Tracy Morgan Named “Man of the Year” By Jack and Jill Society

Morgan is an American actor and comedian perhaps best known for his role on the sketch comedy show, “Saturday Night Live.” Morgan currently stars as Tracy Jordan in the NBC sitcom “30 Rock.”

The mission of the non-profit Jack and Jill of America, Inc. is to:

* Create a medium of contact for black children which will stimulate their growth and development

* Provide constructive educational, cultural, civic, recreation, social and service programs for black children

* Aid black mothers in learning more about their children by careful study

* Seek for ALL children the same advantages we desire for our own

* Support all national legislation aimed at bettering conditions for children.

The group was born in 1938 out of exclusion, to provide elite black children with their own version of cultivated society -- teas, cotillions and pool parties -- from which they had been barred. Today Jack and Jill is enjoying a new life as black families respond, with mixed emotions, to their increasing inclusion with a feeling that perhaps they are “too integrated.”

As part of the award, Morgan will act as Grand Marshall at the group’s upcoming Beautillion on January 19, 2009. Among other activities, the group recently made good on its promise to send the Thompson quintuplets to Disney World

About Tracy Morgan: Morgan was born in The Bronx, New York, the son of Jimmy Morgan, a musician. After attending De Witt Clinton High School in the Bronx, he was discovered in 1984 while doing stand-up at The Apollo. Tracy Morgan began his career on Martin, where he played Hustle Man. The character sold random items he had from the 'hood, always greeting people with his trademark "What's happ'n, chief?" In the 2003 movie Head of State, starring Chris Rock, Morgan appears several times as a man watching television, often questioning why they aren't watching Martin.

Tracy was also a regular cast member on "Uptown Comedy Club", a sketch comedy show filmed in Harlem, New York City which aired from 1992 to 1994 on various channels. It had a predominantly African-American cast, but there were a couple of white performers, notably Jim Breuer. He was also on the HBO show Snaps.

In November 2008 COED counted down The Top 8 Tracy Morgan Moments, a list that includes many fan favorites like Brian Fellow's Safari Planet, Werewolf Bar Mitzvah, and his "Behind Closed Doors" stand-up comedy amongst others.

Morgan joined the cast of comedy show Saturday Night Live in 1996, where he performed as a regular until 2003. Morgan performed a variety of characters on the program, including Brian Fellow(s), Dominican Lou, Bishop Don "Mack" Donald (from Pimp Chat), Astronaut Jones, African Andy, Benny the Bengal, and Woodrow. Morgan is also credited with impressions of Aretha Franklin, Harry Belafonte, Maya Angelou, Samuel L. Jackson, Mike Tyson, Judge Greg Mathis, Lou Bega, Oprah Winfrey, and Star Jones.

Morgan had his own show, “The Tracy Morgan Show,” in 2003, which was cancelled after one season. Morgan also had a stand-up special entitled "One Mic," that was shown on Comedy Central. Morgan was the host of the first Spike Guys' Choice Awards, which aired on June 13, 2007. In 2003, he was on an episode of Punk'd in which his car was towed from the valet parking. He can be heard as "Spoonie Luv" on the Comedy Central program Crank Yankers and as Woof in the MTV2 Animated Series “Where My Dogs At?”

Morgan acted in commercials for ESPN NFL 2K, ESPN NBA 2K, and ESPN NHL 2K where he co-starred with Warren Sapp, Ben Wallace and Jeremy Roenick. He appeared in the movie The Longest Yard, starring Adam Sandler, as a transvestite inmate. Morgan is currently a cast member of the NBC television show 30 Rock, playing the character Tracy Jordan, a caricature of himself. Morgan has hosted the "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" for 4 consecutive years. Morgan hosts the third season of Scare Tactics, the Sci-Fi Channel's gruesome hidden camera show that "punks" people by using their worst fears against them.

The Jack and Jill Society was created by Louise Truitt Jackson Dench and Marion Turner Stubbs Thomas.