Southern Company honors mentorship, community service leaders

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Sep 22, 2015, 02:30 ET

ATLANTA, Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company, in partnership with Perennial Strategy Group, honored community leaders who have inspired growth and fostered development at the seventh annual Evening of Excellence in Washington, D.C. The prestigious event honoring America's most influential advocates of change was held in conjunction with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's (CBCF) 45th Annual Legislative Conference.

"Honoring the goodwill, sacrifice and leadership of those who find ways to take action and enact positive change in their communities is an important part of the Evening of Excellence," said Southern Company Executive Vice President and President of External Affairs Christopher C. Womack. "Southern Company has a long-standing commitment to being citizens in the communities we're privileged to serve, and this event pays tribute to those who embody our highest values and leave a legacy of stewardship."

The 2015 awards reception, on Sept. 18, honored Impact Strategies President and CEO and Team Impact Founder Angela T. Rye and Georgia-Pacific Foundation President and 100 Black Men of America Chairman Curley M. Dossman. The reception also included a special tribute to The Honorable U.W. Clemon, civil rights leader and former Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

"The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation has a rich history of advocating for the positive evolution and transformation of our communities, so by choosing to honor influential African-American leaders who have served as trusted mentors and allies to young lives, we continue to celebrate the very essence of the CBCF," said Perennial Strategy Group Founder and CEO Lamell McMorris. "We hope that their stories serve as an inspiration to those who have continued to embrace this event."

Previous Evening of Excellence honorees include: Kenny Leon, Broadway, film, and television director, and Tony Award-Winning Broadway director of "A Raisin in the Sun"; Robert Battle, artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Debra L. Lee, chairman and CEO of BET Networks; Dr. Jesse J. Lewis Sr., founder of the Birmingham Times newspaper; Sophia Marnell, owner and president of Alexton, Inc.; Maj. Gen. Nadja West, Two-Star General, U.S. Army Medical Command; actress and education advocate Alfre Woodard; Dr. Norman C. Francis, president of Xavier University, Louisiana; Dr. Andrew Hugine Jr., president of Alabama A&M University; Issa Rae, writer and creator of "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl"; U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee; musician and activist Dr. Henry Panion III; Dr. Robert M. Franklin Jr., president of Morehouse College; CNN's Suzanne Malveaux; NFL star Warrick Dunn; TV personality and author Judge Glenda Hatchett; philanthropist, entrepreneur, and filmmaker Sheila C. Johnson; Rodney Peete and Holly Robinson Peete, founders of The HollyRod Foundation; radio host Tom Joyner; fitness guru Donna Richardson-Joyner; and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin.

About Southern Company

With more than 4.5 million customers and approximately 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast through its subsidiaries. A leading U.S. producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and designated a 2014 Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company earned the 2014 National Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear development, and is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

About The Perennial Family of Businesses

Perennial Strategy Group (www.perennialsg.com) is a strategic advisory firm that provides government, public, and community affairs consulting services to Fortune 500 companies, national nonprofits, trade associations, and public-sector clients on a wide range of public policy issues. The firm specializes in the areas of corporate-government collaboration, banking and financial services, education, technology and communication, community and economic development, grassroots advocacy, and corporate social responsibility and global diversity. Its sister company, Perennial Sports and Entertainment (www.perennialse.com), is a premier, full-service sports agency that represents NFL and NBA players and personalities. Collectively, its agents have signed multiple first-round picks and negotiated several multi-million dollar contracts. Its team brings to the table a wealth of knowledge of the sports and entertainment industries and decades of experience working with athletes, entertainers, musicians, media personalities, and nonprofits.

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