Breaking Bread Beyond, Inc., in partnership with Radiantly Black Lifestyle Magazine, is proud to announce the second annual EMERALD AWARDS, A Salute to Black Excellence in Seminole County. The 2025 Emerald Awards, a televised event, will take place on Saturday, November 1, at The Rink at Northland Church. It will be a grand salute to inspiring and high-achieving African Americans who reside or work in Seminole County. Awards will be presented in fourteen NEW CATEGORIES for this year. Group Awards will include: Church of the Year, Civic Organization or Community Group of the Year, Fraternity of the Year, and Sorority of the Year, along with Individual Awards: Athlete of the Year, Author of the Year, Beauty Professional of the Year, Educator of the Year, IT Professional of the Year, Patient Care Professional of the Year, Performing Artist(s) of the Year, Public Safety Professional of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Small Business of the Year, and Visual Artist of the Year. Winners will be determined by popular vote. The deadline for nominations has been extended from August 15 to August 22. The public is invited to nominate deserving Africans Americans at www.radiantlyblack.com/emerald.
“I am so excited about the 2025 Emerald Awards, with the fourteen new categories representing so many careers. The Emerald Awards program is still the only televised awards show honoring Africa Americans in central Florida and we in Seminole County should be quite proud,” said James Benjamin, Chair of the Board of Directors of Breaking Bread Beyond, Inc. “For those who didn’t attend last year, you missed a real treat. Here is the link to a short video recap of the 2024 event Emerald Awards Recap (2024) on Vimeo. The full program, without commercials, can be accessed at the above-mentioned website. But none of this would be possible without the unselfish and unwavering support of our Honorary Chairs: Seminole County Commissioner Amy Lockhart; Dr. Michael L. Howell, Southeast Regional Medical Executive for Cigna Healthcare; Dr. Ethan Johnson, Health Officer, Florida Department of Health in Seminole County; and Mark McEwen, National TV/Radio Host and Seminole County resident.”
Commissioner Amy Lockhart adds “The 2024 Emerald Awards were so exciting and well executed. I can’t wait to celebrate the 2025 honorees. Breaking Bread Beyond uses the proceeds from this event to address one of our area’s most pressing social concerns. Caring for our homeless residents is one of the of the County’s highest priorities. Kudos and many thanks to AdventHealth for being the first committed sponsor at the highest level of sponsorship. We encourage other businesses and organizations in Seminole County, and those that serve Seminole County, to financially support this wonderful effort.”
Breaking Bread Beyond (BBB) was established in 2017, as a 501C3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing hope to the hopeless and a source of support for unsheltered individuals, under-sheltered families, economically disadvantaged families, students, and elderly in Seminole and Orange Counties. BBB serves four hundred home-cooked meals per week to unsheltered and under-sheltered families and individuals primarily in Seminole County.
“The work of BBB and the Emerald Awards are in complete alignment with our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ,” said Jeff Villanueva, Chief Executive Officer of AdventHealth Altamonte Springs. “We have been actively working to improve the health and wellbeing of Central Florida residents, ensuring they feel whole. Through partnerships with organizations that share our mission, we create positive and longstanding impact in our communities.”
Radiantly Black Lifestyle Magazine – Central Florida is devoted to Celebrating, Uplifting, and Informing the African American people and communities of central Florida. Based in Seminole County, this FREE magazine is distributed quarterly in print and digital formats to 20,000 readers via churches, beauty salons, barbershops, fraternal organizations, colleges, municipalities, and social service organizations that serve the entire community. The magazine’s Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, J. Lajuana Miller, serves as the Event Coordinator for the Emerald Awards. Questions concerning the Emerald Awards may be sent to [email protected] or 407-840-6813.
