Donations of $37,000 were designated for a historically black college.

Donations of $37,000 were designated for a historically black college.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN Jr.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Edward W. Powers Auditorium filled to capacity, people dancing at their seats, a stage packed with musical talent and donations to support a list of worthy causes. Tom Joyner is back in town, this time with The Ohio Players.
Joyner, host of the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show, held a "Sky Show" remote broadcast of his show from Powers Auditorium this morning. This is the second consecutive year a Joyner remote broadcast was conducted from the downtown landmark.
Joyner's radio show is syndicated in more than 120 markets nationwide, including on WRBP-FM 101.9 of Youngstown. On average, about 8 million people tune in daily. Joyner is the second most popular radio personality with Internet users, behind Howard Stern, according to the Lycos top 50.
By 6 a.m., hundreds of people who had waited for many hours outside Powers were dancing their way inside the facility. Some talked, some laughed, but most were eager for the show to get started.
Then it got funky.
The Ohio Players took to the stage with their hit "Love Rollercoaster" and many of those who had just found seats moved into the aisles for a little extra dance space.
The group kept the party going with old-school hits such as "Heaven Must be Like This" and "Sweet Sticky Thing."
The comedy of Michael Colyar also kept the crowd laughing and smiling.
Supporting black education
But when the dust settles, the dancing stops, and the music and fun come to an end, Joyner often reminds his listeners and fans that the Sky Show is "a party with a purpose."
That purpose is, among other things, increasing black voter registration, promoting good health in the minority community and raising money for historically black colleges and universities.
To that end, many businesses, organizations and religious groups support the Tom Joyner Foundation in its mission to help students at historically black colleges and universities. Several large checks crossed the stage in support of Joyner's work.
Donations totaling $37,000 will be given to Tougaloo College in Jackson, Miss., a historically black university.
Joyner also started getting people registered to vote with the help of Willie Oliver, president of the local chapter of the NAACP.
Debra Benton of Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church Ministries said the church and its pastor Bishop Norman Wagner have always been advocates of higher education in the black community and support Joyner's efforts to help support those attending historically black colleges and universities. The church presented a check to the Joyner Foundation for the second consecutive year.
"We specifically are targeting the education component because [the foundation] gives scholarships to historically black colleges. That is where our interests are," Benton said. "Calvary has always been a great believer in educating our children. Whether we are doing it, or someone else is doing it, we support those efforts."
Correcting health disparities
Other groups support Joyner's efforts for other reasons.
Michael Robinson of Humility of Mary Health Partners said HMHP is highly interested in Joyner's efforts to close the health gap between blacks and whites. Joyner is an advocate of initiatives such as "take a loved one to the doctor" day in September.
"We realize there is a disparity in health care for minorities when you look at the rates for certain diseases and health care in general," he said.
Robinson said HMHP also finds the support of black colleges and universities appealing because it has the potential of bringing more minorities to the health-care professions.