American Indian College Fund to Host Gala in New York City To Benefit American Indian Students

Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson and Ford Motor Company to Receive Honors

NEW YORK, Oct. 17 -- Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson and Ford Motor Company will be recognized for their substantial commitments to furthering Indian higher education during the American Indian College Fund's Flame of Hope Gala Tuesday, November 11, at the Cipriani 42nd Street.

Proceeds from the eighth annual gala will go toward much needed scholarships for American Indian students attending America's 34 tribal colleges and universities. The American Indian College Fund is the nation's largest private provider of funding for scholarships to tribal college students.

The festive evening will begin with a cocktail reception and silent auction of Native American art at 6:30 p.m. A black-tie dinner and program that includes a special performance by flutist Mary Youngblood, winner of the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Native American Music Album, begins at 7:30 p.m.

Susan Simon Tierney, president of the Tierney Family Foundation and member of the Fund's Board of Trustees, will serve as gala chair. Actor James Cromwell will serve as the gala's celebrity chair. The gala's celebrity co-chairs are: Benjamin Bratt, Anne Sward Hansen, Richard Masur, Hillary B. Smith, Tom Skerritt and Jock Soto.

All contributions are tax-deductible. Tickets are $500 and tables also are available for purchase. For more information on purchasing tickets or a table for the gala, please e-mail Bill Edelstein, Director of Special Events, at bedelstein@collegefund.org or by phone at 303-426-8900 x330.

The American Indian College Fund has spent more than a decade helping increase educational opportunities for Native students. The Denver-based nonprofit distributes scholarships and support to the tribal colleges. This aid directly supports more than 6,000 scholarships each year. The Fund also supports endowments, developmental needs and public awareness, as well as college programs in Native cultural preservation and teacher training. For more information visit www.collegefund.org .