BY LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Star Bank has pledged $1 million to create a permanent endowment for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center's International Freedom Conductor Award.
Rosa Parks, often called the mother of the modern civil rights movement in America, will be the first recipient.
Freedom center President and CEO Ed Rigaud called the gift "tremendously significant" because of its size and because planners hope it will lead to other big gifts.
"This community traditionally gives that way; they want to see if the support is there for a project," he said. "They want to see their charitable contribution won't go for naught. We certainly won't disappoint them."
Richard K. Davis, executive vice president of Star Bank, and freedom center officials will present the award to Mrs. Parks, whom Mr. Davis called "a true icon for the civil rights movement." "Star Bank is truly honored by just being part of an event that will recognize a true living legend and American hero," Mr. Davis said in a statement.
On Dec. 1, 1955, Mrs. Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Ala., bus to a white man, defying the laws that gave whites more rights than blacks.
Her arrest sparked the Montgomery bus boycott, in which blacks refused to ride public buses for 381 days until the U.S. Supreme Court declared segregation on public transportation unconstitutional. A spokesman for Star Bank said he couldn't say how much a $1 million endowment would generate annually for the award.
"It is our understanding that this will eventually be part of a larger endowment," said Star's Steve Dale.
The award to Mrs. Parks will be presented at a black-tie dinner Sept. 26 and will carry a monetary prize. The amount hasn't been announced.
The gift comes a month after Star made a commitment to maintain a major presence and continue civic contributions in Cincinnati. The company is merging with Firstar Corp. and will move its headquarters to Milwaukee. That deal is expected to be done by early 1999.
The freedom center has $14 million in gifts and pledges so far, not including Star's gift, for a variety of uses, Mr. Rigaud said. Center officials hope to raise between $80 million and $90 million.
The 125,000-square-foot museum aims to celebrate the courage and collaboration of the Underground Railroad, a secret network used to help slaves escape to freedom. It's scheduled to open on Cincinnati's central riverfront in 2003.
Jeff McKinney contributed.
