100 Black Men Greater Cleveland, Inc.

Hello Community,

Please join us on October 3, 2026, for the 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc. Evening of Excellence, as we celebrate outstanding individuals whose leadership, service, and commitment have made a lasting impact on our community.

We are proud to announce one of our distinguished honorees, Dr. Margaret McKenzie.

Dr. McKenzie joined the Cleveland Clinic in 1995 as a staff member in the Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health Institute. Most recently, she served as Section Head of General Obstetrics and Gynecology. Throughout her distinguished career, she has provided exceptional care to patients at Euclid and Hillcrest Hospitals, as well as the Beachwood and Willoughby Hills Family Health Centers.

Her dedication to improving the health and well-being of women and families throughout our region has earned her the respect of colleagues, patients, and community leaders alike.

As noted by J. Stephen Jones, M.D., "Dr. McKenzie is a well-respected leader at Cleveland Clinic who is passionate about delivering care to patients who live in the communities that we serve."

Join us as we honor Dr. McKenzie and other remarkable leaders during an unforgettable evening celebrating excellence, achievement, and service.

Tickets Go On Sale June 15, 2026!

Mark your calendars and make plans to attend this signature event. Your support helps us continue our mission of mentoring, education, health and wellness, economic empowerment, and leadership development throughout Greater Cleveland.

Evening of Excellence

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Mentoring is the cornerstone of the 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc., and it remains at the heart of everything we do.

Through our Saturday Academy, we are proud to invest in the lives of our youth by providing guidance, encouragement, education, and positive role models. Every session is an opportunity to help young people build confidence, develop leadership skills, make informed decisions, and prepare for a successful future.

We understand that today's youth are tomorrow's leaders. That is why we are committed to showing them what excellence, integrity, responsibility, and service look like. By sharing our experiences, wisdom, and support, we help them navigate challenges and discover their potential.

There is no greater reward than knowing we are making a difference in their lives and helping to shape the next generation of leaders who will positively impact our communities for years to come.

Because what they see is what they'll be.

If you would like to enroll your young man in our mentoring program and Saturday Academy, please click the link below for more information and to register.
https://forms.office.com/r/gYLGNr53rM

Give your son the opportunity to learn, grow, and be inspired by positive male role models who are committed to helping him succeed.

We look forward to welcoming him to the 100 Black Men family.

Happy Birthday to our member, Dr. Ernest Smoot, Mentoring Co-Chair for the 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc.!

Your dedication, leadership, and commitment to mentoring our youth continue to make a lasting impact throughout our community. Thank you for the time, wisdom, and guidance you pour into the next generation and for helping strengthen the mission of our organization each and every day.

We wish you continued blessings, good health, happiness, and much success in the year ahead. Enjoy your special day, Dr. Smoot!

The 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc. Evening of Excellence is going to be EPIC!

Adding even more excitement to this incredible evening will be Ahmaad Crump — you know his voice, you know his outgoing personality, and you know he’s going to bring the energy all night long! He is the In-Arena Host for the Cleveland Cavaliers and is known for bringing excitement, energy, and entertainment everywhere he goes.

Combined with our outstanding slate of honorees, powerful fellowship, and a celebration of leadership, mentorship, and community impact, this will truly be the place to be.

Get ready for an unforgettable night filled with excellence, inspiration, entertainment, and celebration as we honor those making a difference in our community. Tickets will be on sale soon!

Join us on October 3, 2026, at the Cleveland Marriott East.

Don’t miss one of Cleveland’s premier events of the year!

On behalf of the Board and membership of the 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc., we want to sincerely thank you for your service, sacrifice, and commitment to protecting the freedoms we enjoy every day. Your courage and dedication will never be forgotten.

Memorial Day is more than a holiday or long weekend. It is a day of remembrance and honor for the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who gave their lives while serving our country. It is a time for us to reflect on the true cost of freedom and to pay tribute to those heroes and the families who carry their legacy forward.

Today, we honor all who served and especially remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Thank you for your service, your leadership, and your continued example to our youth and community.

Some ask what the 100 Black Men is and what we do. We are the largest Black mentoring organization in the United States, committed to impacting the lives of youth through mentorship, education, leadership, and empowerment.

This is mentorship in action.

LaRese Purnell is mentoring not only one young man but also two young men in the 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc. mentee program. His dedication, consistency, and commitment are a true example of what our organization stands for. LaRese is also the National Treasurer for the 100 Black Men of America, Inc.

The other young man in the black hoodie is his son, who recently graduated from college and will now work alongside his father at his firm. This is what generational leadership, legacy, and mentorship look like — fathers leading by example and sons continuing the path of excellence.

Mentorship is more than meetings and conversations — it is guidance, accountability, leadership, and showing our young men what success, integrity, and service look like in real life.

Thank you, LaRese, for being an outstanding example of “What They See Is What They’ll Be.”

Come join the 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc. and the Greater Cleveland Association of Black Journalists for our Annual Golf Outing!

This exciting event brings together community leaders, professionals, supporters, and friends for a day of networking, fellowship, and fun on the golf course while supporting programs that positively impact our community.

Click the link below to purchase your ticket or register a foursome for this outstanding event. We look forward to seeing you there and appreciate your continued support.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-drive-cleveland-golf-outing

Looking for a positive, engaging, and impactful program for your son? Come join the 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc., Saturday Academy — where mentorship, education, leadership, and life skills come together to help shape the next generation of young leaders.

Our Saturday Academy provides youth with hands-on learning experiences, mentoring, career exposure, health & wellness activities, financial literacy, workforce development, college and trade readiness, cultural enrichment, and leadership development. We also expose our young men to exciting activities that teach teamwork, discipline, communication, and brotherhood — including sports, community service projects, STEM activities, entrepreneurship, and unique experiences such as rowing on Lake Erie.

The Saturday Academy is designed to inspire, motivate, and prepare our youth for success both inside and outside the classroom while surrounding them with positive Black male role models who genuinely care about their future.

The 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc. continues to make a lasting impact through our Saturday Academy Program, and on May 16, 2026, we experienced yet another outstanding and memorable session. Our young men participated in an exciting rowing experience on beautiful Lake Erie, where they learned firsthand the importance of teamwork, communication, discipline, and working together toward a common goal. Rowing taught our youth that success is achieved when everyone moves in unity, trusts one another, and remains committed to the team. The experience challenged them both mentally and physically while fostering confidence, leadership, and brotherhood in a positive, encouraging environment.

This session set a record for our Saturday Academy Program Rowing activity, showing the growing impact and excitement around our mentoring initiative. The energy, engagement, and participation from both the youth and parents were truly inspiring and showed that our community believes in the mission of investing in the next generation. Seeing so many young men come together eager to learn, grow, and support one another was a proud moment for our organization and a reminder that the future is bright when mentorship, opportunity, and positive guidance are present.

SAVE THE DATE

The 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc. proudly presents our highly anticipated 2026 Evening of Excellence — an unforgettable night of elegance, celebration, inspiration, and community impact.

Join us on:
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Cleveland Marriott East
26300 Harvard Rd
Warrensville Heights, OH 44122

Reception — 5:00 PM
Program Begins — 6:00 PM

This year, we are raising the bar higher than ever before with NEW surprises, unforgettable moments, distinguished guests, fresh faces, and an atmosphere that will make this an evening truly “ONE FOR THE BOOKS.”

Prepare for a night filled with excellence, brotherhood, recognition, entertainment, and celebration as we continue making an impact throughout Greater Cleveland and beyond.

Mark your calendars now—because this is a night you do not want to miss.