GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Grand Rapids Community College has announced that Dr. Jacqueline Walters will keynote the 40th annual GIANT awards February 25th at DeVos Place.
"Dr. Jackie" as she is better known, is a television personality, philanthropist and health expert. The 40th anniversary celebration will high past GIANT honors and present a special anniversary award, according to G-R-C-C spokesman Dave Murray.
"We are going to recognize the legacy of 40 years of leaders. People who have shaped our Grand Rapids and West Michigan community," Murray told WOOD Radio.
He added, "We're also looking forward to it because the event raises money for scholarships to look at the next generations."
The GIANT awards recognize African-American leaders and organizations. You can purchase tickets by following a link on the grcc.edu homepage.
The gala will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at DeVos Place’s Exhibit Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW. Individual tickets are $100, with eight-seat tables available for $1,000. Proceeds will support the Milo M. Brown Scholarship and the Junior GIANT Fund.
According to a GRCC news release:
A two-time breast cancer survivor, Walters founded the 50 Shades of Pink Foundation, an organization focused on treating the inner and outer beauty of survivors. The Atlanta resident is featured on the Bravo hit reality series “Married to Medicine” and is a frequent speaker on the topics of women’s health, wellness and self-esteem.
“The GIANT Awards are special to so many people in our community,” GRCC President Emeritus Juan Olivarez said. “It’s an honor to work with leaders who are devoted to recognizing what we have done to this point, but also making sure this important work continues long into the future.”
The annual GIANT Awards, last presented in October 2022, salute 11 leaders. Each award is named after a local person who has demonstrated excellence and serves as a perpetual memorial to those notable contributions.
he Junior GIANT Award, named in honor of GIANT founders Dr. Patricia Pulliam and Cedric Ward, are presented to students of African American heritage who have demonstrated leadership, community involvement and impact. The Milo M. Brown Scholarship is presented to at least one male and one female African American GRCC students returning as full-time sophomores for the following fall semester.
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