P.O.W.E.R.S teams up with the

Alliance for

Toy Drive, Wine Tasting and Art Fund Raiser .

Los Angeles, CA – October 24, 2005, P.O.W.E.R.S. Women’s Network teams up with The National Alliance of African American Athletes for it’s 10^th Annual Toy Drive. P.O.W.E.R.S. has been serving the needs of inner-city youth for the past ten years. This annual event helps to fill a much needed void for many children right here in our own back yard who heed a helping hand … we provide a hand up not a hand out.

This years Toy Drive will feature Wine and Fine Art in Beverly Hills at the elegant Karen Lynne Gallery. The Gallery is currently hosting the SEBA exhibit, Sophisticated Elegant Blacks in Art, this event will kick-off a completely new set of works by various artists from around the world.

Stone Garden Vineyards the Number One Black Owned Winery in the country will be featured. Renowned Artist and designer Michael Kilgore will have some of his works featured and be in attendance. O’Gilvie Chocolatier a Los Angeles based, black owned chocolate company, will provide chocolate samples. A silent auction will feature, wine, sports collectibles and other items. Retired NFL players and other celebrities will be our special guest.

The event will be held on Friday, December 2, 2005 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., admission is a twenty-dollar donation with an unwrapped toy or forty-five dollars without a toy. Admission is very limited so a reservation or pre-event ticket purchase is suggested.

P.O.W.E.R.S. Women’s Network is working closely with the “Watkins Award” group and its planning committee to bring the award Los Angeles. The “Watkins Award” is the premier award in the nation for Senior High School African-American Male Scholar Athletes. Sponsorship and Tickets are still available.

The event is to raise funds for the “WATKINS AWARD” which will be held in Los Angeles on February 24 and 25, 2006 at the Le Meridian Hotel in Beverly Hills. The National Alliance of African American Athletes is a 501© 3 non-profit organization.

Location: Karen Lynne Gallery

216 N. Canon Drive

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

310-858-8202

About: P.O.W.E.R.S. Women’s Network

P.O.W.E.R.S. WOMEN'S NETWORK, was established in 1992 to allow women entrepreneurs to network and promote their business. We also serve the community via our partnership with the P.O.W.E.R.S. Network Inc. P.O.W.E.R.S. Network Inc. is a multidisciplinary entrepreneurial educational program addressing the needs of children who are considered at-risk-youth. The organizations mission is to provide outstanding mentoring for students who are considered at-risk. We help them to dream, achieve, and succeed in both school and business.

Every year, POWERS NETWORK INC. host special events and programs to allow entrepreneurs to network and promote their business. We also offer special events for teens to highlight their talents.

Contact:

Althea Stokes - Event Tickets - 310- 487-1624

Treasure Owens - P.O.W.E.R.S. Women's Network - 323-791-9300

Reginald Grant - 213 – 742 – 6523 - eplaybook1@mindspring.com

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The event is to raise funds for the “WATKINS AWARD” which will be held in Los Angeles on February 24 and 25, 2006 at the Beverly Hills Crowne Plaza Hotel. The National Alliance of African American Athletes is a 501© 3 non-profit organization.

For the past fifteen years the National Alliance of African American Athletes has presented the premier award in the nation for Senior High School African-American Scholar Athletes. For the first time in ten years Los Angeles will host the “The Watkins Award” and SYNERGY Sports Conference on February 24th and 25th, 2006. Watkins Award Alumni include Darnell Dinkins, Ravens, Ronald Curry, Raiders, Robert Tate, Cardinals, Shane Battier, Memphis– NBA, Deryck Toles, Colts, Lorenzo Alexander, Panthers, Chris Lewis, Cardinals, La Var Arrington, Redskins, Grant Irons, Raiders, Nick Maddox, Panthers, and others. The Alliance “Athletes Advisory Board” includes John Salley – Radio/TV Host, NBA Champion and the new Chairman of the Athletes Advisory Board, Teyo Johnson, Raiders, Clyde Simmons, Eagles (Retired), Warren Moon, NFL (Retired) Chiefs, Oilers, Frank Thomas, White Sox, Mario Elie and Charlie Ward-NBA (retired) and others.

About the “Watkins Award” and the NAAAA

The goal of the National Alliance of African American Athletes ("The Alliance"), established in 1989, is to empower young African American males through athletics, education and public programs. As unavoidable role models on the "image" front lines, talented athletes-especially in football, basketball and baseball-define what the emerging generations of African-American males will value, and the aspirations they will have. The Watkins Trophy Award is a means for recognizing exceptionally talented African-American male athletes who, by their example, help promote high academic standards and a commitment to community service. www.naaaa.com

About the EXHIBIT

SEBA Curatorial Statement

SOPHISTICATED ELEGANT BLACKS IN ART (SEBA) is organized around African American figural subjects from myriad artistic styles. It is not “black” art in the traditional sense of the term since the painters selected represent many cultural and racial backgrounds including that of Black America. We have selected these artists for their individual talents within specific styles of art: from photo-realism to neo-impressionism to near-abstraction, and chosen pieces that relate to the theme of affluent African American lifestyle.

There has been an explosion of African American culture: from Hip Hop’s transformation of music to the changing face of movies and the coining of the term “Hollywood Renaissance”. This reference to the Harlem Renaissance of the early 20th century is important because it relates to one of the most prolific periods of African American art. SEBA is about furthering this trend in the visual arts. Just as artists stretch their canvases, this exhibition seeks to stretch the current boundaries of the art world by providing greater access to varied imagery.

This show celebrates a culture and the connection that all of the arts have in common. The paintings on display document diversity and act as a metaphor for the divergent experiences and meanings within African Americana. Just as the music and entertainment industry have expanded the ways African American culture can resonate with all people, SEBA seeks to further figural painting’s ability to transcend individual backgrounds toward common experience.
The exhibition is not about promoting a specific point of view or a singular agenda in the world of fine art. It is about exploring subject matter and style present in American culture. Our hope is that this exhibition is a beginning for figural artists of all backgrounds to showcase the varied tones of our world.

Walter Meyer, M.A.
Professor of Art History
Santa Monica College

Event Coordinators: