has proven that she has staying power. What
started out as one woman's vision to raise funds
annual national event. This year, Smith hosted yet another
Celebrity-Bowl-a-Thon, and as always with the help of
her good friend Dick Gregory, a comedian and political
activist who was celebrating his 80th birthday. There was
good cause to celebrate, and the timing was perfect for
both events.
every year I host an event called the `Celebrity-Bowl-a-
Thon' to raise scholarship funds," says Smith, "The first
Bowl-a-Thon was in 1995. I was really looking for some
way to raise funds in a family-friendly atmosphere that
gave everyone the opportunity to participate. I did a lot
of research on my own and attended other bowl-a-thons
to see what they did, and that gave me an idea how I
wanted mine to look."
Apollo, was mistress of ceremonies at a dinner party in
Gregory's honor on June 29. But on Saturday, Shepard
and other entertainment industry veterans donned bobby
socks and bowling shoes to raise money for the next
generation of leaders.
college. Smith adds, "This program is what keeps me
going year after year. We're trying to help the youth.
Instead of them taking out loans, we try to support them
by providing scholarships. Gregory supports this program
each year and so do Public Enemy members Chuck D. and
Malik Farrakhan, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, TX State
Rep Helen Giddings, TX State Sen. Royce West, author
Joyce Ann Brown, former U.S. Congressman Martin Frost,
Kiki Shepard, Glynn Turman, Shuckey Duckey, David
A. Arnold, Nanette Lee and Phyllis Yvonne Stickney,
singers Eric Benet and Miles Jaye, actor Richard Gant,
Vanessa Bell Calloway, Dawnn Lewis, Joe Torry, and D
Ellis, opera singer Ivan Tolbert, country/western sensation
IMAJ, spoken word artist Zemill, professional athletes,
and many others. We celebrated Gregory's birthdays at 77
years and 80 years, and I'm looking forward to celebrating
many more to show my appreciation. We love having
him around."
off the ground was not easy. She had to seek support
from several organizations and individuals. As with any
business, it takes time to reap the benefits. However, her
program has already granted scholarships to students.
"Celebrity Bowl-a-Thon scholarships range from as little
as $1,500 to over $20,000. A few years ago, one student
had money to go to college, but did not have money to fly