The Black~ Star Project is honoring Sites
Purnell as the Black~ Star Man of the Year on Tuesday, December 12, 2000
at the Chicago Athletic Association at The Black~ Star Project's Holiday
Party for his work in sending 50,000 students to college.
Silas Purnell is a modern day hero who
should be featured in African American history, Chicago history and U.S.
history. Silas Purnell is not an athlete or an entertainer. He is not a
notable clergymen, an elected official or a businessmen. However, his work
and his efforts have changed the landscape of the African American community
in Chicago and in America.
He is a man who has helped more than 50,000
young African American men and women enroll in 200 colleges and universities
throughout America, and almost all of these young people received scholarships
and major financial support because of Mr. Purnell. For almost 30 years,
the word in Chicago was that Silas Purnell could get anyone into a good
college, if they really wanted to go. Not having the money was never an
issue with Mr. Purnell. If you were willing to work hard in school, Mr.
Purnell would help with everything from tuition to bus fare to eyeglasses.
Silas Purnell, beginning in 1967, has literally
sent an army of African American students to colleges throughout the United
States of America and is responsible for creating hundreds of doctors,
lawyers, engineers and thousands of successful professionals. Every August
and September for the past 33 years, between 1,000 and 2000 Chicago youth
marched into the halls of higher education and benefitted from the "no
nonsense" approach of Mr. Purnell.
Philip Jackson, project manager for The
Black Star Project says, "No single college recruiter in the history of
America has been as successful as Silas at giving African American students
the chance for success and prosperity. While no fees were charged for his
services, if every student who benefitted from Mr. Purnell's support gave
him $20.00, Silas would be a millionaire. As a matter of principle, I encourage
them to do that!"
Mr. Purnell, director of the Educational
Services Division of Ada S. McKinley Community Services, is a mentor, role
model, counselor, leader, father and husband as well as "the father of
higher education" in the African American community.
For more information about The Black Star
Project's Holiday Party honoring Silas Purnell or to RSVP, please call
(312) 842-3527.