The Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville opens a new exhibit. XOXO: An Exhibit About Love and Forgiveness. It provides children an opportunity to explore their feelings through facial expressions, words, movement, art making and other hands-on activities.
For more information go to www.alicenter.org.
If you have a story idea, send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com. You can follow us on Twitter @vippcomm.
GRAND OPENING FOR THE STATE OF THE ART HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER FOR WOMEN
NEW HEALTHCARE FACILITY CATERS NOT ONLY TO YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH BUT YOUR MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT
On Sunday, May 31st from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. You are invited to attend the opening of Athena Health and Wellness, A Center for Women. The center is located at 907 Lyndon Lane. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 3:00 p.m. There will be plenty of free food and drink for our guests to enjoy while taking tours of the facility.
Athena Health and Wellness Center was founded by Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners Ashley D. Miller and Carrie Thonen. With nearly twenty years of women’s health experience between them, they believed that women throughout the reproductive life span could benefit from a boutique-style health center focused on total wellness. They wanted Athena to blaze the trail for comprehensive women’s healthcare in Louisville; they envisioned and then founded a facility that takes the time and care to focus on the individual needs of each patient. Ashley and Carrie welcome you to Athena Health and Wellness, a center focused on you!
Miller says “We believe that women throughout the reproductive life span could benefit from a boutique-style health center that focused on total wellness-mind, body and spirit. We wanted Athena to blaze a trail for comprehensive women’s healthcare in Louisville; envisioning a facility with an interdisciplinary team that makes women comfortable and takes the time and care to focus on the individual needs of each patient.”
The name of the facility has a significant meaning to the team. Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom. When a woman walks into our center, she will feel like a goddess during her entire visit.
The Athena Health and Wellness Center officially opens to the public on June 1st, and they are currently accepting appointments. You can call 502-425-7659. Miller also says “When arriving for an appointment, expect to be pampered! Patients will be welcomed by a friendly receptionist and then invited to help themselves to hot tea or water while they wait for their appointment. There will not be long wait times when you have a scheduled appointment. We want to be able to care for you in a proper time frame that also meets your schedule. Expect to be treated with care and concern and to never be rushed through your time with our team of providers.”
To learn more about Athena Health and Wellness visit our site at AthenaHealthandWellness.com.
If you have a story idea, send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com. You can follow us on Twitter @VIPPComm.
Sherlene Shanklin with President Barack Obama
By Sherlene Shanklin
Later this week, President Barack Obama will be in Louisville, KY. At this time, White House officials are not releasing very many details. I do know that the President will visit Indatus, a Louisville based technology company on Thursday, April 2, 2015. The business is located on E. Main Street, which is just down the street from the KFC Yum Center and Whiskey Row, a new business development designed to promote Kentucky’s bourbon and other related products.
If you have a story idea, send it to me at TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com. You can follow me on Twitter @Sherlenemediapr @vippcomm.
By Sherlene Shanklin
World renowned sculptor Ed Hamilton and his wife Bernadette had the wonderful opportunity to meet the Prince of Wales. Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall made a trip to the United States and Louisville, KY was on their schedule. The Hamilton family met the royal couple on Friday in an intimate meet and greet.
Muhammad Ali released this updated photo on Twitter 3-20-15 Cheering on the Louisville Cardinals. He also sent a statement to the Prince of Wales who was visiting Louisville.
By Sherlene Shanklin
On Friday, Louisville native Muhammad Ali sent a warm “Welcome to Louisville” message to Prince Charles and his wife Camilla who are visiting the city as part of a multiple-day trip to the states. The statement from Ali, which was read by Mayor Greg Fischer during today’s Harmony and Health Initiative Luncheon at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage.
His Majesty Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall,
Lonnie and I welcome you to our hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, USA! We are honored that you have come to explore, share, and learn about new sustainable initiatives that are so close to your hearts. Louisville prides itself on being a compassionate city and we are confident that you will leave feeling a sense of our southern hospitality, caring for the environment, and yes—our love for college basketball. As you travel back to your homeland, we hope you know how much this city respects and admires the many contributions you have made in the world. We think you are the greatest.
–Muhammad Ali
If you have a story that you would like for Sherlene Shanklin to cover send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com. You can also follow me on Twitter @sherlenemediapr or @vippcomm
By Sherlene Shanklin
I’ve been in contact with McDaniel Bluitt, Executive Director for the West Louisville Boys and Girls Choir. This Friday, they will perform for Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. Bluitt says they are scheduled to sing several songs with one of them being “Amazing Grace.”
Prince Charles will be in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday, March 20, 2015.
If you have a story idea, send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com. You can also follow us on Twitter @vippcomm.
Former NBA and NCAA champion Derek Anderson is proud to announce the return of his Stamina Camp for the third year. “Stamina Camp 15” will be held in Louisville, KY on June 22th-26th at Louisville Collegiate School, 2427 Glenmary Ave. The five-day camp will go from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day where Anderson and his team of coaches will take your child through a series of life skills that can be used both on and off the court.
Anderson says “I like teaching basketball players but I love to help people to be better! At Stamina Camp we all get better at BOTH! I want to teach them how to hold your follow thru, become a great shooter to doing your chores and becoming a responsible person in life. I hope it becomes second nature to them. Sports and Life go hand in hand if you want to WIN in both!”
The Kentucky Wildcat legend is opening the camp to youth from ages 7 to 17. Derek and some of his former teammates will stop by to participate in the camp. He’s also working on a few surprises for the youth. Just to give you an idea, last year, Derek played H.O.R.S.E. and held free throw contests and if the camp’s participant won, Derek would give the winner a pair of signed Jordan Brand shoes.
The camp is only $175, which includes a t-shirt, free lunch, drinks and a career poster.
To register your child, for Derek Anderson’s Stamina Camp 15 go to http://www.staminacamp.com. Registration begins on Monday, March 16th.
If you would like to setup an interview with Derek Anderson about his Stamina NBA Skills Camp, appearances involving his Stamina Book Tour and/or to be a sponsor please contact Sherlene Shanklin, Anderson’s publicist at 502-295-0435 or by email at sshanklin@vippcommunications.com.
###
Gen. Colin Powell comes to Lexington, KY in May
Four-star General Colin Powell has served more than 35 years of service to the U.S. Army. He also served as President Ronald Reagan’s national security advisor. Now, Powell will be in Lexington, Kentucky in May.
General Powell will share his insights on leadership at the opening session of Alltech’s REBELation Week.
Powell is the first African American to be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for both President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. Powell is scheduled to speak on Monday, May 18th.
To learn more about REBELnation Week go to http://www.alltech.com.
If you have a story idea, send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com Follow us on Twitter @vippmediapr.
CREATED FOR THE FANS AND RUN BY THE FANS ITS “BIRDGANG BRAND”
FALL LINE UNVEILED JUST DAYS BEFORE U OF L FACES THEIR TOUGHEST COMPETITION TO DATE
October 27, 2014
Immediate Release
(Louisville, KY) As the seasons begin to change, the University of Louisville Cardinal fans have a lot to be proud of from academics to their athletic teams. You can show your school spirit by wearing some of the coolest apparel. The Birdgang Brand decided to release their Fall/Winter line before some of their biggest games in the school’s history and the holidays.
The line of Cardinal apparel has been created and ready for distribution just in time for the Louisville versus Florida State football game on Thursday, October 30th at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium and Saturday, November 1st for the men’s basketball first exhibition game at the KFC Yum! Center, who is fresh off their 2013/2014 run with a record of 31-6 and an Elite Eight appearance. This is their first year in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Fans can wear the signature Birdgang Brand “L” as well as other trendy Louisville recognizable symbols. “We Are Birdgang” has become a popular brand and a pop culture sensation for fans. If you place your order this week, the Birdgang Brand team will be able to deliver your apparel before this week’s games.
Danny Mosby Partner/CFO says “I want to express to the true hard core University of Louisville fan that you are the reason we are in existence. Every person in our organization is truly a team player and we work tirelessly to bring you designs with the upmost quality. Because of you WEAREBIRDGANG!”
This Tuesday, October 28th at 12:00 a.m. Birdgang Brand will be opening its virtual doors to the first one hundred customers. All items will be on a first come first serve basis and sizes are limited. Go to http://www.WeAreBirdgang.com to place your order. Mosby goes on to say “When the virtual window opens we are running a 100/24 Campaign. We want to sell 100 t-shirts in 24 hours”. Be a part of the Birdgang movement and purchase yours in time for Cardinal athletic events.
If you would like to setup an interview and see the new line of merchandise with Birdgang Brand members, Brian “Buffalo Stille”, Ronald “Ron Clutch” Wilson and/or Mosby, please call 502-582-7716 or by email at info@vippcommunications.com.
Follow us on social media to receive updates on how you can win some merchandise. We will do giveaways each week.
Facebook @502Birdgang, Twitter and Instagram @WeAreBirdGang.
About Birdgang Brand Clothing
Birdgang Brand Clothing is based in Louisville, Kentucky and is a high-fashion urban sports apparel company centered around the University of Louisville Athletics. Birdgang Brand Clothing is supported and approved by the University of Louisville, and is officially licensed by the CLC (Collegiate Licensing Company).
The Muhammad Ali Center held a news conference Thursday to talk about CONGO14 Louisville and the Second Annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards.
Donald Lassere, CEO for the Muhammad Ali Center announced the following as this year’s recipients: Jim Brown, Mick Eberling, Susan Sarandon and Common.
Brown, former NFL star who played for the Cleveland Browns. He stood up for civil rights and fought for equality and against injustice. He’s the recipient of the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement Award.
Eberling is receiving the Humanitarian of the Year Award. He’s the founder and CEO of Not Impossible, LLC, an organization that develops creative solutions to real-world problems.
Sarandon, an Academy-Award winning actress and social and economic activist will receive the award for Global Citizenship.
Common will be honored with the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Education. The multi-Grammy Award winner, actor, poet and activist is known for motivating and empowering collegiate minds.
This year’s Muhammad Ali Kentucky Humanitarian Award will be presented to Robert and Deborah Blair. They are the founders of the West End School in Louisville. The school is a free, private, college preparatory school for young men.
Ali will also honor six young people who exemplies one of his core principles of confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect and spirituality. Recipients are from New York, Kenya, Colombia, Iowa, California and Malaysia.
Some of the people who will be presenters during the Saturday, September 27th event at the Louisville Marriott Downtown will be: Lonnie Ali, Brad Montague, Robby Novak, Holly Robinson-Peete, William Mapother, Pamela Brown and Congressman John Yarmuth.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the “Rumble in the Jungle” where Ali battled against George Foreman in the historical boxing match. The Ali Center will host a benefit concert featuring two-time Grammy award artist Bruno Mars, multi-Grammy award winners The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards and rising stars Southern Sirens according to Lassere.
Mars only has a few dates left on his tour schedule so fans will be in for a treat by listening to his hits like “Grenade”, “If I Were Your Man”, plus many others. Fans of The Temptations get to hear the rich Motown sound and high energy performance. You will hear songs like “My Girl”, “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” to “Get Ready”. The Southern Sirens will also perform during the concert. Lassere says its just a matter of time before everyone will know their name.
The Ali Center Benefit Concert will be Saturday, September 20th at the Kentucky International Convention Center. Tickets range from $50 to $200. Discounts are available for military families, educators, and students. Show your ticket stub and receive free admission to the Ali Center.
For additional information on both events visit the Muhammad Ali Center website at www.alicenter.org.
If you have a story idea send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com. You can also follow us on Twitter @VIPPComm or @Sherlenemediapr. (creator of The VIPP Report).
The Lincoln Foundation presents the 19th Annual Evening of Jazz featuring Marcus Click. For interviews contact info@vippcommunications.com
The VIPP Report: I wanted to share with you some exclusive photos of Sculptor Ed Hamilton at work. I watched Hamilton carefully work his way up and down the piece carefully defining creases in the sleeve of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s jacket to Hamilton looking him in the eyes as if they were talking. To see a visionary in the arts create the likeness of another visionary in the civil rights movement was truly a historic moment. I even caught him closing his eyes as if he was trying to remember Dr. King and his image. Hamilton had this determination in his eyes that everything had to be perfect before he sent it to be bronzed. This weekend his vision came to life.
The City of Newport News commissioned the Louisville artist to create “The Unfinished March”. It’s a bas relief of Dr. King along with the men, women and children walking along side of the civil right leader is located at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza at 25th and Jefferson Avenue.
Hamilton says “I’m truly humbled and honored that the City of Newport News asked me to recreate a moment in Civil Rights that marked a significant piece of history. People from all over the world will be able to see how I captured Dr. King and other civil right leaders walk for freedom, justice and opportunity. When you walk away, I want it to give you a sense of pride and hope for the future.”
Other works Hamilton has designed is the 16th President of the United States and Kentucky native Abraham Lincoln with the Lincoln Memorial which is located along the Ohio River in downtown Louisville. He’s known for but not limited to is The Booker T. Washington Memorial in Hampton, VA, Spirit of Freedom in Washington D.C., Joe Louis Memorial in Detroit, MI and the Amistad Memorial in New Haven, CT.
Hamilton has an autobiography, “The Birth of An Artist: A Journey of Discovery” (Chicago Spectrum Press). The book outlines his journey from hopeful art student in Louisville, Kentucky to nationally acclaimed sculptor.
To learn more about Ed Hamilton and his works contact VIPP Communications at 502-582-7716 or by email info@vippcommunications.com.
(Click link to see photos of the Hamilton working on “The Unfinished March”)
The River City Drum Cultural Arts Institute welcomes drum lines to the city of Louisville for the battle of bragging rights during the 8th Annual Da’Ville Classic Drum Line Showcase. It’s all goes down this Saturday, April 26th at Iroquois Amphitheater. Community teams, high schools and colleges will show what that have by using precision and skill. The showcase will begin at 3:00 p.m. and tickets are only $10.00 per person for the official Kentucky Derby Festival event.
Miles College and Lincoln University will represent the post-secondary division. There will be four area schools in the high school division. They are Central High School, Louisville, KY; Art Academy, Columbus, OH; Columbus East, Columbus, OH; and the Academy of Shawnee, Louisville, KY. There will be six community teams in attendance representing Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. The River City Drum Corp, Louisville, KY; Saints, Columbus, OH; 3DI, Dayton, OH; Pick Percussions Pulse of Peoria, Illinois; Boom Squad, Evansville, IN and the Shawnee Arts & Cultural Center will all perform.
Ed White, Executive Director says “I’m happy to see so many teams both local and surrounding states participate in the showcase. Youth have been practicing for months for this opportunity and they will be bringing everything they’ve got. I along with the other teams make a conscious effort to help our youth achieve both in the classroom and in life. We provide great after-school opportunities for our youth and they earn scholarships not only in academics but in music.”
To purchase tickets you can call Ed White at 502-905-2908.
The VIPP Report: March 5, 2014 marks the 50th anniversary on the “March on Frankfort” which was initially in support of equity in public accommodations. We spoke to the last surviving organizer Sen. Georgia Davis Powers. In 1967, Powers became the first person of color and the first woman elected to the Kentucky State Senate. She will be in attendance Wednesday and at the age of 80 will take the historic walk once again. Powers says she will be speak right after the Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear in the program.
The rally will commemorate what Civil Rights leaders accomplished by urging Kentucky to pass a law that would help end segregation by making discrimination illegal in the area of public accommodations such as stores, restaurants, theatres, and hotels. The march helped build support for the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 and helped result in the Kentucky Civil Rights Act of 1966.
Local organizers will meet at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage and convoy to Frankfort, Kentucky.
The VIPP Report will take you up close to the place where Dr. Martin Luther King, baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, Sen. Georgia Davis Powers, Kentucky Civil Rights leaders and 10,000 marchers converged on the capitol in Frankfort, Kentucky in 1964 making the Bluegrass state the first south of the Mason-Dixon Line to have a state Civil Rights Act.
The march will begin at 10:00 a.m. People will gather at the corner of 2nd Street and Capital Avenue at 9:30 a.m. to line up in order to proceed to the State Capitol, 700 Capitol Ave.
Follow us on Twitter @VIPPComm. If you have photos you want to share send them to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com.
The VIPP Report by Sherlene Shanklin: Today friends and family paid their final respects to one of the last living members of the Tuskegee Airmen. Louisvillian Alvin LaRue Sr.passed away on Monday, February 3rd. LaRue was a flight officer for the Tuskegee Airmen and World War II veteran. He retired from the Army Corps of Engineers.
I had the once in a lifetime opportunity to find the Kentucky members of the prestigious Alabama unit about 13 years ago for Black History Month. The first person I found was Alvin LaRue Sr. I knew him because I knew his son. We sat down and talked about his accomplishments and how important it was to let people know their history. I remember that he was very humble and so willing to share his story about the segregation in the Army even though they were all fighting for the same thing.
LaRue is a native of Louisville and he was a student at the University of Pittsburgh when he was drafted into the U. S. Army in 1943. LaRue then went on to become one of America’s first Black military airmen.
LaRue was buried today at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Radcliff, KY. Alvin LaRue Sr. was 89 year old.
During this Black History Month remember those who made sacrifices so that their children, and their children’s children could have a better life.
If you have a story idea send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com
The VIPP Report: Dove & BET award winning gospel artist Marvin Sapp is currently on his “School of Choice Tour”. The 11-city free tour is in Louisville, KY tonight. Sapp along with Sunday Best season two contestant and RCA Inspiration label mate Latice Crawford and the Doctor of Comedy Henn Sapp will be at Christ Temple Christian Life Center.
Sapp will share his inspirational story of his late wife Dr. Malinda Sapp who had a vision to take inner city children from great to greater through education. Sapp says he’s excited about partnering with the Black Alliance for Educational Options Partner (BAEO) again, helping to promote school choice to urban communities. Their hope during the tour is to make parents aware of their options when it comes to public education.
After Louisville’s show, The “Marvin Sap School of Choice Tour” heads to Nashville, TN on the 12th, followed by Chattanooga, TN on the 13th and Atlanta, GA on Friday night, February 14th.
If you have a story send it to TheVIPPReport@vippcommunications.com. You can also follow us on Twitter @VIPPComm.
