Lonise Bias
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Hope comes to the 22nd annual Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford County Steak and Burger in the form of Lonise Bias, a woman thrust into community activism after the untimely deaths of her sons.
“Her passion is unmatchable and immeasurable,” explained Michelle Pauley, spokeswoman for Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford County. “She has a great message of hope. When listening to her speak, she gave me goose bumps.”
Bias’ sons, Len and Jay, both died with bright futures in front of them.
Len was a University of Maryland basketball player, who died of a cocaine overdose in 1986 two days after being drafted by the Boston Celtics.
Jay was the victim of a drive-by shooting at a shopping mall in 1990.
The deaths of her sons forged her commitment to reclaim the community.
“With this year’s speaker, she doesn’t have the notoriety as past speakers,” Boys & Girls Club President Kelly Rollins said. “Many have not heard of Dr. Bias. But for those who will hear her that night, she will etch an indelible mark and they will know who she is.”
Bias’ personal experience with drug abuse and violence are exactly the two things the organization is trying to prevent in the community, he said.
“She has an incredible story,” Rollins added.
Bias takes that incredible story and speaks about a belief in the redemptive and transforming power of love and hope with her program, “The Best Is Yet To Come, for community, youth, family and our schools.”
Bias will bring her message of hope to the largest fundraising event for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford County.
“It is our opportunity to invite the community to our facility, to interact with our kids,” Rollins said. “Simply stated it’s our most important event this year.”
He said the club hopes to raise $150,000 for its capital campaign to build a facility in northern Rutherford County.
“The capital campaign continues to move forward with great strides even with the economic downturn,” he said.
The Steak and Burger takes place at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 16 at the Boys & Girls Club on Jones Boulevard in Murfreesboro.
At the event, tables for 10 will be set for eight adults and two children from the club. While the adults eat Toot’s burgers off of paper plates, the children will eat steak off of real plates.
Guests will also have the opportunity to bid on any of the items in the silent auction.
Sponsorships are available from $10,000 to $1,500 or individual tickets are available for $200.
All proceeds from the Steak & Burger Event will benefit the more than 1,700 children who are proud members of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Murfreesboro and Smyrna.
For more information, contact Pauley at 890-2582 or by e-mail at michelle.pauley@bgcrc.net.
Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com. |
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