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Dina Clark, and Justin Kruljac at the 16th annual Imani Gala at the Westin Convention Center and Hotel on Thursday.
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16th annual Imani Gala held at the Westin

Lake Fong/Post-Gazette

16th annual Imani Gala held at the Westin

#NoLimits: When a child is loved and can trust the adults around them, the sky is the limit. No matter their ZIP code, tax bracket or other outside forces that may inhibit their growth, children who are supported can far surpass expectations. This was the resounding sentiment at Thursday night’s Imani Gala at the Westin Convention Center, Downtown. The event raised funds for the Imani Christian Academy in East Hills, the mission of which is to embrace all children and transform them so that they may pursue a life of purpose.

“I am always blown away by what our kids can accomplish,” said Ronnell Heard, a teacher at Imani. Who says football players can’t perform in plays? Or that STEM studies are just for boys? At Imani, each child is given the opportunity to explore their passions.

Raheem Perry said, “My mother made me go [to Imani] when I was in the seventh grade. The teachers here treat you like a family. After my mom passed, I felt the love from all of them and it pushed me to succeed.” He’s now 21 and in his senior year, on a full academic scholarship, at Duquesne University, and will pursue a career in digital media arts and film.

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Imani CEO Paulo Nzambi said, “I always say, education is the single most powerful tool that we have to interrupt transgenerational poverty and equip our kids for a higher quality of life. Democracy works if you have an educated populace. By investing in our young people, we are investing in ourselves.” That statement deserves an A-plus. The event raised $425,000.

Tanae James, 5, left, a kindergartner at Imani Christian Academy, waits with other students for breakfast to end before going to class on the academy's first day in its new building in this undated file photo.
Elizabeth Behrman/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Imani Christian Academy seeks approval to become a charter school

#SEEN: Honorary chair Jerry MacCleary, Cliff and Cheryl Benson, Quintin Bullock, Laura Ellsworth, Doug and Kathryn Lee, Marsha Jones, David and Alicia Berardinelli, Dina Clark, Evan Frazier, Rodney Heard, John Haines, Enos Scott and Terri Ayers.

First Published: May 14, 2018, 12:00 p.m.

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Dina Clark, and Justin Kruljac at the 16th annual Imani Gala at the Westin Convention Center and Hotel on Thursday.  (Lake Fong/Post-Gazette)
Paulo Nzambi, left, and Raheem Perry.  (Lake Fong/Post-Gazette)
Alysia Beauford, and her 6-year-old son, Jamal Williams, who is a student at the Imani Christian Academy.  (Lake Fong/Post-Gazette)
John Haines, left, with Enos Scott and Terri Ayers.  (Lake Fong/Post-Gazette)
Jonathan Matthews and Mikyla Brown.  (Lake Fong/Post-Gazette)
Lake Fong/Post-Gazette
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