporters, and allies to stand with us.”
Founded in 1985, ABC was born out of necessity and vision – a radical understanding that the economic, social, and political well-being of Black Marylanders was not optional, but essential. For four decades, ABC has been a leading force in advocating for policy change, championing Black leadership, and delivering programs that tackle the root causes of racial inequity. Programs like the ABC Academy, Board Pipeline Leadership Development Program, and Financial Literacy and Wealth Building Workshops have empowered generations of Black professionals, families, and future leaders.
This year’s Gala will feature a live performance by Grammy-nominated artist Raheem DeVaughn, who will pay tribute to the honorees with his iconic anthem “Woman.” His presence brings an unforgettable dimension to an evening already rich with meaning, inspiration, and legacy.
The Gala evening will begin with a VIP Reception at 5:30 p.m., a General Reception at 6 p.m., with the main program, dinner, and performances beginning at 7 p.m. and continuing through midnight.
Ahead of the event, ABC introduced a $40,000 Anniversary sponsorship opportunity in honor of this milestone year – an invitation to corporate and philanthropic partners to reaffirm their commitment to equity and justice.
“To be clear, ABC is not asking for permission to fight oppression – we never have,” added Thornton. “But we are asking for support in this moment of resistance. This work doesn’t survive on vision alone. It takes resources, courage, and collective resolve. We need our partners, both new and long-standing, to show up not just in presence, but in power.”
The 2025 ABC Gala received commitments from a number of corporate and philanthropic partners whose sponsorship underscores their belief in ABC’s mission and ongoing relevance. Early sponsors include PNC Bank, BGE, SECU, Johns Hopkins University & Medicine, Whiting-Turner, Neutron Engineering, Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Shelter Foundation, The Cordish Companies, University of Maryland Medical System, PepsiCo., Greater Baltimore Medical Center, and CareFirst.
All proceeds from the Gala will directly support ABC’s critical racial equity programming, advocacy work, and economic empowerment initiatives across the state of Maryland.
To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/abc40years or contact ABC at info@associatedblackcharities.org.
Founded in 1985, Associated Black Charities is a racial equity organization that works as an educator, advocate, supporter, and convener to address and eliminate the barriers created by structural racism and to advance long-term solutions that create new opportunities for Black people to thrive. www.associatedblackcharities.org
SOURCE: Associated Black Charities