Reginald F. Lewis Foundation Honors Black Entrepreneurs At Gala
NEW YORK —L. Londell McMillan, partner and co-head of the Media and Entertainment Global Industry Sector at the international law firm of Dewey and LeBoeuf, will be honored at the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation Gala Luncheon on Saturday, June 26 at the Lewis Estate in East Hampton, New York. Peter Offerman, Phyllis Schless and Robert C. Winters, Jr. will also be acknowledged, with each receiving a Millennium Member award recognizing the key roles they played in the life and career of Lewis. The event, which is sponsored by American Express, Bloomberg, Black Entertainment Television, Belvedere, Kate's Paperie, The Camelot Group and GenNx360 Capital Partners, will feature performances by R&B singer Deborah Cox and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. WCBS-TV News Anchor Maurice DuBois will serve as emcee.
The attorney will receive the Reginald F. Lewis Award, which honors African American entrepreneurs who succeeded internationally in business before the age of 50, as Lewis did. The first African American billionaire, Lewis led the largest leveraged buyout in the 1980s. He went on to shatter all expectations and inspire future generations of African American entrepreneurs.
McMillan, who has represented such luminaries as the late Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Usher, LL Cool J, Roberta Flack and Spike Lee, joins the likes of Sean “Diddy” Combs and real estate mogul R. Donahue Peebles, past recipients. He is also one of the co-owners and partners with real-estate developer Bruce Ratner and hip-hop icon Jay-Z in the New Jersey Nets and the Atlantic Yards development in
Following the Gala Luncheon is Beach Glamour, an ocean side benefit given by and for young professionals in their 20s and 30s. Tina Wells, the 30-year-old founder of Buzz Marketing Group, a $5 million business that she started at 16, will receive the group’s first RFL Young Entrepreneurial Award. The award is given to successful entrepreneurs under 40 who reflect the values, virtues, legacy and philanthropy of Reginald F. Lewis. Music will be provided by DJ M.O.S. and WCBS-TV News Reporter Hazel Sanchez will be the emcee. Exciting raffle and silent auction items such as a week’s stay for four in
“The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation is pleased to recognize the hard work of Londell McMillan and Tina Wells and the wonderful contributions of Peter, Phyllis and Robert to the story and legacy of my husband,” said Loida Lewis, widow of the legendary mogul and foundation chair. “Perseverance and dedication, especially in entrepreneurship, normally pay off in individual success and community development, and help society in general. We are happy for their success and are grateful for their help of the Foundation.”
Additional sponsors of the Gala Luncheon are J.P. Morgan, Ariel Investments LLC, The NorthStar Group and Prudential Financial.
Proceeds of both events will benefit the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture in
Tickets are $550 for the Gala Luncheon, which takes place at 12:30 pm, and $250 for Beach Glamour, which begins at 5 pm. Both events can be attended for the discounted rate of $700. To attend or sponsor the events, please visit www.reginaldflewis.com or contact Carissa Villacorta at 646-431-3611.
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