On Monday night, entertainment mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Senior Vice President of Global Community Connections Ingrid Saunders of Coca-Cola and Joe Parella of Parella Weinberg Partners were honored at the Jackie Robinson Foundation Gala in New York City for their humanitarian efforts and success in their respective industries.

Saunders was awarded the ROBIE Humanitarian Award and Parella and Combs received the ROBIE Achievement in Industry Award.

Hosted by Bill Cosby and held at New York City's famed Waldorf Astoria hotel, attendees included New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, singer Chrisette Michelle, Reverend Calvin Butts III and the foundation founder, Rachel Robinson. The event was filled with dinner, dancing and reverence for the recipients.

But presenter Russell Simmons also mentioned the importance of hard work, humility and pioneering for young people seeking success.

Before presenting Combs with his achievement award, the hip-hop industry pioneer and savvy businessman mentioned that Diddy was always a step ahead of the pack from the start of his career as an intern at Uptown Records.

"His service made everyone better as an intern until one day they had to look up and he was called President...young people need to not be entitled and be empowered. That's how Sean has always been," Simmons said.

At 41 years old, Combs is the founder and CEO of Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group and has produced various television programs, including the 'Making the Band' franchise and 'P.Diddy Presents the Bad Boys of Comedy,' acted in the Broadway play 'A Raisin in the Sun' and critically acclaimed film 'Monster's Ball,' launched his CFDA award-winning fashion line Sean John, ventured into the perfume and liquor industries and recently released his sixth album, 'Last Train to Paris.'

Simmons expressed how much he admired Diddy for his work ethic and innovation and said, "He's the Jackie Robinson, if there ever is one" now. "I've been in industries where I was the first one there... my first days in the fashion business were tough, my first days in the jewelry business were tough, but you got to stick with and be better than the competition."

Simmons's latest endeavor is his new book, 'Super Rich: A Guide to Having it All,' which talks about how the stock market can help expand your bank account. He stresses the importance of spirituality over greed. Recently on March 6, he also promoted peaceful relations between Muslims and non-Muslims when he spoke at a rally in Times Square.

He spoke out against a planned congressional hearing on Muslim terrorism and enlisted celebrities like Kim Kardashian to tweet about the event "to make sure that this rally is taken to the next generation and to a new age."

Proceeds from the foundation's gala last night will benefit the next generation of scholars. Donations have already awarded 220 grants to bright students enrolled in 92 colleges this year.