Washington, DC— Rep. Watson (D-33) issued the following statement regarding the announcement of a donation on September 26, 2008 from Toyota to the Crenshaw High School Elite Choir:

“I am so delighted to know that Toyota will donate $5000 to the Crenshaw High School Elite Choir. This will allow more students to participate in the extraordinary music program led by Crenshaw’s world-renowned music director, Professor Iris Stevenson.  J.L. Armstrong, National Manager of Diversity Development for Toyota announced that his company was donating the funds to support the Elite Choir. 

Professor Stevenson was among several award recipients who were saluted as Exceptional Women of Distinction of California during a reception that was held during the 38th Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. Other award recipients included Karen Bass, Speaker, California Assembly; Natalie Cole, Publisher, Our Weekly of Los Angeles; and posthumously, Pat Tobin, co-founder of the Black Public Relations Society.”

The Crenshaw High School Elite Choir was formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of imparting education to youth through Gospel music. The choir, under the direction of Iris Stevenson, draws on the talent of students from Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles. The 1993 movie “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit” starring Whoopi Goldberg, was inspired by the life and music of Professor Iris Stevenson and the Crenshaw High School Elite Choir.  The internationally acclaimed Crenshaw High Elite Choir won the gold medal in the gospel and spiritual category at the 2006 World Choir Games in China. The choir has been chosen to be U. S. Ambassadors since 1987 to the Jamaica Jazz Festival, the Worldwide Music Festival in France, as well as Ambassadors of Good Will to Europe and Asia. Professor Iris Stevenson has been honored as the recipient of What’s Right With Southern California Award (KCBS) and chosen as one of the 103 Most Influential Persons in Southern California by the LA Times.