UNCF Atlanta Announces Corporate Partners and Program Highlights for the 42nd Annual Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball

Mayor's MASKED Ball

Norfolk Southern Named Title Sponsor; Dr. David A. Thomas to Receive Prestigious MASKED Award; Anthony Anderson and En Vogue Join the Evening Program

UNCF recently announced the corporate partners and program highlights for the 42nd Annual UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball, taking place Friday, Dec. 20, 2025, at the Signia by Hilton Atlanta. The black-tie gala, hosted by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, will feature Title Sponsor Norfolk Southern, Presenting Sponsors The Coca-Cola Company, Chick-fil-A, Delta Air Lines, Google, The Home Depot and UPS.

“The Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball stands as one of UNCF’s premier national fundraising events, reflecting this city’s unwavering commitment to educational equity, opportunity and achievement,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. “The generosity of Norfolk Southern and all of our presenting sponsors ensures we can continue opening doors for thousands of students and advancing our mission to invest in better futures.”

A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the MASKED Award to Dr. David A. Thomas, president emeritus, Morehouse College, recognizing his extraordinary leadership, advocacy and transformative impact on higher education.

“Atlanta has long been a beacon of academic excellence, rooted in the legacy of our HBCUs and strengthened by the collective will of our community,” said Mayor Andre Dickens. “Hosting this Ball is both a privilege and a personal commitment to advancing UNCF’s mission. We are especially proud to honor Dr. Thomas, whose distinguished leadership continues to shape our city’s educational landscape.”

The program will be emceed by award-winning actor and comedian Anthony Anderson and will feature a special performance by legendary R&B group En Vogue, adding to the excitement of the celebratory evening.

Local UNCF leadership emphasized the power of community support and long-standing corporate partnership have contributed to the event’s success over four decades.

“Atlanta shows up for our students every single year,” said Justine Boyd, assistant vice president, UNCF Atlanta Regional Office. “As we prepare for the 42nd Annual Ball, the energy is extraordinary. We are thankful for the generous support of Norfolk Southern and our extraordinary sponsor family, which allows us to create an unforgettable evening while raising the critical funds needed to help Metro Atlanta students move to and through college.”

2025 UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball Sponsors

  • Title Sponsor: Norfolk Southern
  • Presenting Sponsors: The Coca-Cola Company, Chick-fil-A, Delta Air Lines, Google, The Home Depot, and UPS

Program Participants:

  • Host: The Honorable Andre Dickens, mayor, City of Atlanta
  • Official UNCF Host: Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF
  • MASKED Awardee: David A. Thomas, president emeritus, Morehouse College
  • Celebrity Host: Anthony Anderson
  • Entertainment: En Vogue
  • Event Leadership: Justine Boyd, assistant vice president, UNCF Atlanta Regional Office

Proceeds from the 42nd Annual UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball will support scholarships for students and operational assistance for UNCF-member colleges.

###

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.