Gospel Music Channel Stages Show-Stopping Opening With Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin

NEW YORK - Platinum-selling musical artists Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin wowed the crowd at the Walter Kaitz Foundation Annual Fundraising Dinner at the New York Hilton Wednesday night.

The multiple Grammy, Dove and Stellar Award winners opened the evening with an inspiring version of the 70s classic "O-o-h Child," flanked by the specially-assembled Gospel Music Channel Kids Choir. Later, Franklin returned to close the show with a performance of his mega-hit, "Imagine Me."

The performances by Franklin and McClurkin, two of the biggest stars in gospel music, were produced and sponsored by the Gospel Music Channel. With a viewership split almost evenly among Caucasians and African Americans, Gospel Music Channel is the most diverse network in all of television and a proud supporter of the Walter Kaitz Foundation.

The dinner raised $1.7 million for cable’s efforts to increase its employee diversity. The funds benefit The Emma Bowen Foundation, the National Association of Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) and Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT). In turn, the programs of these organizations enable minority high school students to receive paid job-training and support within the cable industry; allow individuals from unusual backgrounds to participate in leadership development programs; and provide mentoring to women and minorities.