- Annual Event to Benefit Local Charities -

(BLACK PR WIRE)--(Orlando, FL)--The LBS Foundation and Onyx Magazine are excited to announce the ninth annual Onyx Ovation Week, which will take place the first week of May, 2011, ending with the grand finale: The Annual Onyx Awards Gala on May 7th, 2011 at the Rosen Centre Hotel. This annual event is the premiere social gathering for Florida’s African-American professionals and aims to increase awareness andraise donations for sickle cell awareness and various educational initiatives throughout the state.

Ovation Week begins on Tuesday, May 3rd, with featured author Lucille O’Neal in spirited a literary discussion about her new book and raising basketball superstar, Shaquille O’Neal. Thursday, May 5th, showcases a benefit concert with world-renowned theatrical celebrity and gala honoree Norman Lewis. Friday, May 6th, the annual Onyx Mixer will take place and allow various industry professionals to network with the state’s top-tier talent; and the week rounds out with the final event on Saturday, the Annual Onyx Awards Gala.

This year’s theme is The Art of it All, and will feature a tribute to The Florida Highwaymen, a group of 26 African-American artists who captured Florida’s beautiful untouched landscape with vivid colors and accurate brush strokes, adding to the legacy of Florida’s Black trailblazers.The awards show will honor nominees in five competitive categories and seven non-competitive categories. The nominees are viewed by their peers as innovators and outstanding contributors throughout the state of Florida.

“Each year, this event is able to touch more lives and shed light on Florida’s best and brightest,” said Lillian Seays, LBS FoundationsCo-Founder. “We also like to use this event as a reminder of the many residents that are in need in this state of Florida and that’s why we focus on our selected charities.” In 2009 and 2010, the LBS Foundation was able to donate over $30,000 to charitable causes throughout Florida and plans to double that number over the next two years.

“Giving back is the only way we are able to advance our community. This award show’s total focus is about sharing that spirit and harnessing the synergy that comes from having so many outstanding individuals in one setting.” For more information about the Onyx Ovation Week, please visit: www.onyxawards.com or call (407) 625-3024.

About the Awards:

Onyx Magazine, on behalf of LBS Foundation Incorporated, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, celebrates its ninth annual Onyx Awards. We invite you to serve on the Planning Committee of what has become Florida's signature African American awards celebration of "Black Trailblazers" and corporations that promote inclusion and diversity in the workplace.

This signature event serves as a funding engine to support health and education initiatives of the foundation, which currently focuses on sickle cell disease, early literacy and scholarships. In 2009, through a generous donation provided by the LBS Foundation Incorporated, the Tri-County Sickle Cell Disease Association, Inc. continued services at its new outreach resource center. This office serves clients in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. Funding was also provided to the Jacksonville - Sickle Cell Disease Association, Inc. to assist in its mission to serve the clientsof Duval County. Through your support, we can continue to make a difference.