THE INTERVIEW: ACTRESS AND TELEVISION PERSONALITY FLORETTE VASSALL (PART 3 OF 5)

MM: One of the subjects I have to ask you about is EVVY--your non-profit organization. How did you start EVVY and what is the foundation all about?
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FV: WHEN YOU TUNE IN TO MNN (Manhattan Neighborhood Network) YOU WILL SEE THE SAME PRESENTATIONS THAT AIR ON BCAT (Brooklyn Cable Access Television). THE ONLY CHANGE IS IN THE TITLE. IN BROOKLYN IT AIRS AS "EVVY" CULTURAL INTERCHANGE AND IN MANHATTAN IT AIRS AS NEW VENTURES FOR "EVVY" CULTURAL INTERCHANGE. ALL OF THE SHOWS AIR DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MULTI-CULTURAL EVENTS THAT RUN THE GAMUT FROM EDUCATIONAL DISCUSSIONS, SPORTS EVENTS, PRESENTATIONS OF JAZZ CONCERTS, HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE OPERAS, CLASSICAL SYMPHONIC CONCERTS, ART EXHIBITS WITH ARTISTS AND CREATORS, FASHION DESIGNERS AND THEIR COLLECTIONS AND PLEASANT ENTERTAINMENT FOR VIEWERS OF ALL AGES.

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MM: Of course I am curious, and I know my readers are most curious about the name "EVVY". How did you arrive at this name?

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FV: "EVVY" IS THE PHONETIC SOUND OF THE INITIALS OF FLORETTE VASSALL, F. V.

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MM: Ah, okay!

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FV: "EVVY" CULTURAL INTERCHANGE WAS ESTABLISHED AS A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN 1983 FOLLOWING 10 YEARS OF FASHION PRESENTATIONS AS THE ANNUAL NEW YORK "EVVY" FASHION AWARDS. IT BEGAN AS A WAY TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE FASHION DESIGNERS WHO WERE THE FIRST TO COME FORWARD AND ASSIST ME IN MY FIRST INDEPENDENT FASHION PRESENTATION IN 1973. THIS TOOK PLACE IN YORKVILLE AT A CHARMING RESTAURANT CALLED "NOBODY'S". WHEN I WAS ASKED WHEN I WOULD DO ANOTHER ONE, I IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISHED THE DATE FOR THE FOLLOWING NOVEMBER AND DECIDED TO PRESENT AWARDS TO MILLICENT TAYLOR AND ANN HARRIS FOR THEIR TALENT AND DEDICATION TO THE FIELD OF FASHION. THEY RECEIVED THE FIRST "EVVY" FASHION AWARDS IN 1974. THE "EVVY" WAS RECOGNIZED BY NEW YORK'S MAYOR ABRAHAM D. BEAME IN 1974. HE ISSUED A PROCLAMATION MAKING "EVVY" THE OFFICIAL FASHION AWARD, RECOGNIZING NEW YORK CITY AS A WORLD FASHION LEADER. IT WAS PRESENTED TO ME AT THE OPENING OF THE 1974 PROGRAM AT JIMMY'S ON WEST 52ND STREET, BY MR. WILBURT A. TATUM. HE IS THE OWNER OF THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS, THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST BLACK NEWSPAPER. AT THE TIME THAT HE RECOMMEND THAT THE MAYOR ISSUE ME THE PROCLAMATION, MR. TATUM WAS THE COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY'S GARMENT AND APPAREL INDUSTRY. THE "EVVY" PRESENTATIONS ENJOYED A PROFIT, WITH THAT FIRST PRESENTATION. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE DONATIONS TO THE CATHOLIC HOME BUREAU IN APPRECIATION FOR THE GOOD WORK THEY DID IN PLACING US WITH A WONDERFUL FOSTER MOTHER DURING THE YEARS THAT MY BROTHER, SISTER AND I WERE SEPARATED FROM OUR PARENTS. THE FIRST PROGRAM WAS SUCCESSFUL. "EVVY" WAS ABLE TO NOT ONLY MAKE GENEROUS DONATIONS FOR THE FOSTER CHILDREN DESIROUS OF CAREERS IN FASHION EDUCATION BUT LATER FOR FOSTER CHILDREN WHO NEEDED MONEY FOR THEIR PERSONAL ASSISTANCE.

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NOTE: Two Items: (1.) Wait until you hear what commercial Flo just filmed for ESPN! Stay tuned!! (2.) We will break here to stay on schedule to post our "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" feature on Thursday at Midnight and conclude Flo's interview Friday and Saturday. Stay tuned!