DENVER,-- The 14th annual American Indian College Fund (the Fund) Flame of Hope Gala, celebrating the Fund's 20th anniversary, will be held at the Seawell Grand Ballroom at the Denver Center of the Performing Arts in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday, October 28. The event will raise funds for student scholarships. A press conference with Fund President and CEO Richard B. Williams; Candeska Cikana tribal college president Cynthia Lindquist Mala; actress, musician and celebrity co-chair Irene Bedard; and tribal college students will be held in the Crescent Room at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts at 5 p.m. Cocktails will begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and a program at 7 p.m. Black tie or Native dress is requested. Celebrity co-chairs for the event are actress and musician Irene Bedard, actor Benjamin Bratt and L.A. Lakers coach Phil Jackson. Dignitaries attending will include Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Colorado Lieutenant Governor Barbara O'Brien, and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. Headline entertainment by the "Empress of Soul" Ms. Gladys Knight will be provided. Hattie Kauffman of The Early Show, CBS, will serve as the evening's Mistress of Ceremonies. Other program highlights will include personal stories from tribal college students and a first look at the THINK INDIAN television campaign. For more information about covering the event, please contact Dina Horwedel at 303-430-5350, ordhorwedel@collegefund.org. About the American Indian College Fund The Denver, Colorado-based American Indian College Fund (the Fund) is the largest national scholarship provider for American Indian students. The Fund was created in 1989 to raise funds for scholarships and support America's 33 tribal colleges. The Fund provides more than 6,000 scholarships annually. SOURCE American Indian College Fund