Gala celebrates Dr. Norman C. Francis’s 45th year as Xavier President 

NEW ORLEANS  – Motown superstars The Commodores, the sophisticated R&B trio En Vogue and legendary comedian Bill Cosby are the concert headliners for Xavier University of Louisiana’s sixth annual benefit concert Nov. 22 at 8:00 p.m. in the University’s new Convocation Center. 

Sam’s Club and Walmart are the lead event sponsors for this year’s Dr. Norman C. Francis Endowed Scholarship Benefit Concert, which was inaugurated in 2008 to coincide with the Xavier President’s 40th Anniversary at the helm of the nation’s only Historically Black and Roman Catholic institution of higher education. He is now in his 45th year at the post and continues to be the longest serving university president in the United States.

The net proceeds generated by the annual concert series are dedicated to an endowed scholarship fund which was created to help ensure that deserving students are able to earn a college degree regardless of their financial situation. The original total goal established for the endowed scholarship fund was $1 million, which was reached last year. Additional monies from this year’s event and all future concerts are earmarked for the purpose.

Tickets are on sale for $45 and $90 through the Ticket Master hot line 1-866-448-7849 or online at www.ticketmaster.com/Commodores-tickets/artist/734798. Additional concert information is available on the Xavier website, www.xula.edu.

Sponsor tables, patron packages and concert tickets are available through the Office of Institutional Advancement at 504-520-4252.