1862 Circle Gala
The Penn Center has long been recognized as one of the nation’s premier historic institutions dedicated to the preservation of Gullah Geechee culture.
In 2003, the Penn Center established the 1862 Circle, celebrating the founding of Penn School, now Penn Center. The 1862 Circle recognizes leaders who embody the spirit of Penn Center, and who serve as national advocates for the enduring history and culture of the Sea Islands.
The 1862 Circle Gala is a flagship event for fundraising and celebration of Penn Center.
Past honorees include:
Emory S. Campbell—2003
Vernon Jordan—2003
James Denmark—2004
Juan Williams—2004
Congressman John Lewis—2005
Courtney Siceloff—2007
Congressman James E. Clyburn—2007
Jonathan Green—2008
Penn Club, Inc.—2008
Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe—2009
Senator Ernest “Fritz” Hollings—2009
Thomas C. Barnwell, Jr. –2009
Laura M. Towne—2009
Ellen Murray—2009
Mary Inabinett Mack—2010
Phylicia Rashad—2010
Sankofa Circle of New York—2011
Pat Conroy—2011
Roland J. Gardner—2011
Louis O. Dore—2012
UNC-Chapel Hill Wilson Library—2012
John W. Gadson, Sr.—2012
Charlotte Forten—2012
Congressman Robert Smalls—2012
UUFB—2013
Ronald Daise—2013
Joseph A. Opala—2013
Marian Wright Eldelman—2014
Herman K. Gaither—2014
Agnes Colley Sherman—2014
Brick Baptist Church—2014
Dr. Herbert and Rep. Harriet Kyserling—2014
Etta N. Mann—2015
Governor Richard W. Riley—2015
Eleanor I. Barnwell—2015
BJHCHS, Inc.—2015
Robert Middleton—2016
Anita Singleton-Prather—2016
Elijah Washington—2016
Leroy and Corrine Browne—2016
Jonathan Francis, Sr.—2016
Andrew Young, Jr.—2017
Capt. Joseph “Crip” Legree—2017
Julie Dash—2018
General Lloyd W. “fig” Newton—2018
Gardenia Simmons-White—2018
Rev. Dr. Kenneth C. Doe—2018
Ervena Faulkner—2019
Dr. Julius S. Scott, Jr.—2019
You can support the Penn Center’s mission of preservation by supporting the 1862 Circle Gala in the following ways:
Become a major supporter
Become a table sponsor
Become an individual supporter