The "A Candle in the Dark" Gala was named after the title of the College's official history book written by Edward A. Jones '26. The Gala has become one of the nation's premier events that celebrates African American achievements. The event has honored more than 135 individuals over the past 30 years.
Past Honorees include Dr. Peter Chatard Jr. '56; actors Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson '72 and Danny Glover; renowned historian and educator John Hope Franklin; legendary sports figures Henry "Hank" Aaron, Muhammad Ali and Arthur Ashe; retired New York Transit Authority worker Clarence "Kappa" Brown '40; civil rights leaders Andrew Young and H. Julian Bond '71; former Postal Rate Commission Chairman George Haley '49; former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher '63; noted scholar and professor Cornel West and philanthropist and entertainer Oprah Winfrey.
Morehouse knew it needed to enhance its annual Founder’s Day celebration when alumni and friends of the College expressed the need for a formal, elaborate and celebratory fund-raising event to draw them back to the College. Atlanta residents and local corporations, as well as members of the philanthropic community, were continually flooded with invitations from non-profit organizations requesting their participation in fundraisers, so Morehouse needed to launch a unique, memorable event.
It was imperative that the Morehouse College family did all it could to make its event stand out by conveying several special facts about the College, such as:
Morehouse continues to attract many of the nation’s best and brightest black male students and provide an environment that is academically challenging and socially enriching.
Morehouse is committed to raising scholarship dollars to ensure that a college education remains attainable for qualified black male scholars who want and deserve a first-rate education.