The Emerald Extravaganza, hosted by the Ivy Community Foundation in partnership with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Kappa Omega Chapter, continues its legacy of giving back.
The holiday gala will be held Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the Atlanta Airport Marriott, 2020 Convention Center Concourse, Atlanta, GA 30337.
The annual event is a scholarship fundraiser that brings the community together to support young people pursuing college degrees and to encourage them to value service.
Pamela Stovall Scott, chairwoman of the Emerald Extravaganza, is excited about this year’s event.
“Last year, in 2025, we attracted more than 300 guests. We had to extend our deadline because so many expressed interest in attending,” Scott said. “Supporting our community’s scholars in their aspirations to become future leaders is paramount and is why we host the Emerald Extravaganza.”
During the evening, scholarship recipients were recognized as their parents stood by proudly. Last year, the foundation awarded a total of $24,000 in scholarships.
Last year’s recipients are listed below:
London Chatman graduated from Midtown High School in Atlanta. She now attends the Georgia Institute of Technology and received the $2,000 Betty Boyd Achievement Scholarship.
Gabrielle Hill graduated from Westlake High School. She attends Agnes Scott College and received the $2,000 Lucretia Payton Stewart Award.
Morgan Reese Wellons graduated from New Manchester High School in Douglasville, Georgia. She received the $2,000 Lucretia Payton Stewart Leadership Award and the $2,000 Anne Cleveland Scholarship.
Christina Marks is a freshman at Alabama A&M University, majoring in Biology/Pre-Med. She also received a $2,000 Anne Cleveland Scholarship Award.
Zoe Ricardo-Zoe is a senior at the University of Georgia, majoring in Public Health with a minor in Spanish. She received the $2,000 Vivian Fitzhugh Scholarship Award.
Dora Rice-Dora graduated from North Carolina A&T State University, where she majored in Kinesiology. She is a medical school student at the University of South Carolina in Greenville. Dora received the $2,000 Vivian Fitzhugh Scholarship.
Ma’Kariya James-Ma’Kariya attends Fort Valley State University and is majoring in Biology Pre-Med with a minor in Chemistry. She is the recipient of the $4,000 Janis Drake Award.
Bryson Hannah-Bryson attends Alabama A&M University and is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He also received the $4,000 Janis Drake Award.
Bertha Mkwawa-Bertha attends Clark Atlanta University, where she majors in Business Administration with a concentration in Sports and Entertainment Management. She received the $2,000 Eula Cohen Scholarship.
“The impact that we are able to make in our community through these scholarships is what service is all about,” said Kandace Carty, co-chairwoman of the event.
“I am proud of the members of the Ivy Community Foundation. With today’s climate and education under attack, to be able to support our youth in their quest for higher education warms my heart,” said Monica Kaufman Pearson, president of the Ivy Community Foundation.
Tom Jones of WSB-TV and Aungelique Proctor of FOX 5 Atlanta served as master and mistress of ceremonies.
To learn more about the Emerald Extravaganza, visit IvyCommunityFoundation.org.