Aug. 26--Gov. Rick Perry will host and deliver the keynote address for the second annual North Texas Governor's Luncheon on Sept. 5, benefiting the United Negro College Fund, the nation's oldest minority higher education assistance organization.

Proceeds from the luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at D/FW Airport will support the UNCF's schools in Texas and their mission of increasing minority degree attainment by reducing financial barriers to college.

"Because a college education can open so many doors, UNCF works to ensure our future leaders have the opportunity to get the college degrees they need and deserve," said Diane Stephenson, the UNCF's area development director.

"As governor, I strive each and every day to build a Texas that welcomes and empowers students to dream, dare and achieve," said Mr. Perry. "UNCF plays an important role in fulfilling that mission, and I am pleased to be a part of their efforts."

The North Texas Governor's Luncheon raised almost $200,000 last year to support more than 4,500 students who attend the UNCF's member colleges and universities.

Texas is home to five UNCF schools: Paul Quinn College in Dallas; Texas College in Tyler; Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins; Wiley College in Marshall; and Huston-Tillotson University in Austin.

Luncheon co-chairs are state Rep. Marc Veasey and his wife, Tonya, president of the Open Channels Group.

Honorary chairs for the luncheon are Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and his wife, Laura.

UNCF president and chief executive Dr. Michael L. Lomax and state Sen. Royce West will deliver remarks.

Fort Worth Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks and Garland Mayor Ronald Jones will be among the guests.

Major underwriters include:

Regional sponsor ($20,000): AT&T.

Silver ($5,000): Chesapeake Energy, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Glazer's Distributors, Kroger Food Stores, Nationwide Insurance, UPS and the Warrior Group.

Bronze ($3,500): Aetna, Brinker International, Cash America International, Energy Future Holdings, Exxon Mobil and Lockheed Martin.

Table Hosts ($2,000): Alliance Data, American Airlines, Ben E. Keith, BNSF Railway, KTVT-TV (Channel 11)/KTXA-TV (Channel 21), Chase, city of Dallas Economic Development, city of Fort Worth, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Gamtex Industries, Huston-Tillotson University, Jarvis Christian College, Jones Lang LaSalle, JPS Health Network-Partners Together for Health, Paul Quinn College, RBC Wealth Management, Reach Media Inc., St. Luke Community United Methodist Church, Texas College, Time Warner Cable, Wiley College and XTO.

Tickets are $150. Sponsorships and tables are still available. For information, call 972-234-1007 or see www.uncf.org/dallas.

-----

To see more of The Dallas Morning News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dallasnews.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Dallas Morning News

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

NYSE:T, NYSE:CHK, NYSE:NFS, NYSE:EAT, NYSE:CSH, NYSE:XOM, NYSE:LMT, NYSE:AMR, NYSE:CCE, NYSE:JLL, NYSE:TWX,