Friday, April 17, 2015

Oh So Charitable: Emmitt Smith Celebrity Invitational on May 8-9

Pat and Emmitt Smith have some playful moments on the set of a recent photo shoot
photos c/o Pat Smith


Two of my favorite people on the planet are Pat and Emmitt Smith. These two embody the bible verse found in Luke 12:48, "To whom much is given, much will be required."  Both Pat and Emmitt come from humble, working-class beginnings and are determined to use their hard-earned success and national platform to raise awareness and funds for children who need a leg up to see their potential and give them a reason to dream big.  Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities is a 501 (c)(3) that supports programming for underserved children. They fund summer camps, after school programming, college tuition and other educational programming that impacts over 25,000 children annually through the charity. Emmitt is fond of saying, "You have to see it, to dream it." The Team 22 Mentoring program personally launched and supported by Pat and Emmitt Smith has doubled in capacity over the past year. The students have had the opportunity to have experiences with both President George W. Bush and President Obama this year, to visit Washington DC and be spotlighted at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as up and coming youth.

Steve Harvey and his wife Marjorie celebrating
his 58th birthday this past January
(photo: Steve Harvey)
Currently, they are busy preparing for the sixth-annual Emmitt Smith Celebrity Invitational Weekend, presented by SoftLayer on May 8-9, 2015 in Dallas. The weekend’s opening night gala on Friday, May 8, at the Omni Hotel Dallas will begin with a red carpet celebrity reception followed by dinner, live auction and dancing.  Steve Harvey and his wife Marjorie, will receive the Roger Staubach Award at the  Named for the legendary Dallas Cowboys quarterback and real estate icon.

The Roger Staubach Award recognizes sports and entertainment professionals who positively impact the lives of children by living courageously and creating opportunities for today’s youth. This is the only award to be named in Staubach’s honor other than one established at his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy. Why Harvey? The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation (SMHF) was founded to establish programs nationally and internationally committed to fostering excellence in the lives of children and their families. The key SMHF initiatives address education, health and social well-being through such programs as The Steve Harvey Mentoring Program for Young Men and Girls Who Rule the World. “Emmitt and I are absolutely thrilled to welcome Marjorie and Steve Harvey to Dallas, and especially to present the Roger Staubach Award to such a deserving couple. Marjorie and Steve work tirelessly through their Foundation to mentor, educate and inspire today’s youth,” Said Pat Smith. “The Harveys have been an inspiration to Emmitt and me to do even more for underserved children.”

Tickets for the Friday Night Party at the Omni begin at $500. If that's a little too rich for your blood you can tune in to a live streaming of the red carpet festivities on Friday, May 8th by visiting http://www.emmittsmithlive.com.  Perhaps you want a more casual way to support the cause? On Saturday, players will tee-off for an 18-hole charity golf tournament at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney. For $50 you can purchase a Gallery Pass to the CrestCars.com pavilion. This will give you access to watch the players on holes 7/9/18. Great for photography and viewing! They will have games & entertainment for kids of all ages, including a performance from the Ray Johnston Band. Your ticket includes lunch and a full bar! Come out and enjoy a fun day for a great cause!

For ticket details, go to www.emmittsmith.com/celebrity-invitational.