NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NEGRO WOMEN, INC.

Bethune/Height Recognition Program

 

NCNW Section Members from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut established the Mary Mcleod Bethune Recognition Program in 1974.  This is a fundraising event to raise money for the National organization and to honor Dr. Dorothy I. Height.  This program was modeled after Hadassah, an organization established in 1912 in New York City by Henrietta Szold and the daughters of Zion, a women's study group who raised funds to establish the first medical school in Palestine.  Our National Headquarters is located at 633 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C.

 

Members who raise $300 or more in support of National are called ‘Bethune Achievers’.  Members can also achieve as a Life Member or a Legacy Life Member by raising $500 or $1,000, respectively.

 

Esther McCall served as the National Chair at the inception of this prestigious program, having been appointed to her post by our beloved Dr. Dorothy Irene Height.  Ms. McCall helped facilitate the renaming of the program to the Bethune/Height Recognition Program (‘BHRP’) following Dr. Height's passing on April 20, 2010.  The renaming of the program was to honor Dr. Height’s life-long contribution and commitment NCNW.

When Ms. McCall passed over on August 23, 2013, Ingrid Saunders Jones, our National Chair, appointed Dawna Michelle Fields as Chair of the Bethune/Height Recognition Program.   She was charged with reviewing the policies and procedures of BHRP.  As this program is so important, Ms. Fields requested a Co-chair to raise the execution of BHRP to the highest level.  Therefore, our National Chair appointed New York State Convener and former Member-at-Large, Mrs. Johnnie Walker as Co-chair of BHRP.

 

Members of the 39 community based sections of NCNW sponsor this annual fundraising celebration in 17 states:  California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and the Mid-Atlantic Regions.

 

The BHRP Committee meets the first Saturday of the month from October through May with each section hosting the meeting in their area.