FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Mark Jones

Director of Chapter Strength
Phi Beta Sigma, Inc
Nu Lambda Sigma Alumni Chapter of Lake County
847-445-6070
PHI BETA SIGMA PLANS FIRST ANNUAL BLUE AND WHITE BALL
Fraternity Set to Honor Local Community Leaders and Announce New Youth Initiative
After nine years of serving Lake County, Illinois communities, the local chapter of Phi Beta
Sigma Fraternity Inc. will host its first annual Blue and White Ball on Oct. 11 at the Milan
Banquet Hall in Waukegan. The Master of Ceremony for the event will be Jason McKie, former
member of the Chicago Bears and the current Radio Host for 87.7FM "The Game Chicago".
The event is designed to celebrate the brotherhood of the men of Phi Beta Sigmas Nu Lambda
Sigma Alumni Chapter of Lake County and to be the organizations premiere fundraising event
for the year. Moreover, the Blue and White Ball, named for the colors of Phi Beta Sigma, is an
offshoot of the parent organizations national 2014 Centennial Celebration, which was held July
16-20 in Washington, D.C.
The local celebration will highlight three main themes: Celebrating 100 Years of Community
Service, Honoring the Vision of the Founders of Phi Beta Sigma, and Continuing the Chapters
Service and Support to the Community into the Next Decade and Century.
What better way to honor the men who have come before us than to serve the communities
that have supported us through our journey, said Mark Jones, Director of Chapter Strength for
the Nu Lambda Sigma Alumni Chapter. The men of Sigma here in Lake County, Illinois, have
worked very hard to make a difference in our communities.
As part of the evenings festivities, the organization will honor local community leaders in the
areas of education, business and community service. Awards will be presented by the fraternitys
International President Jonathan A. Mason Sr. Award winners will be announced at a later date.
In commemoration of its Centennial Celebration, the Sigmas of Lake County plan to launch a
local initiative the Sigma Beta Club - to prepare young, minority men for community service
and leadership.
The Sigma Beta Club will focus on four major principles: Culture, athletics, social service and
education and will help youth develop values, leadership skills and social/cultural awareness.
The initiative will coincide with efforts of the national office and Sigma chapters nationwide to
address issues impacting men of color.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity has a long history of helping youth, dating back to 1950 when it
became one of the first Greek organizations to start a youth auxiliary.
Since 2005, local members of Phi Beta Sigma have hosted and/or led the following activities
in the Lake County area as part of the organizations three main initiatives: Bigger and Better
Business, Education and Social Action:

Bigger and Better Business: Partnered with two minority-owned businesses for
community service initiatives which included fundraising for scholarships and providing
meals to families.

Education: Provided two scholarships to college-bound high school seniors, provided

financial support to the local chapter of National Pan-Hellenic Council which provided
scholarships for men and women of color.

Social Action: Participated in the March of Dimes-Walk for Babies in Libertyville,

Illinois and Relay for Life American Cancer Society at Warren Township High
School in Gurnee, Illinois; sponsored memberships at local Boys and Girls Clubs; and
collaborated with a local food pantry/soup kitchen to feed the needy.
Members of the community are encouraged to attend the Blue and White Ball and support the
men of Phi Beta Sigma of Lake County in their continued service to the community.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. is an international organization of college and professional
men, predominantly of African- American origin. From its inception, Phi Beta Sigma has been
open to men of all races, religions, classes and national origins. The fraternity holds as its
motto, Culture for Service and Service for Humanity. The organization has its international
headquarters in Washington, D.C., and has more than 175,000 alumni and collegiate members
in more than 500 chapters in the U.S., the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. It conducts national
programs in education; social action and bigger and better business; a youth mentorship
program of Sigma Beta Clubs for young men from 8 to 18; and a Sigma Wellness program in
partnership with the American Cancer Society, the March of Dimes and Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
###