The VIPP Report: Grace at The Race announces Kirk Franklin, Amy Grant & Tamela Mann in concert during Kentucky Derby weekend

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The VIPP Report:  Kirk Franklin and the Family will be in Louisville during Kentucky Derby weekend.  It’s the 2nd Annual Grace at The Race featuring Tamela Mann, Amy Grant and Franklin.  The concert will be held on Thursday, May 1st at the Kentucky Center for the Arts in downtown Louisville.  The fly jock Tom Joyner will be the emcee for the evening.

Grace at The Race is an annual Pre-Derby event that will honor three individuals from the corporate, sports and entertainment sectors for their commitment and contributions to community service and raises funds for local and national non-profit organizations that have a focus on at risk children.

“Grace at The Race” will be held on Thursday, May 1st at the Galt House for dinner from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. followed by the concert.  If you would like to have dinner prior to the concert, there will be a “Grace at The Race” dinner which includes a concert ticket.  For both events tickets are $125.00 before March 1st and $150.00 after that date.  During the dinner local gospel artist Cynthia Williams will be featured.

If you would like to just attend the concert you purchase single tickets before March 1st for only $67.00, after March 1st, tickets are $77.00. For group sales call 502-417-1624.

For additional information on “Grace at The Race”, please visit http://www.graceattherace.com.

If you have a Kentucky Derby event you would like to promote contact our advertising dept. at TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com.  Follow us on Twitter @VIPPComm for real-time coverage.

The VIPP Report: Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival

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The VIPP Report:  The Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival announced their concert lineup.  Multi-Grammy award winning star Chaka Khan is scheduled to perform.  Khan’s catalog is so extensive with mega hits “Through the Fire” and “I Feel for You”.

Other artists performing will be Crystal Gayle, Toni Braxton, Chrisette Michele and Aaron Neville.

The Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival is from Thursday, January 30th through February 1st at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.  For additional information visit www.jamaicajazzandblues.com.

If you have a story idea send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com.  You can also follow us on Twitter @VIPPComm.

The VIPP Report: Mocha Minute, the new water cooler for professionals

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LaSonya Berry, President/CEO of McPherson, Berry & Associates, Inc. (McPherson|Berry) was launched on January 10th, an interactive chat amongst professionals who only have a few minutes to spare in a workday.  It’s called “Mocha Minute™”.   The new online water cooler is designed for executives, leaders, managers, business students and professionals.  Mocha Minute™ will initiate the dialogue to promote social learning and provide thought provoking discussion.  The idea is to be able to do it within an allotted time you take a 15 minute break in your workplace.  The new type of online water chat will only take a few minutes of your time but provide you invaluable information from leaders you rarely have access to in the workplace.

LaSonya Berry, CEO of McPherson|Berry says “I was very happy with the execution of the first “Mocha Minute”.  Within the 15-minute break we were able to open the dialogue and answer questions from professionals interested in training, hiring and leadership coaching.  This is a great start for the monthly chat.  I encourage you to participate in the February online discussion.”

The next Mocha Minute will be Friday, February 14th at 11:00 a.m. (EST).  Grab your mocha, latte, coffee, tea or water and take a minute out of your busy schedule to chat online about important business matters with Mocha Minute™.  The online break will give you an outlet to discuss all things business from the latest trends, workforce challenges, industry news, HR, career/management concerns and power tips. We invite you to engage in the conversation.

Mocha Minute™ will take place every 2nd Friday of each month at 11:00 a.m. We invite you to engage in the discussion.  Follow us on Twitter @McPhersonBerry to get real-time responses.

If you have a story idea send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com.  You can also follow us on twitter @VIPPComm.

The VIPP Report: Mary J. Blige’s father remains in critical condition after being stabbed

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The VIPP Report: Multi-platinum R & B/Soul artist Mary J. Blige’s father is currently in critical condition in a  Michigan hospital.  Police say 63 year old Thomas Blige was allegedly stabbed by his ex-girlfriend.  The incident happened around 7:00 a.m. Thursday morning in Blige’s apartment.  The suspect is currently in a Calhoun County jail charged with attempted murder and she is expected to be arraigned Friday.  
Follow us on Twitter @VIPPComm for the latest in this story and other entertainment and community news. 

The VIPP Report: Former WNBA legend & Louisville native Kym Hampton appears on new reality show

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The VIPP Report: Louisville native, former WNBA star and current New York Liberty Fan Development Leader Kym Hampton can add reality show star to her resume.  She will be apart of “Mom’s Got Game” starting tonight, January 18th at 10:00 p.m. on the OWN Network.

Hampton says the show is about family, love, basketbal, real life issues, good times and you know me its comedy driven.  I was able to get in touch with Hampton.  I wanted to know more about the show and her role.  Hampton tells me “the show is about my girl Pamela McGee who is highly accomplished and SUPER strong-willed.  Pam is trying to help her son (NBA star JaVale McGee) stay on the straight and narrow as a rich, young celebrity.  Back in the day, we battled on the court uring college and our professional years.  We were tough down lowbut morphed into GLAMAZONS after the game.  Life took us on our separate journeys but has now has circled back.  I feel like this is our time to focus on us again…we just have to convince Pam!”

Hampton played basketball at Iroquois High School in Louisville then went onto Arizona State University on a full scholarship.  After her collegiate career she was drafted 4th overall in the 1997 WNBA draft by the New York Liberty.  Kym played in the league’s inaugural game and scored the first basket.  She started every game of her three seasons.  She also played in Spain, Italy, Japan and France.

Hampton is an original Cover Girl model for Queen Latifah’s Queen Collection.  You can catch her from time to time still on the basketball court, not playing but singing the National Athem.  She used her theatre degree from Arizona State to be apart of several films and television shows such as the “Cosby Show”, “Thrown Down” hosted by Bobby Flay, “JuWanna Mann” and “She Hate Me”.

Hampton says you don’t want to miss it because its guaranteed to make you laugh.  “Mom’s Got Game” airs tonight at 10:00 p.m. on the OWN Network.  Hampton will be tweeting live so you can follow her @KymHampton.

If you have a story for The VIPP Report send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com.  You can also follow us on Twitter for real-time news events @VIPPComm.

TheVIPPReport: Hair care Trailblazer Dr. Joe L. Dudley Sr. will visit Louisville team to support new beauty industry series

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TheVIPPReport: Dudley Products Louisville & Dudley Q Kentucky, a leader in urban hair care and cosmetics is launching their 3rd Sunday Protect & Respect the Beauty Industry Series. Each month Tami Charles, owner of Dudley Products Louisville will dedicate a Sunday to focus on the trends of hair care from natural to salt & pepper/silver hair.  She will showcase hair weave and even fantasy hair along with a barber and hair battles.
January’s event will be “Hair color”.  Stylist and students from area salons will get an opportunity to talk about the current trends and see how they can incorporate color and care into their clients’ styles.
There will also be a hair show and competition by Kentucky barbers and stylist. Local Barbers and stylist art by Miller Tyme barbershop, Savina’s top notch salon and the Spotlight Artist is Mrs. Nica Jones-Burton of Nu look Salon.

The 3rd Sunday Series will be January 19th from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, 1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
Charles’ Dudley Q Kentucky team will focus on strengthen and informing the public and beauty community by providing opportunities to educate and sharpen their hair care skills through workshops and seminars. . Charles is the only authorized Dudley professional and retail store located at 332 W. Broadway.

This month guests will get an opportunity to meet the Co-founder Dr. Joe L. Dudley Sr. He has a success story that needs to be heard.  As a child, they labeled him mentally retarded.  He overcame the struggles and worked hard be a true trailblazer in the hair care industry. He’s received numerous awards from the Horatio Alger (rags to riches) award to presently receiving the Got Entrepreneur Award in 2013 from both the state of North Carolina and South Carolina. These honors will go into the history books because Dudley is the first African American to receive the awards.

Dudley says he enjoys coming to Louisville and loves to see how the professionals embrace the products and instructors, “There is a special spirit among the people at Dudley products that makes us stand out from most organizations. We are serious about self-improvement and empowering others. We are committed to having a life of abundance. We are excited beyond words about life and all of the opportunity that it offers. We have been conditioned to give up such words as I can’t and I won’t and replace them with an attitude of I AM! I CAN! & I WILL”.

If you are interested in participating, you can do the following: be a spotlight artist, be involved in the competition, showcase, be a vendor, advertise in the program and/or donate prizes.
General admission is $12 per person.  Licensed professionals/students who would like to participate in the hair color class on January 20th at the same location are $10.

To learn more go to http://www.thirdsunday.info or call 502-286-9281. You can also log onto http://www.dudleyproductslouisville.com to learn more about the product line.

If you have a story idea, send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com.  You can also follow us on Twitter @VIPPComm.

TheVIPPReport: Tyler Perry will introduce a new drama this Fall starring actress Nia Long

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TheVIPPReport:  For the past few weeks we have seen the emergence of African American stars in leading roles on television programs. “Single Ladies” on VH1, “Being Mary Jane” on BET and now the OWN Network announces that Tyler Perry will launch a new show “Single Moms Club”.
The drama is about a group of mothers who came together as a group after an incident at their children’s school.  The mothers all come from different walks of life but serve as a support group for one another.  They try to find humor in the obstacles of life, as well as inner strength to be able to overcome personal challenges.  The show will star Nia Long, Terry Crews and Tyler Perry, who will write, produce and direct the show.  “Single Moms Club” will premiere this Fall.
This is the fourth series created by Perry.  He has “The Haves and the Have Nots”, “Love Thy Neighbor” and “For Better or Worse” all currently airing on cable television.
If you have a story idea send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com.  You can also follow us on twitter @VIPPComm.

Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater announces that he will forgo his senior year and enter the NFL draft

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University of Louisville releases a statement in regards to QB Teddy Bridgewater entering the 2014 NFL Draft.

University of Louisville junior quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has decided to forgo his final year of collegiate eligibility, and make himself available for the 2014 NFL Draft. “After discussing all the options with my family and the coaching staff, I have decided to forgo my senior season and declare for the NFL Draft,” Bridgewater said. “This was an extremely difficult decision for me. I can’t express how much my time at Louisville has meant to me. These past three years have allowed me to mature as a person and leave the university as better person and with my degree in hand, which was one of my goals. I will cherish every moment on the field and off the field, and every bond that I built. I will forever represent the university with the utmost pride and respect. I want to extend a special thank you to my teammates, Tom Jurich, all the academic staff and professors, the coaching staff, support staff, students and the Cardinals’ fan base.

“I didn’t know much about Louisville when I made the decision to attend, but in the end, it was one of the best decisions I could have ever made.”

Bridgewater made the decision following an outstanding 2013 season, which was capped by a standout performance in the 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl, where he completed 35-of-45 passes for a career-high 447 yards and three touchdowns.

Bridgewater won 27 games in his three years as the starting quarterback for Louisville, including 12 wins in 2013, which tied a school record. Bridgewater threw for 3,970 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2013, while completing 71 percent of his passes.

In leading the Cardinals to a 12-1 record, Bridgewater developed into one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. He opened the season by tying his career high with five touchdown passes in a 49-7 win over Ohio and four more in wins over Eastern Kentucky and FIU. He recorded seven 300-yard passing games and was a second team All-American Athletic Conference selection this season.

In 39 career games at Louisville, Bridgewater threw for 9,817 yards, which is third most in the UofL annals, while his 72 career touchdown passes also ranks as third best in school history. He completed a school-record 68.3 percent of his passes and had just 24 interceptions in 1,142 career pass attempts.

The Miami, Fla., native was the 2012 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and a first team all-league selection after throwing for 3,719 yards and 27 touchdowns in guiding the Cardinals to an 11-2 record and a win over fourth-ranked Florida in the Sugar Bowl. In earning Most Valuable Player accolades in the win over the Gators, Bridgewater went 20-of-32 for 266 yards and two scores in a win over Florida.

The Cardinals have three returning quarterbacks on the roster in redshirt freshman Will Gardner, freshman Kyle Bolin, and junior Brett Nelson.