NEWS FROM THE COLLECTION
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
To learn about special sponsorship opportunities for our upcoming Gala Fundraiser, please contact Karen E. Hudson at karenhudsonprw@gmail.com.
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MOVING OUR GALA TO MAY 21
The last couple of weeks have found all of us in the Los Angeles area overwhelmed by sadness and grief. Our hearts and prayers go out to all who are impacted by the wildfires.
With this being our foremost concern, we have made the difficult decision to postpone our Gala from February 19 to Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at the The Beverly Hills Hotel. We did not make this decision lightly, but we want to allow some time for our beautiful city to begin to recover and rebuild.
It may be weeks before we learn how many Paul Williams homes and commercial structures were lost. While our focus right now is on the families who have lost their homes and livelihoods, we are also reminded of our mission - to inspire, support, and mentor the next generation of architecture students of color - those who will comprehend the evolving needs of our communities in the face of climate change, and who can help rebuild impacted areas across our country.
Paul Williams was dedicated to understanding the architectural needs of individual communities. It was never just about a stunning building but about longevity, efficient use of space, meeting the needs of the area, and, as he always said, designing “homes, not houses.”
Here at the PRW Fund, we often make decisions by asking ourselves, “What would PRW do?” He would tell us to nurture those most in need, keep a positive thought each and every day, and continue to work to move that needle beyond 2% - the current number of Black members of the AIA.
We hope to see you on May 21!
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ANNOUNCING OUR LEGACY SCHOLARS
Congratulations to our inaugural Paul R. Williams Legacy Scholars! Each of these talented students demonstrates a spirit of creativity and commitment to community that Paul R. Williams embodied throughout his remarkable career.
Cassius Palacio - University of Southern California
Victoria Sanders - Tuskegee University
Tim Sung Bin Son - University of Southern California
Rachel Wiggins - University of Southern California
Scholars will receive a $5,000 unrestricted scholarship to support their educational journey in architecture.
These students have demonstrated outstanding potential in the field of architecture, and we look forward to witnessing their future achievements!
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ANNOUNCING OUR 2025 GALA HONOREES
We are delighted to announce the honorees for our upcoming Gala Fundraiser.
We will be celebrating these individuals for their exceptional contributions to architecture, the lived environment and their communities:
Marshall Purnell, FAIA, NOMA - Paul R. Williams Spirit Award
Charles F. McAfee, FAIA, NOMA, Cheryl L. McAfee, FAIA, Charyl McAfee-Duncan, FAIA - Philip G. Freelon Changemaker Award
Rick J. Caruso - The Advocate Award
Allison Grace Williams, FAIA - One Who Dares Award
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PAUL R. WILLIAMS LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP
Applications for 2024-25 school year are now closed. We will announce our first Legacy Scholars in July!
For more information:
The Paul R. Williams Scholarship & Education Fund was created in 2023 to inspire, support, and celebrate young people pursuing careers in architecture.
To inspire future generations through the legacy of Mr. Williams and other trailblazers in the field, the Fund will introduce K-12 students to career paths in architecture. The Fund will also provide financial support and mentoring to architecture students of color on their journey to professional licensing, with scholarships for architecture students attending one of the seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) offering an accredited architecture program, as well as at the University of Southern California, Mr. Williams’ alma mater.