Behind the Mask

She practices her graduation speech in the bathroom mirror, imagining a cap and gown she's not sure she'll ever wear.

Straight A's. Community service. Glowing recommendations. On paper, she's everything a university wants. But behind the confident smile, there's a different face—one that stays up at night, wondering how to tell her grandmother that acceptance letters don't pay tuition bills.

She's learned to wear a mask. The one that says "I'm fine" when someone asks about college plans. The one that hides the weight of being the first in her family to even apply.

What if we could help her take it off?

For 45 years, the men of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated Nu Omicron Lambda Chapter have turned commitment into opportunity. The Willie J. Bradley Foundation has awarded approximately $226,000 in scholarships to students across Prince George County, Hopewell, and Colonial Heights—honoring a decorated veteran of three wars whose motto still guides us: "Excellence is not a destination; it is a continuous journey that never ends."

On May 30, 2026, we invite you to don a different kind of mask—one of elegance, mystery, and purpose.

The Masquerade Gala is a night of timeless celebration with serious work behind it. Every ticket purchased, every donation made helps a student remove the mask they never wanted to wear—the one hiding their potential behind financial barriers.

📍 May 30, 2026 | 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM | VSU Gateway Event Center

🎭 A Night of Elegance, Intrigue & Purpose

🍸 Cocktails & Hors d'oeuvres | 5:00 – 6:30 PM

🎤 Program & Dinner | 6:30 – 9:00 PM

💃 Dancing & Celebration | 9:00 – 11:00 PM

Purchase a ticket. Make a donation. Join us behind the mask.

Because the most beautiful reveal won't be at night when masks come off. It will be months from now, when a student opens a letter saying her scholarship has been funded—and she finally gets to show the world her real face.

The one that's smiling.

The Willie J. Bradley Foundation — Where legacy becomes opportunity.

2026 Masquerade Black & Gold Gala 45th Chapter Anniversary

A Night of Timeless Elegance, Intrigue & Purpose