Harvard Black Men’s Forum honors Phylicia A. Rashad:

The Harvard Black Men’s Forum (BMF) will present the 2003 Woman of the Year Award to actress Phylicia A. Rashad, best known for her portrayal of a loving mother of five and high-powered attorney Claire Huxtable on television’s “The Cosby Show.” The award to Rashad is the highlight of the BMF’s Ninth Annual Celebration of Black Women: Redefining the Face of Excellence! to be held at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston on Friday (March 7) at 7 p.m.

The celebration is an awards dinner honoring the contributions black women have made to Harvard University and to the greater community. In addition to Rashad, the forum will honor nine current Harvard undergraduate women and will present a scholarship to female African-American Boston or Cambridge high school seniors who plan to pursue undergraduate degrees at accredited postsecondary institutions. These awards are reserved for exceptional individuals who exhibit the traits of excellence, leadership, commitment to public service, and a desire to make a difference.

In keeping with the theme of this year’s celebration, highlights for the evening include dinner, live entertainment, scholarship awards, dancing, and networking opportunities. The BMF celebration is known for bringing together business/community leaders and educators from around the globe, current and prospective Harvard University students, students from other universities, Harvard alumni, recruiters, and leading corporate sponsors.

The Harvard Black Men’s Forum serves as a support network for the black men of the University through which they can confer on pertinent issues, seek academic support, and come together for community service. Above all, the members of the forum are dedicated to employing brotherhood, manhood, and fidelity to effect positive change in themselves and their communities.