Bill Cosby
Gives Benefit Performance For Future Baltimore City Public School Teachers
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Bill Cosby played to a sold out crowd at Morgan State University, raising more than $1.1 million dollars to establish an endowed scholarship fund for the next generation of public school teachers in Baltimore City. The October 15th performance featuring Dr. Cosby along with the Morgan State University Choir was held at the Gilliam Concert Hall in the Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center. Cosby, star of stage, screen, and television, appeared at Morgan in memory of his long-time friend and Morgan alum, Joe Black. Mr. Black, who received his bachelor’s degree from Morgan in 1950, rose to fame in the major leagues following Jackie Robinson and a handful of other great black baseball players. He later made history by becoming vice president of special markets for Greyhound Corporation, the first black American to become vice president of a major U.S. transportation company. Like Dr. Cosby, Joe Black believed that education was serious business.
MORGAN MAGAZINE
Baltimore City’s public schools have come under increasing pressure to improve the quality of education being offered by recruiting more qualified teachers. Dr. Patricia Welch, dean of the School of Education and Urban Studies for Morgan State University and chairwoman of the Board for the Baltimore City Public School Systems said, “Mr. Cosby’s appearance enabled Morgan to raise significant funds for the Baltimore City School System’s attempt to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers.” Program sponsors for the Bill Cosby benefit performance included: • Environmental Systems Products, Inc. • Wachovia Corporation • Denny’s Inc. • Channel 11, WBAL-TV Donations were made to the Morgan State University Foundation, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland. o
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