The event, to be held Friday, September 16th from 8 pm to 12:30 am at the PINZ Entertainment Center in Studio City, will benefit the programs of the nonprofit K.I.S. Foundation and The Dorothy H. Shepard Scholarship Fund.
Annually, the K.I.S. foundation hosts a fundraiser-Kiki Shepard’s “Celebrity Bowling Challenge,” to raise monies for its Sickle Cell Disease programs and the Dorothy H. Shepard Scholarship Fund. Over the past eight years, the CBC has been a huge factor in creating awareness to communities in the Los Angeles area and across the nation.
“We are asking everyone to please come out and have a great time and support our efforts to raise awareness of Sickle Cell Disease,” said Shepard, known as the “Queen of Fashion” to millions of viewers who tuned in weekly to watch the legendary television show “It’s Showtime at the Apollo.”
Shepard said that attendees will have a great time at the event, which will feature a bowling tournament and party, live and silent auctions, 50/50 drawing, surprise entertainment, great food and drink, and event goodies.
“We have a lot of great sponsors and wonderful celebrity bowlers who will be participating, including Don Lewis, Obba Babatunde, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Dorien Wilson, Rocky Carroll, and Wayne Brady,” said Shepard.
Other stars scheduled to participate include Mike Epps, Terrence Howard, LLCool J, Tamara Tunie, LisaRaye McCoy, Phylicia Rshad, Vivica A.Foxx, Lynn Whitfield, Camryn Manheim, James Pickens Jr., Chandra Wilson, Jenifer Lewis, Glynn Turman, Jackee Harry, Tracie Thoms, Kevin McKidd, Chico Benyman, Art Evans, Reginald Veljohnson, Theresa Randle, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Dondre Whitfield, Arjay Smith, Mari Marrow, Flex Alexander, and Damien Hall, just to name a few.
“M. C. Lyte will be our guest DJ,” Shepard added.
“I’m just trying to raise awareness, and part of raising awareness is to get educated about Sickle Cell Disease,” said Shepard. “I believe that it is a lack of education that allows Sickle Cell Disease to continue to flourish in the African American, Hispanic and Asian communities. People think it’s a black disease, but it’s not. Pretty soon, it will be in the Caucasian community as well, because we are cross pollinating, for lack of a better word.
“Our anthem is to go get tested. Find out if you have the trait and get educated about the disease and together we can break the cycle.”
Shepard has used her philanthropic efforts to fight Sickle Cell Disease for over 15 years. She established the K.I.S. Foundation, Inc., to continue to raise awareness of Sickle Cell Disease and to financially help research institutions find a universal cure.
For the past several years, Shepard has been an in-demand hostess in Hollywood. Many remember her for her late night variety show, “Live in Hollywood” and TV One’s “The Bid Whist Party Throwdown.” Shepard has also hosted the Congressional Black Caucus Wives Scholarship Weekend, the San Diego Black Film Festival’s Red Carpet, Disney’s 1st Black Heritage Celebration and the prestigious NAACP Act-So Awards.
She also starred in her own one-woman show, “It’s Showtime … An Evening with Kiki Shepard.”
As for her old stomping grounds, the Apollo, Shepard said that big changes are about to occur at the legendary showplace.
“Jaime Foxx and Don Wyman are planning to hold an amateur night show there,” said Shepard, adding that the planned project will not resemble “Showtime at the Apollo.
via source
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