Breaking Cycles. Building Futures.

Celebrating 25 Years of BASICS International

For 25 years, BASICS International has worked to create opportunities that help children, young people and communities build stronger futures.

On Saturday, November 7, 2026, join us at the Urban League Civil Rights Museum in Harlem, New York, for an extraordinary evening celebrating 25 years of impact — and the people, partners and communities who have made that impact possible.

This milestone celebration will honour remarkable individuals whose leadership, generosity and commitment have helped advance our mission, while raising critical support for the next chapter of BASICS International.

Our 25th Anniversary Honourees

SZA

25th Anniversary Honouree
Grammy Award-winning artist and philanthropist

SZA's support has helped advance critical community initiatives in Chorkor, Ghana, improving access to clean water, sanitation and safe toilet facilities.

Sheryl Lee Ralph

25th Anniversary Honouree
Emmy Award-winning actress and advocate

Sheryl Lee Ralph has championed children's education through BASICS International and inspired the development of the Sheryl Lee Ralph Theatre at Aklowah, our youth leadership, innovation and experiential learning site in Ghana.

Ryan Wedig

BASICS Impact Partner Award Honouree
CEO of Vasion

Ryan Wedig and Vasion have helped expand access to technology, digital learning and innovation, strengthening opportunities for young people and communities in Ghana.

Patricia Wilkins

Founder & 25th Anniversary Honouree
Founder & Executive Director, BASICS International

Patricia Wilkins will be honoured for 25 years of visionary leadership and service, building BASICS International around a powerful belief:

Where a child is born should never determine how far they can go.

Special Guests & Presenters

Our anniversary celebration will also welcome special guests, presenters and longtime friends who have supported and championed the work of BASICS International.

Judy Smith

Special Guest & Presenter
Renowned crisis-management expert, author and BASICS Special Advisor

Known globally as the real-life inspiration behind the hit television series Scandal, Judy Smith is a longtime friend and advocate of BASICS International and serves as a Special Advisor to the organisation.

Michelle McKinney Hammond

Special Guest
Bestselling author, international speaker, singer and BASICS Ambassador

A dear friend and longtime supporter of BASICS International, Michelle McKinney Hammond joins us in celebrating this extraordinary milestone and the lives transformed along the way.

Music by DJ Lady Wells

DJ Lady Wells brings the soundtrack to an evening of culture, connection, celebration and purpose.

25 Years. Thousands of Futures.

Since 2001, BASICS International has grown from providing educational sponsorships into a community-based model connecting education, nutrition, technology, workforce development, entrepreneurship, youth leadership, health, wellness and social inclusion.

Over 25 years, that journey has included more than 6,000 educational sponsorships, millions of nutritious meals and nearly 1,000 digital certifications — each representing an opportunity created and a future transformed.

But our 25th anniversary is not only about looking back.

It is about investing in what comes next.

Proceeds from this celebration will help BASICS International expand educational access, youth development, digital skills, workforce opportunities and community-based programes as we begin our next 25 years.

Join Us in Harlem

Saturday, November 7, 2026
5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Urban League Civil Rights Museum
Harlem, New York

Join us for an unforgettable evening featuring a cocktail reception and elegant dinner, powerful stories spanning 25 years of BASICS, distinguished honorees and special guests, live entertainment, music by DJ Lady Wells, and a vision for BASICS International's next 25 years.

Whether you purchase a ticket, become a sponsor, place an ad in our 25th Anniversary Souvenir Journal, or make a donation, you become part of what we build next.

Together, we have broken cycles.

Together, we have built futures.

Now, we invest in the next 25 years.

TICKETS • SPONSOR • DONATE

visit our gala website for updates: www.basicsinternational.org/basics25

BASICS@25 Anniversary Gala - Tickets- Sponsorship- Donate

Breaking Cycles. Building Futures.

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