Photo Coverage: THE NATIONAL URBAN TECHNOLOGY CENTER GALA 

On Wednesday, June 17th The National Urban Technology Center (Urban Tech) hosted its 2015 gala at Gotham Hall in New York City to celebrate their 20 years of service connecting students and families to digital literacy, financial literacy, comprehensive health education and life skills that are critical to academic success. The theme of the gala awards dinner was "Breaking Barriers."

Urban Tech is a not-for-profit educational corporation, transforms lives through the power of technology by giving youth the capacity for positive behavior and academic success. Urban Tech achieves its mission by teaching students essential life skills, and by training and coaching parents and educators to support social and emotional learning.

Urban Tech's flagship programs, The Youth Leadership Academy® (YLA), The Financial Education Network (FEN) and SeedTech®, are delivered online to enhance the ability of schools and after-school programs to reach and effectively teach all students.

Maurice DuBois, award winning anchor of "CBS 2 News This Morning" and the weekend edition of "CBS Evening News," served as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening alongside E! Entertainment News personality, Alicia Quarles.

This year The Urban Tech Gala assembled a group of distinguished honorees including four-time Oscar nominee and Golden Globe award winner Annette Bening, who accepted the Humanitarian Award; Douglas McNeely, Managing Director of BlackRock, who accepted Urban Tech's Community Leadership Award; and Russell Simmons, business magnate and co-founder of the music label Def Jam, accepted the Visionary Award for his philanthropy and activism. Founder and President of Urban Tech, Pat Bransford was also honored with an award of Commendation from the City of New York Office of the Comptroller.

Keith Lloyd Couture also brought their Lincoln Center Fashion Week Show to Gotham Hall. Models strutted down the center of the hall, as guests were able to shop the runway. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the live fashion show went directly to Urban Tech. Live auction pieces included a BeSpoke custom made suit which honoree Annette Bening won for her husband Warren Beatty.

Countless notable celebrities and personalities took part in the evening to support Urban Tech including: Countess Luann de Lesseps, Loida Nicolas - Lewis, Victoria Silvstedt, Flaviana Matata, Chloe Flowers, Christopher Williams, Valentino Carlotti, DJ Jon Quick, TV Host Tom Murro, TV Personality Chanel Omari, DJ Shelley Rome, New York Jet Shaquelle Evans, Ralph Lauren Ambassador Chris Collins, and actress Leslie Lopez.

For more information, visit: www.urbantech.org.