Mayor Parker and Award Recipients, The Roots, Lead a Banner Year at UNCF Philadelphia Mayor’s Masked Ball

The annual event raised more than $1 million and drew nearly 900 patrons

It was a banner year, as UNCF Philadelphia raised more than $1 million to support educational opportunities for students and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). It was an elegant evening of glitz, glitter, glamour and philanthropy to bolster UNCF’s fundraising efforts at the 2026 Mayor’s Masked Ball at the Philadelphia Downtown Marriott in Center City. It was UNCF Philadelphia’s largest attendance, totaling nearly 900 guests, and the most financially successful in the event’s 14-year history.

UNCF, the nation’s largest supporter of private minority education, awarded its community and corporate honors with prestigious M.A.S.K.E.D. (Mankind Assisting Students Kindle Educational Dreams) to three recipients:

• Corporate Champion Award: Exelon, the parent company of PECO
• Individual Champion Award: Cheryl McKissack Daniel (Chair, McKissack & McKissack Construction)
• Community Support Champion Award: The Michael Ann and Saquon Barkley Hope Foundation

Also recognized was Joseph Hill, managing director, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies with the AYLA (Advancing Young Leadership Award). The elegant evening ended with the presentation of a special Semiquincentennial Legacy Award to The Roots, the iconic Philadelphia band, while highlighting the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration in the nation’s birthplace. Singer Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter and drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, both Philadelphia natives, returned home to receive the prestigious award for their contributions in music and the community.

“Access to economic opportunity is predicated on the quality of education that you receive so, for me this is about economic mobility and self-sufficiency,” Mayor Cherelle Parker said. UNCF Philadelphia provides approximately 230 scholarships annually to students in the region, totaling nearly $2.5 million. Richard Lee Snow, UNCF’s regional development director, said most recipients come from family households earning under $45,000 annually. “It’s important that organizations such as UNCF give back and help out students get to and through college so they can reach their educational aspirations,” Scholarship recipient Kahmar Durant-Robinson offered the evening’s Student Testimonial. The Lincoln (PA) University senior said that he likely wouldn’t have had the opportunity to attend college without UNCF’s assistance.

The Ball showcased red-carpet photo opportunities, silent and live auctions, guests wearing fancy masks, as well as dancing and live entertainment. 6ABC veteran broadcaster Tamala Edwards served as mistress of ceremonies.

Event co-chairs, Meg Kane, host city, executive of Philadelphia Soccer 2026; Joseph Meade, Comcast Spectacor’s senior vice president of government and external affairs, and Maurice E. Jenkins, Jr., UNCF’s executive vice president and chief development officer, were also program participants.

To learn more about the UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball or to make a donation, please visit UNCF.org/Philadelphia.

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About UNCF

UNCF is one of the nation’s largest and most effective supporters of higher education and serves as a leading advocate for college-bound students. Since its founding in 1944, UNCF has raised more than $6 billion to support students’ access to higher education, provide scholarships and strengthen historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Each year, UNCF awards more than 11,000 scholarships totaling more than $62 million. The scholarships support students attending more than 600 US-based colleges and universities including 37 UNCF-member HBCUs. Through its efforts, UNCF has helped generations of students to get to and through college. We believe a college education plays a vital role in fortifying the pipeline of leaders and professionals who contribute to the advancement of our society. Our logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and our widely recognized trademark is, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”^® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Instagram.