Associated Black Charities to Honor Regional Sports Legends at Annual Fundraiser
2008 Sports Legends Gala celebrates the spirit of philanthropy and competition
Event slated for Sat., June 14 at Dave and Buster’s Arundel Mills; tickets are on sale now
(BALTIMORE - April 28, 2008) – Associated Black Charities (ABC), Maryland’s foremost public foundation and advocate for underserved communities statewide, is pleased to announce the details surrounding its 23rd Annual Gala. This year, ABC officials will take on a themed event for its annual fundraiser in support of an ongoing series of themed galas first introduced at last year’s 2007 Legal Legends Gala. For 2008, ABC supporters and sports enthusiasts will celebrate the spirit of philanthropy and competition at its first ever sports themed gala. Slated for Sat. June 14, the 2008 Sports Legends Gala will honor regional and national athletes who have made significant contributions on and off the playing field. The 2008 Sports Legends Gala will take place at the Dave and Buster’s at Arundel Mills beginning at 8 p.m.
“Reinvention has become a necessity in an effort to keep pace in an increasingly competitive marketplace,” said Diane Bell-McKoy, president and CEO of Associated Black Charities. “In keeping with our new tradition of themed galas, we hope to cast a wider net and attract new supporters as well as provide our existing members a new, invigorating experience – and this year’s Sports Legends Gala will do just that.”
On the evening of the 2008 Sports Legends Gala, Dave and Buster’s will be transformed to accommodate a diverse collection of ABC members and supporters, regional businesses and civic leaders, and personalities from a wide variety of sporting arenas. All Gala honorees are expected to either be native to the Baltimore-Washington region or have competed on one of the professional sport teams in the region. To date, ABC officials are slated to honor the following sports legends at the Gala:
· Calvin Hill (Baltimore-native; Dallas Cowboys/Washington Redskins)
· Dominique Dawes (Silver Spring, MD-native; U.S. Olympic gymnast and gold medalist)
· Lenny Moore (Baltimore Colts)
· Al Bumbry (Baltimore Orioles)
· Paul Blair (Baltimore Orioles)
· Ernest Byner (Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens)
· Darryl Green (Washington Redskins)
· Bryan Mitchell (Washington)
· Phil Chenier (Washington Bullets)
In addition to the honorees, highlights for the evening will include invited guests from the region’s top teams, including the Ravens, Redskins, Orioles, Nationals, Wizards, DC United and Baltimore Blast; with others star athletes representing golf, tennis and Olympic competition.
Guests will be treated with a multi-course dinner featuring a customized menu created specifically for the ABC Gala. Additionally, all attendees will have complete access to Dave and Buster’s signature interactive and virtual simulation games, as well as 10 billiard tables and a 14-lane bowling alley.
To purchase tickets for the 2008 Sports Legends Gala, interested parties are encouraged to visit the www.sportsgala08.org.
ABC supporters and sports enthusiast alike will also have the opportunity to commemorate the evening by uniting two great passions: supporting a worthy cause and celebrating our love of sport. During the Gala, guests will be encouraged to participate in a Silent Auction with a great variety of items to bid on, followed by a live auction featuring items including authentic sports memorabilia, jewelry, and resort vacations, among other wonderful items.
Proceeds from the auction will directly benefit a number of philanthropic efforts spearheaded by ABC including initiatives such as More in the Middle and Place Matters. For more than 20 years, ABC has selflessly advocated for the state’s African American community through grant-making, investments, donor advised funds and fundraising events. The organization has successfully raised and distributed more than $110 million to deserving families.
About Associated Black Charities
ABC is a statewide public foundation dedicated to creating strong, healthy, economically viable communities, Associated Black Charities (ABC) uses philanthropic investments to create healthier and wealthier communities, families and individuals. ABC ‘s primary mission is to promote the delivery of quality health and human services to underserved communities throughout Maryland.
Read more from BMORENEWS.COM
Op/Ed: Journalist Extraordinaire McCarthy Still Fasting for I Can't We Can:
I opened my hand and he poured $4 in quarters into my palm. "That's all I got right now," he said.
I stood there in amazement. So many people are struggling and having such a hard time. But they get it. They seem to understand that some things are worth giving all you have.
Read in Full >>
The Glover Report: Family, Schools and Churches:
Even more, his presentation before Associated Black Charities of Maryland at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum on Wednesday afternoon went into what he believes are the three major anchors of the black community that must be re-engaged such that black America can be all that it is supposed to be. After all, with the election of President-elect Barack Obama, this is supposed to represent a new beginning. Read in Full >>
Meeting Morehouse College President Franklin Was An Inspirational Experience:
He, in fact, is a reminder – with all due respect to all of the black schools out there – why I first chose – at the urging of my high school counselors - to attend Morehouse. It was a vivid reminder of the three semesters I was blessed to be at – in my mind – the greatest institution on the planet with some of the greatest minds I have ever known. Morehouse students like Adam Scott, Leo Hyman and Robbie Scott from Baltimore and Steven Tolbert, the son of a Liberian president, come to mind. Read in Full >>
Op/Ed: Give Thanks and Praise: Reframing Recession into Abundance:
As we gain perspective and reaffirm our faith, obstacles in our path start to seem less obstructive and more instructive. Instead of complaining about our empty gas tanks, we begin to appreciate the benefits of walking, biking or taking the bus to work. After all, most of us could stand to become a bit more physically fit. Walking to work provides us with such an opportunity. Similarly, taking the bus may relieve the stress of navigating morning traffic jams, and give us time to plan our day more effectively. Read in Full >>
Op/Ed: The Reckoning of the Uninvited:
Where had these people been before? Looking at those now around me, I thought how much past voting had been a closed affair. How much had we come to expect that certain people would just not show up on Election Day – to the point that some politicians even counted on it? Had our democracy really offered an “open” invitation some people simply weren’t supposed to accept? Read in Full >>