Farrah Gray

Farrah Gray (born 9 September, 1984) is an African-American author, businessman, entrepreneur, motivational speaker and magazine publisher.

Early life

Farrah Gray began his business career by selling body lotion from door to door, at the age of six. At age 14, Gray founded Farr-Out Foods, a specialty foods company located in New York and marketed towards young people. Two years later, he sold the company for $1.5 million. This transaction made Gray the youngest African-American to earn one million dollars.

Organizations

Gray founded both the New Early Entrepreneur Wonders (NE2W) Student Venture Fund and the Farrah Gray Foundation. He was invited to consult with and oversee an entrepreneurial institute for The Minority Business Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Gray was elected a director of the United Way of Southern Nevada and was the youngest director ever to sit on the board of any local United Way affiliate. Gray also served as the youngest member of the Board of Advisors of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

Gray acquired INNERCITY Magazine from Inner City Broadcasting Corporation. He financed a comedy show on the Las Vegas Strip, making him the second African-American after Redd Foxx to own a show production on the Strip. He was the youngest member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inc. Region 15 (N.A.R.E.B.), the oldest and largest minority trade association. Gray also is a popular motivational speaker, earning $5,000 - $10,000 per appearance. Gray is listed in the Premiere Speakers Bureau's 2006 catalog.

Gray founded the Urban Neighborhood Economic Enterprise Club (UNEEC), and was a co-host of "Backstage Live", a radio show in Las Vegas.

Author

In 2005, Gray (with Fran Harris) wrote the autobiographical "Reallionaire: Nine Steps to Becoming Rich from The Inside Out". He also is a contributing author to "Chicken Soup for the African-American Soul".

Honors

Gray’s honors include Keys to the Cities of Dallas, Shreveport, and Cincinnati. He has received Proclamations from the Governors of Illinois and Nevada, the Mayors of Chicago, Las Vegas and New Orleans and Clark County Nevada Commissioners.

Gray has received several awards, including the National Urban League Whitney M Young Jr. Entrepreneurship Award, The Indiana Black Expo (IBE), Hoosier Lottery Entrepreneur Award for 2005, The Alabama A&M Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Award, The Davidson College Love of Learning Lifetime Educational Achievement Award, Central State Award of Appreciation for contributions made in the area of entrepreneurship, NV Magazine Vision Award and the American Red Cross Award of Appreciation.

External links

* [http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2005/11/prweb316146.html The National Urban League Honors Farrah Gray with the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Entrepreneurship Award]
* [http://www.nbmbaa.org/press_releases.cfm?id=1794&action=1/ Farrah Gray Keynote speaker Houston Chapter’s 9th Annual Leadership Empowerment Banquet]