Judge Penny Brown Reynolds to Keynote The Motherless Daughters Foundation’s Fifth-Annual Gala on SATURDAY!

Hello World,

The Motherless Daughters Foundation will host its Fifth-Annual Gala — what may be the organization’s largest and most exciting fundraising gala to date — September 16, 2017. The semi-formal affair will take place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Georgia International Convention Center at 2000 Convention Center Concourse in College Park, Georgia. Doors open at 5 p.m.  Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, an Emmy Award-nominated executive producer, speaker and television personality AND ordained minister, will deliver the keynote address.

MDF will recognize Grammy-Award winning singer/songwriter Jill Scott, the founder of Blues Babe Foundation, a North Philadelphia-based nonprofit focused on cultivating academic and artistic success in youth coming from the most underserved communities of North Philadelphia and Camden.

 The complete list of honorees includes:

Jill Scott, singer/songwriter and founder of Blues Babe Foundation, a North Philadelphia-based nonprofit that provides a free summer camp for youth, among other services

Taffi Dollar, co-pastor, World Changers Church International; author and motivational speaker

Hank Stewart, Emmy Award-winning poet and founder, Hank Stewart Foundation

Gary Davis, founder and executive director, Next Level Boys Academy

Emcees for the evening will be WAGA-TV Weekend Anchor Deidra Dukes and Shaunya Chavis-Rucker, broadcast personality, and division chief for the Fulton County Office of Broadcast, Cable and Film.

“We are both humbled and excited to recognize honorees who are exemplars in supporting and empowering our youth — from one spectrum of the globe to another,” says Rassalyn Willis, founder and executive director, the Motherless Daughters Foundation. “There’s no question empowering today’s youth through opportunities, access, mentoring, skills development, education and more helps to ensure their future success.”

The event that serves as the nonprofit’s major fundraiser will kick off with a walk down the red carpet and include a seated dinner, entertainment, and silent auction of exciting items such as travel, cultural and dining experiences, autographed memorabilia and unique treasures.

The Motherless Daughters Foundation provides a mentoring program for girls ages nine to 15 living without support of a positive mother figure in their lives. Through Motherless Daughters, girls are paired with relatable mothers; they also have an opportunity to participate in summer camps plus year-round educational and enrichment experiences. Girls receive scholarships and donations of clothing and school supplies and more.

Atlanta First Lady and affordable housing developer Sarah-Elizabeth Reed serves as brand ambassador for Motherless Daughters, and Xernona ClaytonCEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc., is honorary mother for Motherless Daughters, which was founded by president/executive director Rassalyn Willis. A community activist, Willis is owner of Xclusive Hair Studio and Spa in historic College Park, Georgia.

Individual gala tickets are $75. Money raised will go toward providing scholarships, career development programs, school supplies and clothing, computer purchases, housing for homeless individuals participating in the programs and transportation to personal enrichment events. For more information, go to www.motherlessdaughtersfoundation.org or call (404) 669-9800.

Sponsors include Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Southwest Airlines, Georgia Power and Upscale magazine.

About the Motherless Daughters Foundation

The Motherless Daughters Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to embracing and encouraging the growth and development of young girls entering their adolescent years without the support of their natural birth mother due to unforeseen circumstances. Through enrichment programs focusing on self-awareness, social development, and community involvement, our hope is to provide an environment that will build character, promote confidence, release charm, and cultivate the beauty that each “Motherless Daughter” beholds.

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Atlanta First Lady Sarah-Elizabeth Reed Partners with the Motherless Daughters Foundation for its Fundraiser Gala and Silent Auction

Hello World, motherless daughters

With the theme of Soaring to Greater Heights, the Motherless Daughters Foundation will hold its 3rd Annual Fundraiser Gala and Silent Auction on Friday, July 31, 2015. The semi-formal affair will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Georgia International Convention Center at 2000 Convention Center Concourse in Atlanta.

Riverdale Mayor Dr. Evelyn Wynn-Dixon will serve as keynote speaker. Special guests will include Atlanta First Lady Sarah-Elizabeth Reed, an affordable housing developer who serves as brand ambassador for Motherless Daughters, along with Motherless Daughters honorary mother Xernona Clayton, CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc.

WALR KISS 104.1 FM’s Public Affairs Director Twanda Black — host of “Business in the Black” and “Good News Gospel” — will emcee the gala, which is sponsored by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The event that serves as the nonprofit’s major fundraiser will kick off with a walk down the red carpet and include a seated dinner, entertainment, and silent auction of exciting items such as travel, cultural and dining experiences, autographed memorabilia and unique treasures.

Celebrating its third anniversary this spring, the Motherless Daughters Foundation provides a mentoring program for girls ages nine to 15 living without support of their natural mothers as a result of unforeseen circumstances. Through Motherless Daughters, girls are paired with relatable mentors, and also have an opportunity to participate in summer camps plus year-round educational and enrichment experiences. Girls receive scholarships and donations of clothing and school supplies and more. President/executive director Rassalyn Willis — a community activist, entrepreneur (owner of Xclusive Hair Studio and Spa in historic College Park), wife and mother of four — founded Motherless Daughters. “Motherless Daughters is dedicated to the self-empowerment of our young ladies,” says Willis. “Our life skills and educational development programs develop girls into confident young women through education and exposure, giving them endless opportunities.”

Individual gala tickets are $65; tables of eight are $500. The 2015 goal is $50,000 to go toward providing scholarships, career development programs, school supplies and clothing, computer purchases, housing for homeless individuals participating in the programs and transportation to personal enrichment events. For tickets, go to eventbrite.com. For more information, go to motherlessdaughtersfoundation.org or call (404) 957-4300.

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My Red Carpet Coverage of the 2015 Trumpet Awards/Watch It on TV One THIS Saturday…

Hello World, me and mystikal

Although I love God more than any other being, my other great love (other than my husband and family) are celebrities…So when an opportunity arose to cover the 23rd Annual Trumpet Awards Ceremony from the red carpet, I couldn’t pass it up…So I got my hair did, face did, toes did and wore a dress I’ve had in my closet since my 20s (yay me…#notsohumblebrag)(check out the “us-sie” of me and Mystikal, who performed at the Trumpet Awards)

red carpet

 

and joined the rest of the paparazzi with my Kodak easyshare and went to work…So below are a few of my photos…Make sure to watch the actual awards ceremony on TV One this Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

026The creator of the Trumpet Awards, Ms. Xernona Clayton…

006Lou Gossett, Jr. pointing out my itty bitty camera and telling me I was cute 🙂

059One of this year’s honorees, Janelle Monaé

007Isaac from “The Love Boat” also known as Ted Lange 🙂

038Babeee, they are minked (not sure if real or fake..)out… Bishop Ron Gibson and his wife LaVette from the “Preachers of L.A.”

045Another honoree and my soror…Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president of Morehouse School of Medicine…

015Ambassador Andrew Young and his wife Carolyn Young…

soror benjamin trumpetMy soror Dr. Regina Benjamin, former surgeon general of the United States…

053Chanté Moore…

036Deborah Cox…

042Dr. Rachel Ross from “The Doctors”…

050 Ernie Isley of The Isley Brothers and wife…

056Dikembe Mutombo

048Leela James

011Journalist and Alpha Man Roland Martin…

031I caught Naturi Naughton checking her phone…

queQuvenzhané Wallis aka Annie…

020 Larry Dodson of the Bar-Kays…

065One of the hosts for the evening Laila Ali…

063Another honoree Jamie Foxx and Cathy Hughes, founder of TV One…

usieAn “us-ie”…Me and two friends I happened to see inside the ceremony…

069Again…Ms. Xernona Clayton, the force behind the evening…

This year’s honorees included: Lou Brock (Baseball Hall of Famer and St. Louis Cardinal Legend); Arnold W. Donald (President and CEO of Carnival Corporation); Jamie Foxx (Actor, comedian, musician); Tommy Hilfiger (Designer, philanthropist); Guy Vickers (President, THCF, VP Community Affairs); The Isley Brothers (Recording artists); Janelle Monáe (Recording artist); Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice (President/Dean Morehouse School of Medicine); Franklyn R. Wilson (Chairman, Sunshine Holdings, Ltd, Bahamas).

So how did you like my red carpet coverage?

Any thoughts?