FAMU along with North Carolina Central University will be
the participants in this year’s inaugural celebration. The weekend of events
will include a baseball doubleheader featuring the two HBCUs on April 24 at Jim
Rice Field in Roxbury, Mass. and a single game on April 25 at the historic
Fenway Park in Boston.
The press conference announcing the celebration was attended by Marty Walsh, mayor of the City of Boston; Larry Lucchino, president and CEO of the Red Sox; Tom Werner, chairman of the Red Sox and television producer (“A Different World”); and Frank Jordan, creator of the HBCU Legacy Weekend Celebration and special adviser to the Red Sox.
In addition to Mangum, Interim Athletic Director E. D’Wayne
Robinson and Vice President for Communications and External Relations Jimmy
Miller represented FAMU at the press conference.
Mangum thanked all of the sponsors of the events and said
that the celebration is more than just three ball games between two MEAC rivals
for FAMU. The events are designed to provide inspiration, information, and
resources to the community.
“Our mission of serving the underserved dovetails perfectly
with the sponsors of this celebration, which is why I am so proud to be here
today representing FAMU,” said Mangum.
She added, “What distinguishes FAMU from others is its
legacy of providing access to a high-quality, affordable education to many
students who otherwise may never have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams
of getting a college degree. Helping the dreams of others to come to fruition
is something that all of the organizations participating in Legacy Weekend have
in common.”
In addition to the games between NCCU and FAMU, the weekend
of events includes a reception on April 23, a debate hosted by Harvard
University on April 24, and a college and career fair hosted by the Red Sox on
April 25 at the Boston Red Sox Fenway Park Open House. All events during the
HBCU Legacy Weekend are free and open to the public.
“This event is an awesome opportunity for Florida A&M
athletics,” said Robinson. “It allows us to impact our recruiting and marketing
efforts at another level, and continues to build on the legacy of this great
institution.”