Volvo Cars A Sponsor In REAL MEN COOK® For Charity 2002
Celebrity Line-Up For Fundraiser Held Simultaneously In 10 Cities On Father's Day, June 16
CHICAGO -- Former NBA All-Star and successful entrepreneur, Magic Johnson, nationally syndicated radio personality Doug Banks, author and educator Dr. Na'im Akbar, former MTV host Dr. Dre and recording artist Donnell Jones lead the line-up of celebrity endorsers for 13th Annual Real Men Cook for Charity 2002. Recognized as the nation's largest and longest running urban Father's Day event, Real Men Cook will be held simultaneously in 10 cities on Father's Day, June 16, 2002.
Founded in Chicago in 1989 by Resource Associates International (RAI), Real Men Cook is a celebration of food, fathers, families and communities. The event features food sampling, activities for kids and tributes to the real men in families and communities.
For the third consecutive year, Real Men Cook will be held in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Miami, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Sponsored primarily by State Farm, Lawry's, Showtime, Upscale Magazine and Rolling Out Weekly nationally, Real Men Cook has raised more than $750,000 for nonprofit partners.
This year, more than 1,000 Real Men in 10 cities will cook for more than 25,000 people. The men, who come from all walks of life, will donate their time, culinary talents and delicious dishes to raise money for deserving non-profits focused on families, health, education, culture and the community.
They will be joined by a variety of political, entertainment, media and sports celebrities from across the country. National endorsers include Magic Johnson, Dr. Na'im Akbar, BET news anchor Ed Gordon, author and cultural commentator Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, recording artist and MTV host Dr. Dre and Electronic Urban Radio (EUR) founder Lee Bailey.
In New York, Doug Banks will host the event and recording artists Donnell Jones, and Carl Thomas will participate, as will District Leader William Allen.
Mayor Ray Nagin will host Real Men Cook in New Orleans along with former New Orleans Saints NFL All Pro Joe Johnson, currently with the Green Bay Packers.
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Congressman John Conyers will host the Detroit event, focusing on building families and communities in the city.
In Chicago, where Real Men Cook originated, co-founder Kofi Moyo, the Original Real Man, will serve as host. Congressman Danny Davis will continue his thirteen-year involvement and R.W. McQuarters of the Chicago Bears will also participate.
The Los Angeles event will feature entertainer/host James Avery (TV patriarch/Uncle Phil of "The Fresh Prince" and Lee Bailey. Entertainers Lamont Bentley, Guy Torry, and Charles Malik Whitfield will have also signed on.
In Atlanta, participants include Congressman John Lewis, former NBA players from the Atlanta Hawks Dominique Wilkins, Jason Terry, Dion Glover and former Olympian, Mel Pender.
In addition to the above, other local politicians and media and sports celebrities will be involved in each city, and in keeping with the food and family theme, Showtime's sponsorship includes the national promotion of the premiere season of Soul Food, June 26 at 10 PM.
Real Men Cook® in Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C. and Chicago will be sponsored by Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. "We are proud to support the Real Men Cook events. It is a family focused event that supports the company's philosophy and Volvo's corporate citizenship mission," says Greg Dixon, Volvo Cars' Consumer Relations Marketing Manager.
RAI is headquartered in Chicago and is committed to the positive promotion and support of African-American history, families, businesses and communities.
To register to cook, buy tickets or get more information, visit www.realmencook.com
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NATIONAL REAL MEN COOK ENDORSERS 2002
National Endorsers:
Magic Johnson, businessman and former NBA Superstar/Los Angeles Lakers
Dr. Na'im Akbar, author and educator
Michael Eric Dyson, author and cultural critic
Ed Gordon, BET news anchor, "BET Tonight"
Dr. Dre, DJ and former MTV host
Congressman Danny Davis
Joe Johnson, NFL All Pro defensive end
Tommy Dortch, Chairman, 100 Black Men
Dorien Wilson, actor, "The Parkers"
Rodney Van Johnson, NBC's, PASSIONS
James Avery, "The Fresh Prince" and "Soul Food"
Lee Bailey, EUR & Radio Scope, Lee Bailey Broadcasting
Gerald A. "Gerry" Fernandez, ,MultiCultural Food Service & Hospitality Association
City Event Participants & Hosts
Atlanta
Congressman John Lewis
Mel Pender, Former Olympian
Dominick Wilkens, Former Atlanta Hawk
Chicago
Kofi Moyo, Real Men Cook Co-Founder and The Original Real Man - host
Herb Kent, V-103 Radio - host
Dallas
Commissioner, John Wiley Price
Detroit
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick - host
Congressman John Conyers - host
Los Angeles
Lee Bailey, Bailey Broadcasting/EUR - co-host
James Avery, Actor, (Uncle Phil "The Fresh Prince" /"Soul Food) - co-host
Guy Torry, Actor/Comedian, (Pearl Harbor, Life, Trippin')
James Milik Whitfield, (The Guardian, Voices from the Front Line)
Miami
Rodney Baltimore, HOT 105/The Tom Joyner Show - co-host
Dorien Wilson, actor, "The Parkers"
Rodney Van Johnson, NBC's, PASSIONS
New Orleans
Mayor Ray Nagin - host
Joe Johnson, NFL All Pro defensive End - host
Cash Money, hip hop group
New York
Doug Banks, nationally-syndicated radio personality - host
Carl Thomas, recording artist
Donnell Jones, recording artist
Philadelphia
Tamlin Henry, Host, WDAS Radio
Washington, D.C.
Tank, recording artist
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman, National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
And, 1000 additional volunteer, certified, "real men" cooks who will devote their Father's Day to the memory and celebration of real men past, present and future.