Wheaties Honors NBA Legend Bill Russell
Las Vegas – Bill Russell was honored on Feb. 16 by Wheaties with a new limited-edition package featuring the legendary NBA Champion. The new Wheaties package, unveiled during NBA All-Star 2007 in Las Vegas , continues Wheaties' tradition of honoring renowned African American athletes for Black History Month, and in Russell's case also the first African American head coach/manager in American major league sports. It also celebrates the greatest run in professional sports history - Russell's eight consecutive titles and 11 overall titles in 13 seasons as the cornerstone of the storied Boston Celtics.
For more information, visit www.wheaties.com.

Pelosi Names Miller New Clerk Of House
Washington D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Lorraine C. Miller as the new Clerk of the House of Representatives. Miller, who is currently serving as a senior advisor to Speaker Pelosi, has nearly two decades of experience working for the House. In addition to working for Speaker Pelosi, Miller has worked for two other Speakers, Jim Wright and Tom Foley, as well as Congressman John Lewis of Georgia . A life-long supporter and member of the NAACP, Miller was elected president of the Washington , D.C. Branch NAACP in 2004. As Clerk of the House, Lorraine Miller will become the first African American to serve as an official of the House of Representatives.

Untold Story of Black Oscar Nominee
National – Willie Burton, an African American sound technician in the film industry, was honored with his seventh Academy Award nomination for sound mixing the critically acclaimed theatrical musical, Dreamgirls. What makes this particular nomination special is that it gives Burton the title of being the only African American with the most nominations. The only person who comes close to his record is Denzel Washington who has five. Burton , who has mixed over 77 films since 1970, was honored in 2005 with the Lifetime Career Achievement Award by the Cinema Audio Society. However, with such a stellar career in the film industry, the masses doesn't even know Burton exists.

McDonald’s Director Of Marketing Is Mother Of Year
Oak Brook , IL – Maintaining a successful work/family life balance has earned Carol Hillsman Sagers, director of U.S. marketing for McDonald’s USA , recognition as one of the 2007 Working Mother of the Year Award recipients. Sagers was honored in the category of Trailblazers—working mother pioneers at an awards luncheon on Feb. 1. Sagers joined McDonald’s USA in spring 2004, and is responsible for U.S. marketing efforts for the African American and Pan Asian consumer markets. In her role with McDonald’s, Sagers is charged with leading the comprehensive marketing program and securing McDonald’s brand image amongst the ethnic consumer markets.

Group Urges Board To Keep Tuskegee In Curriculum
Topeka , KA – A national group is urging the Kansas State Board of Education to reject a plan to delete coverage of the historical misuses of science from state curriculum standards, including a reference to the infamous Tuskegee syphilis experiment targeting African Americans. The Tuskegee experiment, which took place from the 1930s to the early 1970s, left nearly 400 African American men untreated during the late stages of syphilis in order to collect medical data from their autopsies. The experiment is one of the most infamous examples of the abuse of human research subjects. Kansas ' current standards call for students to understand that modern science can sometimes be abused by scientists and policymakers, leading to significant negative consequences for society and violations of human dignity.
For more inform ation, visit www.discovery.org.

Hurricane Relief Effort Receives Major Boost
Washington , D.C. – A project designed to provide support for victims of the 2005 hurricanes received a major boost as Northrop Grumman contributed $275,000 to support the effort. The project is a collaboration of the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network and Grammy-winning producer Rodney Jerkins. It involves the production of a CD- DVD featuring an all-star remake of the Sister Sledge hit, We Are Family. Artists showcased on the title track include: Ciara, Chris Brown, Patti LaBelle, Ray J., Brian McKnight, Sister Sledge, Mary Mary, BeBe Winans, Lyfe Jennings, George Clinton, Christina Milian and Branford Marsalis. Volunteer-based organizations serving those affected by the 2005 hurricanes will benefit from the proceeds of We Are Family.
For more information, visit www.wearefamily2007.org.

NFL Forms Black Quarterback Club
Dallas , TX – As if by design, it seems no accident that SuperBowl XLI kicked off Black History Month by making history with two Black Head Coaches leading their teams to the big game. To further level the playing field in high school, college and professional football, Baltimore Ravens star Quarterback Steve McNair and a network of former and current NFL quarterbacks, including Vince Young and Jason Campbell, have joined forces to announce the formation of The Black Quarterback Club (BQC). The BQC is designed to encourage future athletic leaders by offering programs that strengthen young athletes both physically and mentally.

African Americans Make Stride In Tennis
McLean , VA – Everyone who has a television knows about the talents of tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams. So, it's no surprise to learn that they have joined the 2007 U.S. team to compete in the prestigious Fed Cup championship, the world's largest annual international team competition for women with 89 countries competing this year. However, what is history in the making is the USTA announcement that Zina Garrison will continue as captain of the U.S. Fed Cup Team. Garrison is the 18th U.S. Fed Cup captain since the competition began in 1963 and the first African American captain in the competition's history. Garrison debuted as the U.S. Fed Cup captain in 2003, succeeding Billie Jean King, and has posted a 3-3 record as captain, reaching the semifinals the last two years.
For more information, visit www.midatlantic.usta.com.

McDonald’s Hosts Gospel Tour
Oak Brook , IL – McDonald’s serves up a healthy serving of soul-stirring music with the McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour, bringing a powerful message of inspiration to eight U.S. cities. The tour features Grammy Award-winner Smokie Norful, fellow EMI artists Gospel Music Hall of Famer Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and rising gospel star Kierra “Kiki” Sheard for an unforgettable celebration of African American heritage expressed through gospel music. The tour began Feb. 28 in Dallas , and other tour cities include Richmond , VA (March 22); Philadelphia , PA (March 23); Baltimore , MA (March 24); Detroit , MI (March 29); Chicago , IL (March 31); Atlanta , GA (April 4); and Houston , TX on a date to be announced.
For more information, visit www.smokienorful.com.

Black Woman Purchases Pro Basketball Team
Las Vegas , NV – Alexis Levi purchased a professional basketball franchise and settled her International Basketball League (IBL) Expansion Team – the Las Vegas Stars – in Las Vegas , Nevada . To coach her team to greatness, owner, general manager and CEO Levi hired George Tarkanian, son of former UNLV head basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian. Also a Sports Agent Advisor for Sports Management Worldwide, Levi is quite comfortable in professional sports management -- a profession generally populated by men. She is an astute, results-oriented leader with proven successes managing multi-million dollar organizations and business operations.
For more information, visit www.iblhoopsonline.com.

NUL Receievs $5 Million Grant
Redmond , WA - The National Urban League (NUL) received a $5 million dollar software grant from Microsoft, Corp., by far the largest grant the civil rights organization has received. This technology grant will provide the National Urban League and its 102 affiliates with software to help the organization enhance youth programs and encourage kids to pursue math and science related careers. The technology grant was announced Feb. 2 at Microsoft’s 16th Annual Blacks at Microsoft Minority Student Day, designed to teach minority students throughout the country about opportunities in technology. The minority student day and the National Urban League grant are part of Microsoft’s overall commitment to provide technology to underserved communities and to broaden digital inclusion.
For more information, visit www.nul.org.

National Survey Launched To Document African American Museums
Wilberforce , Ohio - As the popularity and cultural impact of African American museums and cultural centers continues to grow, the Association of African American Museums (AAAM) is launching a comprehensive survey to identify these institutions and document their distinct programs, collections and services. The survey project, funded by a $113,760 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), begins with a series of informational meetings the AAAM will host throughout the U.S. When the survey is complete in 2008, the Association will produce a “National Profile of African American Museums,” and establish an online database of institutions and collections related to the heritage of the Black experience. No such resource or information database exists today.
For more information, visit www.blackmuseums.org.