What HAL is About
Nearly thirty years ago, celebrated songwriter and Motown alumna, Janie Bradford learned that students pursuing degrees in music, art, theatre and other creative areas had few options in funding their dreams. Unlike sports and traditional academics, scholarships for performing arts students were scarce. She set out to meet that need.
On September 23, 1990, the very first Tribute To Heroes And Legends Awards Dinner was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Miss Andrea Johnson was awarded the very first HAL Scholarship. Since that night, Janie Bradford’s HAL Scholarship Fund has awarded over seventy scholarships to young people with tremendous talent and big dreams!
For almost 30 years, HAL has spotlighted positive role models and leaders in the fields of music, theatre, motion pictures and business at the Annual HAL Awards and Scholarship Dinner.
The HAL Executive Committee
Janie Bradford Founder/CEO
Ms. Bradford is the executive director of the HAL Scholarship Fund and producer of the HAL Awards. She is an award winning songwriter who spent 25 years at Motown. Among her many hit songs are the classics, “Money (That’s What I Want)” which has been covered nearly 200 times by a multitude of artists including The Beatles and the Stones and “Too Busy thinking About My Baby” which was a number one hit for Marvin Gaye.
Donna Caldwell, Supervising Producer
Ms. Caldwell has over 30 years of entertainment industry experience, with expertise in public relations, magazine publishing, artist development, television production and music supervision. During a tenure at Paramount, she worked with some of the network’s hottest shows including “Girlfriends,” “Medium,” “Sister, Sister” and “Star Trek.” She currently is the producer of the entertainment weekly, “Hotspot Nashville.”
LaJeune “LJ” Meadoux, Production Manager
Ms. Meadoux has been active in the entertainment industry since she was only three years old! She began acting in Mattel commercials, followed by plays and films under the tutelage of Ms. Betty Bridges. She continued to work behind the scenes with her mom, Mrs. Cynthia Meadoux and “227’s” Marla Gibbs at Ms. Gibbs’ C.H.O.I.C.E. fashion shows and concerts. She joined the HAL foundation as a hostess at the very first show 26 years ago. Growing with the HAL Foundation, she was elected to take her mother’s position in 2013 as Production Manager. While never filling her mother’s shoes, LJ is making her mark on the HAL foundation.
Cynthia Meadoux, Production Manager
In memoriam
Wendy Talifer,
Floor Manager
Judy Gilbert,
Production Coordinator
Dinner Chairs
Claudette Robinson
“First Lady of Motown”
As an original member of The Miracles, the first act to sign with Berry Gordy’s Tamla/Motown Records, Claudette Robinson was also the iconic label’s very first female artist. In 1960, The Miracles’ “Shop Around” became Tamla/Motown’s first million-seller, prompting Mr. Gordy to dub her, “The First Lady of Motown.” Claudette has recently written her first Children’s book, “Claudette’s Miraculous Motown Adventure,” an enchanting reimagining of the Miracle’s experience at Motown. Claudette’s altruistic endeavors includes her work with The Joy Community Outreach to End Homelessness, the Beverly Hills West Links and the Maple Community Counseling Center.
Miller London
Miller London is the former CEO of Urban Network, and current chairman of the board of directors. He joined Urban Network in 1994 as President of the company and acquired the company in 2003. Mr. London has a long and respected record label background having held senior executive posts at Motown, RCA and A&M Records.
Mistress of Ceremonies
JoMarie Payton
Star of stage, screen
and television
JoMarie is best known for her roles in “Family Matters,” “Perfect Strangers” and the “Proud Family.”
Auxiliary Committee
Errolyn Meadoux 
Debra Burley 
Cherisse Goedhart 
Jeannie Pritt-Sheridan 
Yvonne Hunt 
Talbert Bartholomew 
Reggie Dozier 
Nicole Hobbs