Title: 1) President/Chief Executive Officer 2) President 3) Chief Executive Officer/Health Chairman
Company: 1) Brown Byrd Foundation Inc. 2) 100 Black Men of America, Inc. 3) Long Island African American Chambers of Commerce
Education: BA in Speech Communications, Minor in Education, Long Island University (2003)
Career History: President, Chief Executive Officer, Brown Byrd Foundation Inc. (2008-Present); Chief Executive Officer, Health Chairman, Long Island African American Chambers of Commerce; President, 100 Black Men Of America, Inc.
Kevin Byrd, President and Chief Executive Officer at Brown Byrd Foundation, Inc., has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of public health.
A man of deep faith and devotion to others, Mr. Byrd completely shifted gears in his career when his grandfather, CJ Thomas, was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Equipped with a Bachelor of Arts in speech communications and a minor in education from Long Island University, he is the song of two gospel singers and had been building a name for himself as a prolific entertainer—singing, dancing, and acting. He ultimately performed in a one-man show on Broadway in which he played six characters, one of whom was diagnosed with prostate cancer; wanting to dedicate himself to advocacy work and bring awareness to the illness, he and his best friend, Blossom Brown, wrote and produced a short film called “Last Dayz” about a young man, played by Mr. Byrd, grappling with a prostate cancer diagnosis. The film garnered much praise and gained traction. After his grandfather lost his battle and passed away, Mr. Byrd and Ms. Brown were motivated to keep his legacy alive and promote the importance of getting tested for it by registering a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2008 called the Brown Byrd Foundation—whose mission is spreading the awareness of health and wellness, and increase awareness and prevention of prostate cancer, through hands-on community service.
The foundation engages with the public at health fairs and works with other health-based nonprofits to educate and inform the community about health awareness nationwide. In addition, it collaborates with educational institutes to provide classroom-setting health forums for students of all ages, as well as local hospitals offering free annual health screenings. The impactful work of Mr. Byrd and the organization has become internationally known through wide-reaching media appearances, including radio and TV programs such as Fios1 “Heroes.” Since its inception, the Brown Byrd Foundation has been recognized with numerous accolades, including a Long Island HealthCare Heroes Award, proclamations from world leaders—such as Queen Elizabeth II and Pope Benedict, U.S. presidents, mayors, and governors, and an induction into the Congressional Record Library of Congress by House of Representative Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke in 2012. The organization was also honored by the Common Council of Utica, New York with a street renamed Brown Byrd Lane. Additionally, Mr. Byrd received a Commemoration of Life’s Work from New York State Senator Kevin S. Parker in 2019 and became the first African-American male inductee within the Oneida County History Center Museum in 2021. In February 2023, in recognition of his monumental work for the community as an actor, an artist, a health chairman, and an educator, Mr. Byrd was honored with a statue and a day of honor in Utica—making him the most awarded prostate cancer awareness advocate in the world.
Outside of his responsibilities within the foundation, Mr. Byrd serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Health Chairman for the Long Island African American Chambers of Commerce and the President of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. He’s a dedicated member of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church and attributes the success of his life and career to his faith in Christianity. His life’s motto echoes Philippians 4:13: “With God, all things are possible.”