Every year the league recognizes women who have distinguished themselves in the areas of civil rights, corporate, news, entertainment, sports, political, entrepreneurial and justice areas.

This year's honorees include:

• Sylvia K. Brooks, president and CEO of the Houston Area Urban League
• Frankie Muse Freeman, of counsel Montgomery Hollie & Associates
• Carla Harris, managing director in Global Capital Markets for Morgan Stanley
• Gwen Ifill, moderator and managing editor of Washington Week and senior correspondent for "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer"
• Jackie Joyner Kersee, Olympic Gold medalist and humanitarian; and
• Rep. Maxine Waters(D-Calif.)

"All of these outstanding women represent the top of their respective fields - from athletics to politics to civil rights to the media. They serve as wonderful role models for our youth, bringing honor not only to themselves, their families and their colleagues but also to their gender and the entire African-American community," said Marc H. Morial, NUL president & CEO.

The awards ceremony will take place on July 28 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the America's Ballroom of America's Center and will be sponsored by Allstate, General Mills, Macy's and MGM Mirage.

Michelle M. Miller of CBS News will be joined by NUL Board of Trustees Chairman John D. Hofmeister and NUL President Morial to present the awards. The Rev. Sammie Jones, pastor at the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, will deliver the invocation.

Also, the following sponsor representatives will offer remarks: 1) Sharon Rossmark, assistant vice president for agency distribution for Allstate Insurance; 2) Debra Nelson, vice president for corporate diversity, community affairs and communications for MGM Mirage; 3) Kim Nelson, president of Snacks Unlimited and vice president of General Mills; and 4) Courtney Gibson, divisional vice president of diversity management and community affairs at Macy's.

The league's 97th annual conference, which is expected to draw over 10,000 attendees from across the nation, will take place from July 25 through July 28 at St. Louis' America's Center This year's theme is "You, Your Money, Your Future," and Anheuser-Busch and U.S. Bank will serve as conference co-chairs and title sponsors.

In addition to the awards luncheon, the NUL conference will feature over 80 dynamic speakers and experts in four plenary sessions and 18 workshops, including a presidential candidate forum scheduled for the morning of July 27. It will also include a panel discussion assessing whether the black vote will be taken for granted, a town hall addressing "The Black Male Crisis," and a family prayer breakfast, among other events.

More information about the National Urban League's 2007 Annual Conference registration, exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities is available on the League's website at www.nul.org or by calling 800-263-9926.