Golden Child Awards Foundation To Host 7th Annual Extravaganza This Weekend

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Press Release

GOLDEN CHILD AWARDS FOUNDATION

“TO BRIGHTEN A CHILDS LIFE”

May 1, 2007
“Friends of the Golden Child”

Re: 7th Annual Golden Child Charity “BASKETBALL” Event
Attn: ________________________________

Dear Sir/Madam:
This is to invite and inform you of the up-coming 7th Annual Golden Child Awards Charity Basketball Event, which will start Friday, May 4 through Sunday, May 6, 2007. The event will take place at the Trinity Center/Trinity University, 125 Michigan Avenue, N.E. Washington, D.C. The Golden Child Award is an award given to a child who is going through or has gone through a physical or mental challenge due to an injury or adverse condition and has persevered. In the past five years, the Golden Child Awards Foundation (GCAF), a non-profit organization 501©3 has reached out to five families and awarded their children who have gone through traumatic occurrences.

The initial 2001 recipient of the Golden Child Award was 12 year-old Harris Bates. On April 24, 2000, Harris Bates was the young man who was shot in the head at the National Zoo, Washington, D.C. The 2002 recipient was 14 year-old Elijah Campbell. Elijah Campbell was the young man who was attacked by several pit-bull dogs on Capital Hill, Washington, D.C., on June 17, 2001. The 2003 recipient was 13 year-old Iran Brown. Iran Brown was the young man who was shot on October 7, 2002, by the snipers that plagued the region. The 2004 recipient was 10 year-old Erica Shaheed. Erica Shaheed was the young girl who was the victim of a critical hit and run while in the cross walk in Washington, D.C. on September 27, 2002. Erica sustained massive injuries to her head and face and was hospitalized for eight months in critical condition. The 2005 recipient was 10 year-old Andre McAllister. Andre McAllister was the young child who survived a deadly house fire on December 20, 2004 at 418 17th Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. The 2006 recipient was the highly recruited basketball star, 18 year old Eric Henderson. On February 1, 2006, Eric Henderson was the young man who struck his head on the bottom of the backboard during a basketball game in Bowie, Maryland. As a result of the injury, he was later found unconscious and face down at home by his sister and subsequently rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain. Eric was hospitalized for four months in critical condition.

This year’s recipient is 17-year old Tyrone L. King Jr. Armstead. Tyrone is the young man who was born with one kidney and no bladder. Since the age of 3-years old, Tyrone has been going to the Children Medical Center for dialysis treatment four hours a day, three days a week. Tyrone was abandoned by his biological parents and later adopted from a foster home at the age of nine. Tyrone L. King Jr. Armstead’s fight to never give up is an inspiration to us all.

Each year the Golden Child Awards Foundation plans to select a courageous child and honor them with this award. These recipients are all victims of traumatic events, survivors, and motivators. They have exemplified the meaning of inspiration and in doing so they have touched all of us in a profound, positive, and personal way. Proceeds from the event will be awarded to the recipient in the form of a monetary contribution to assist in financial hardship, unpaid medical expenses, and/or future education.

Therefore, the Golden Child Awards Foundation respectfully request a monetary contribution of an amount of your choice to help us continue to brighten the smiles of kids who have become victims of a traumatic occurrence. Your contribution would not go unrecognized. Tell a friend and have them match your contribution. Remember, it’s “Their Struggle…Our Support.”

Teams participating in the three-day basketball event consist of players from Corporate Sponsors, Collegiate, Professional and Celebrity status. Last years high school bracket was such a success, the GCAF decided to continue to feature eight top caliber High School teams to compete for the “Harris Bates Trophy” and a girls “Gold Star” feature game to compete for the Erica Shaheed Trophy.” It is our hope, that this addition will encourage the support and involvement of our youth towards individuals who have been less fortunate than themselves. The past years’ event has been a great success and we look forward to this year’s event as one community comes together to “Brighten A Childs Life.”

Event Schedule:

The event will began Friday, May 4, 2007 at 6:45pm with two Pro-Am games.

Saturday, May 5, 2007 start time will began at 9:45am and conclude at 9:00pm.
(Both High School and Pro-Am games played throughout the day)

Championship Sunday: May 6, 2007

Start time will began at 1:00pm with the first Girls High School “Gold Star” game, featuring Woodson (DC) vs. Largo (MD) and the High School Championship followed by the Pro-Am Championship game.

Presentation of the “2007 Golden Child Award” will take place during the Half-Time of the Pro-Am Championship Game.

Sincerely,

Bill Wright – President
Golden Child Awards Foundation