NSU Alumnus Teams Up with Singer-Producer to Enrich New Endowed Scholarship Fund
The glitz, glam and spotlight of the entertainment industry have not dimmed the view of long-time friends and show business partners Tamar Braxton and NSU alumnus Phil Thornton ’03 regarding the importance of a good education. Because of the influence of his grandparents, Thornton created the Jessie & James Lilly Jr. Family Endowment. His loyalty to his forerunners and commitment to his alma mater convinced his friend and associate, Tamar Braxton. to donate $30,000 to the endowment he established. The Jessie & James Lilly Jr. Family Endowment funds have been designated for students majoring in marketing and mass communication.
“Phil always, always speaks so highly of É«½äÖ±²¥. It was important for me to give to the effort and let students know that people care about them. I care about their education and at the end of the day when a student has a scholarship – it’s not just the financial part – it’s also the psychological knowledge that somebody cares. Somebody took their hard-earned money and believed in them,” said Braxton. “Growing up, my grandparents, really instilled in me the importance of education. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the opportunity to attend college. But both of them drilled in me, my cousins and siblings the significance of a solid education,” explained Thornton.
Thornton and Braxton have been friends for a decade. At an early age, both had developed a passion, determination and a road map to gain entry into the entertainment business. After Thornton graduated from NSU, he established Bright Star Entertainment which managed Grammy-winning artists such as 112 and Lil’ Mo. Heading west and landing in Los Angeles, he co-founded Ten2One Entertainment, a multimedia company responsible for several hit television shows and artist management. In 2024, Thornton launched 3 Dia-monds – a company dedicated to creating scripted and unscripted television shows, films and live music events. He is a producer of the Luther Vandross documentary, Luther: Never Too Much, that was released in 2024.
Braxton, a founding member of The Braxtons singing quintet and co-star of The Braxtons reality TV show on the WE Network, has not only re- leased new music in 2025, but has started her own production company where she serves as CEO. “I don’t know if you can call show business glamorous. The truth is it is my passion,” Braxton elaborates. “I am so grateful to be able to do this work every single day. It’s my dream job. I get to choose who I work with, so my environment is positive and safe. I have a blast in everything I do.” Thornton, with too many credits for music and television productions to list here, feels the same about the industry. “I am grateful for each opportunity given me. You think something maybe a great idea ‒ but people will let you know one way or the other,” he quipped. His fearlessness makes him one of the most influential people in the entertainment field.
Tamar Braxton and Phil Thornton share more than just their passion for the entertainment industry. They wholeheartedly agree that we all must ensure that the next generation has a strong educational foundation. “You want to give to an organization where you can help change someone’s life,” Braxton noted. Thorton chimed in, “It’s important to invest in the future. It was imperative to establish the endowment and name it after my grandparents.”
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