48th annual Black Achievers celebration goes virtual this weekend

On Oct. 3, Black Achievers Inc., will honor 36 outstanding individuals when it hosts the 48th annual Black Achievers Virtual Awards Celebration. Earlier this month, Buffalo Black Achievers CEO Herbert L. Bellamy Jr. released the names of six special award recipients.

Donald K. Boswell, president and CEO of Buffalo Toronto Public Broadcasting, will receive the Media Award.

M&T Chairman and CEO René F. Jones will accept the organization’s Award of Excellence.

Tanya M. Staples, a senior director with Say Yes Buffalo, will be honored with the Mayor’s Youth Award. 

Juneteenth President Marcus O. Brown will receive the Community Service Award. 

Karen Saxon, a music educator, director and performer extraordinaire, will be presented with the Irene Bellamy Musician’s Award.

The Homecoming Award will be presented to former Buffalo resident Nicholas K. Fortson.

The 48th Annual Black Achievers Virtual Awards Celebration will begin streaming at 8 p.m. Saturday on the Black Achievers website (buffaloblackachievers.org) and on WKBW-TV’s website (www.wkbw.com). The event will also be streamed on social media. It will broadcast from noon until 2 p.m. Sunday on WKBW-TV Channel 7.

Black Achievers Inc. has honored the past, celebrated the present and looked toward the future for over 45 years. The Black Achievers Awards was started as a banquet to honor and celebrate the contributions of founder Herbert L. Bellamy Sr. This event has transformed from the humble beginnings of 1490 Enterprises Inc., sponsoring the “Black Achievers in Industry Awards Dinner” to the honors event in the City of Buffalo for African Americans. Learn more at buffaloblackachievers.org.