Alonzo Mourning Stops By...

Alonzo Mourning just retired from a successful career as a professional basketball player. But don’t expect this superstar to sit around and do nothing during his retirement. Mourning is a man on a mission to give back.

A few weeks ago, I read Alonzo’s book Resilience and I have to tell you it is one of the most inspiring books I’ve read in a long time. I had the opportunity to talk to Alonzo, but we didn’t chat about his basketball years. I wanted to know more about the man who has faced his own obstacles and yet has organized a foundation to help others, including a little boy named Omar.

I was inspired by Alonzo, who as a young boy decided he wanted to be placed in foster care instead of choosing between his parents when they split. I’m inspired by the man who fought with everything he had through his kidney transplant and now shows others how they can do the same. I’m inspired by the man who started a foundation that has made a difference in the lives of many young people.

Mourning is founder of Alonzo Mourning Charities (AM Charities), a foundation created to encourage the educational development of youth by developing programs and youth enrichment centers that promote positive change in low socioeconomic communities.

Since 1997, Mourning has raised more than $6.5 million for various programs that aid in the development of children and their families. In addition to supporting numerous educational initiatives, he focuses his attention to stimulating the development of youth enrichment centers. With the help of donors, Mourning opened the first center in 2003 in the historic area of Overtown, in South Florida, known as the Overtown Youth Center with plans that call for more centers to open in the future.

Major initiatives led by Mourning include more than seven annual events held throughout the country such as Zo’s Summer Groove, as well as the Honey Shine Mentoring Program that works to empower young girls to shine as women. Mourning is an advocate for youth initiatives and foster care programs that assist abused, abandoned and neglected kids. He is a sought-after speaker engaging audiences of all sizes and ages on the importance of education, leadership and perseverance.

Mourning has received the NBA’s Community Assist Award in 2006; National Urban League’s Outstanding Community Service Award in 2003; Silver Medallion Community Service Award by the National Conference for Community and Justine in 2003; NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Sportsmanship Award in 2002; and The Children’s Trust Excellence Award for Public Policy in 2007, to name a few.

You might know the basketball player, or remember the rookie from years back like the Boston Herald recalled, but here you’ll get to know Alonzo Mourning, the man who gives back. Read the book. If only other professional athletes could do the same.

I loved the book. I think it’s a great read for everybody.

It’s great to hear how much you liked it. I wrote the book to encourage and inspire and help educate other individuals towards overcoming some of the challenges that they may face in life.

But you talk about faith to get you through the rough times. How does someone find the faith if they don’t have it already?

It’s really just about believing and understanding that there’s a greater power than you that’s orchestrating everything that’s going on in our lives. And I know that there is a God. There has to be, because there had to be someone who designed our bodies, designed the life that we live in, you know, this just didn’t evolve out of the ground.

But he’s given us an opportunity to make decisions. So based on our decisions, we determine our overall success in our lives. So thinking positively, that’s a start. Because regardless of how bad you’ve got it, regardless of what the scenario is, there’s somebody else out there that has it ten times worse than you do.

If you’re dealing with some pretty tough and hard and difficult times, then you can overcome it, given the right approach. And when it comes to physical issues that you may be dealing with the body follows the mind. Staying positive is number one. Putting forth that type of energy will help you towards overcoming some of the difficulties and obstacles that you may be facing.

I wrote this because of influences in my life that helped me understand my true purpose here, and also to help other people overcome so many different adversities and obstacles they’re dealing with.

So are there benefits of having an obstacle or adversity?

In every adversity there’s a seed of equivalent benefit. You might not know what that benefit is initially, like when I was diagnosed with this kidney disease, I didn’t know the benefits of that. But now I look back on it, and it’s like, ‘Wow.’ I would not change the path and the journey that I’ve taken. I wouldn’t change it for the world. Because it’s made me stronger, it’s enabled me to touch more lives off the basketball court than I have on the court, and it’s been amazing. It’s been an amazing journey. And I’m hoping that my story will continue to inspire and uplift the lives of other individuals as well.

You’ve always seemed to be the type of person who knew what he wanted, even back to when you were a child.

I didn’t always know what it was going to be. I just took a leap of faith. As a child, I took a leap of faith and said you know, I’m not happy right now. I’m not happy, and I love my parents dearly, and I don’t want to be put in a situation where I have to choose which parent that I love. I have to choose which one I want to live with. That just didn’t feel right to me at that time. Not really knowing, at the age of 11 years old, that there’s millions and millions of families out there that are dealing with divorce and different complications of their marriage and family issues and what have you. There’s millions of families out there that are dealing with that on a regular basis. But as a child, I didn’t understand that. All I knew was, I loved my parents dearly and I wasn’t going to choose between either one of them. At the same time, I wasn’t happy, period. So I followed my heart. But at that particular time, I knew that was a part of my journey.

So when I think about, I don’t believe in coincidences at all in life. I don’t believe it. The word coincidence, I think, should be taken out of the dictionary. Because I don’t believe in coincidences. I think that there’s a plan for everything. There’s a plan. There’s just like a reason why Dr. King went through what he went through, that paved the way for a Barack Obama. You understand what I’m saying? So there’s a plan for everything.

Why not just sit back and enjoy your life instead of helping others?

Well, I’m going to pose a question to you, and you don’t have to answer this, but how many people have helped you be the person that you are today? Think about those individuals. Without those individuals, I wouldn’t be talking to you today. So I’m in a position now where I have a responsibility to utilize my overall experiences and what I went through to change the lives of other individuals, provide opportunities for other individuals – especially young people. Having a situation resonate with me, foster care, helping people, young people in underprivileged situations and impoverished situations, I just feel like it’s a responsibility of mine to do that. Instead of me having the selfish intent of ok, I’m just gonna focus on my life and screw everybody else. I mean, there’s a purpose why we’re here on this earth. We’re here to make this world a better place to live. Not everybody has that particular mentality...giving is probably the most powerful act on this earth. If we all had that mentality in giving and helping, then again, I echo this, we would not have the problems that we have in this world today

I know I can’t save the world, but I know giving is contagious.

Read about how Alonzo helped to save little Omar’s life here.

How is Omar doing?

Oh, he is doing great, thank God. He is in the Ronald McDonald house now. His liver is functioning extremely well and the doctors are very pleased with his progress. Omar was on life support when a two-year-old passed away from a car accident. Omar was literally hours away from leaving us. Immediately, his body started responding to it; it’s amazing. And thank you so much for your support in helping us get the word out and what have you.

You’re so welcome. What do you have coming up with your charities?

Right now, on the agenda coming up, is our bowling event. I am truly excited about the possibilities that are in front of us, because I know we’ve got so much work to do. With the youth center that we have in Overtown, we’ve been able to touch so many lives and attack this vicious cycle of illiteracy.

How are you feeling personally?

I feel fantastic. My kidney function is going extremely well. And right now, I’m just rehabilitating my knee in hopes I can possibly come back at the end of this tour, the latter part of this year to help this young team. But if that’s not in God’s plan, then I’m sure, as in life, as one chapter closes, another chapter starts. So I’m looking forward to that next chapter in my life because I know there’s a lot of things in store.

Thanks Alonzo, we’re looking forward to it too!

NBA Star Alonzo Mourning Needs Urgent Help!

Alonzo Mourning (who will be featured here later this month!) knows what it's like to fight for his life and now he's hoping to help a 3-year-old boy do the same. Please read below and do what you can to spread the word...thanks. In this holiday season, a gift of life is the best gift of all.

Zo's Fund For Life Urges the Public to Join Campaign to "Give Omar Life"

Alonzo Mourning, NBA All-Star and Founder of Zo's Fund For Life, an organization Mourning launched shortly after he learned he would need an organ transplant announced that he is leading a campaign to quickly raise funds for a three-year-old boy named Omar Ferguson who is in desperate need of a liver transplant. The announcement was made during a news conference at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center campus in Miami.

Little Omar lies in a hospital bed this holiday season at the Holtz Children's Hospital at UM/Jackson. He has been diagnosed with Biliary Atresia, a rare condition he acquired as a newborn in which the common bile duct between the liver and small intestine is blocked or absent. Most patients with this diagnosis will undergo a procedure as infants to remove the atretic biliary ducts outside the liver and attach the small intestine directly to the liver at the spot where bile is found or expected to drain in an effort to re-establish bile flow. If this procedure is done before two months of age, success is likely.

Omar was not fortunate enough to have received this procedure as an infant and as a result the blocked bile flow has caused severe liver cirrhosis which has led to liver failure. He is in end-stage cirrhosis experiencing complications including life-threatening intestinal bleeding, fluid retention in the abdomen (ascites), and abnormal blood ammonia levels which, if left untreated, can result in coma. The only effective treatment option for Omar to survive is a liver transplant.

Omar is without health insurance, so the only way for him to be placed on the transplant waiting list is when the total cost of the liver transplant, including physician and facility fees, of $300,000 is raised and paid to the hospital. Due to the severity of Omar's illness, he will be given priority once he is placed on the transplant waiting list. Liver transplant survival rates are excellent with over 90% survival in the first year and patients can move on to leading normal lives.

Zo's Fund for Life recognizes the importance of giving Omar the chance to live and is donating $50,000 towards his transplant. "Omar is a true fighter as most kids with this disease don't live past the age of two," said Mourning who is also a spokesperson for the Miami Transplant Institute at Jackson Memorial Hospital and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and serves on the Institutes advisory board. "Omar deserves a chance at life and with your help we can give him the gift of transplant that keeps on giving this holiday season."

"The child is in Holtz Children's Hospital and his condition is critical. He needs to have a liver transplant before he has more complications from his liver disease which could further compromise his outlook," said Andreas G. Tzakis, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Liver/GI Transplant Surgery, Director of the Miami Transplant Institute, and Professor of Surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital and Miami Transplant Institute. "We are very thankful to Alonzo for his commitment to transplantation and help to the needy. His help could not have come at a better time."

In the spirit and season of giving, Mourning is urging the public to help save Omar's life and donate as much and as soon as possible. Show gratitude for your good fortune and give to those who are less fortunate, like Omar, because you can truly make a difference in his life today by donating to Zo's Fund for Life's "Give Omar Life" fund. Donations are tax-deductible and accepted by:
· Debit or credit card via PayPal at www.ZosFundForLife.org/Omar or by calling 1-888-520-ZFFL (9335) or email Amanda@ZosFundForLife.org.
· Mail a check payable to Zo's Fund For Life (reference: Omar) at Zo's Fund for Life, PO Box 330110, Miami, FL 33233.
· Drop off cash or overnight/courier a check to Alonzo Mourning Charities, Inc., c/o Zo's Fund For Life, 2901 Florida Avenue, Suite 806, Coconut Grove, Florida 33133.
· Wire transfer to Zo's Fund for Life, Regions Bank, 2800 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, FL, Account #: 9660220568, ABA/Routing #: 062000019.

For more information, visit www.ZosFundForLife.org, call 1-888-520-ZFFL (9335), or email Amanda@ZosFundForLife.org.

Doug and Jackie Christie: No Ordinary Love and Extraordinary Giving

A few months ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to interview former NBA superstar Doug Christie and his wife Jackie, who are extremely down–to-earth loving people. But before I did, I asked some basketball fans about the couple for research and I got some interesting opinions, but the one that stood out the most was, “they were talked about a lot because of their relationship.” Relationship? You’re kidding me, right? Basketball fans cared about their relationship? Okay, so I read stories about his sign to her when he was in the NBA, heard about other stuff too, but you want to know something…I really don’t care. I know some couples who would ache to have that kind of love in their lives.

Instead, we talked only briefly about their relationship, but we focused more on their love of helping others, especially children through their Infinite Love Foundation. Earlier this year, the Infinite Love Foundation presented 21 new bicycles to children being honored for their achievements in the community. The Seattle Rotary Boys and Girls Club "Lady Style" AAU basketball team also received much needed jerseys, shorts and basketball shoes from the Infinite Love Foundation. Also, the Infinite Love Foundation has consistently sponsored the Seattle Millionair Club, which provides food and hygiene supplies to those in the community; as well as the Children's Hospital of Seattle.

We talked about their commitment to giving back as often as they could and how this commitment came from the fact that both of them had a trying past. I was raised by a single mother and not only did I have respect for Doug, who didn’t end up a statistic that people like to throw in the faces of single mothers (your kid will be drug addict, dropout, etc.) but both Jackie and Doug were successful enough to look back on their past and help others.

A little background on Doug (according to his website, www.dougchristie.com): Doug was born in Seattle, Washington and introduced to hard work at an early age when he became a latchkey kid while his parents both worked long hours. Growing up in the Northwest, Doug enjoyed his childhood and his number one passion, soccer. As an athletic child, it wasn't long after his introduction to organized basketball that he knew this game would be his life. Doug attended Rainer Beach High School in Seattle, went on to Pepperdine and then to the NBA where he played for 14 years. Jackie was also born in Seattle, has been a model and has opened a clothing boutique in Seattle.

Both achieved their dreams through the help of their single parents, who turned to local organizations for aid. Today, Doug is retired from the NBA and he and Jackie focus on their charity work and various business ventures including the launch of their online radio show, Infinite Love Talk Radio beginning November 1, 2007. Their weekly talk show will feature celebrity guests, sports icons and surprise interviews. The Christies will spread their knowledge of marriage, fashion, love, lifestyle and sports with listeners as well as give advice on how to have a successful marriage when all odds are against you. The weekly online radio show will air on Saturdays at 5pm (PST) on www.blogtalkradio.com/christiedandj.

Doug and Jackie are very excited to be talking about helping others and one of the charities they have helped along the way was the Millionair’s Club.

Jackie: My mom was a single mom and I had eight brothers and sisters. She reached out to the Millionair’s Club to help us and helped my brothers get jobs when they were old enough and helped us to get food. They were just terrific for our family and when I got into a position when I grew up that I could give back, they were the organization that stood out for us. Doug also benefited from the Millionair’s Club because his mother was a young mother, she was 15 when she had him and didn’t have the benefit of help from his father either.

(According to their website, since 1921, The Millionair Club charity – located in Seattle, Washington -- has been changing lives through jobs. Businesses, homeowners and individuals hire hard-working, reliable Club clients for day labor or permanent jobs and give unemployed and homeless people a chance to escape from poverty and become self-reliant members of the community. Visit www.millionairclub.org for more information.)

My mom was widowed when I was young so I was like you and Doug, raised by a single mom, but as a kid, you don’t remember who helped you out. Did your mom incorporate ‘giving back’ into your brain over the years?

Jackie: My mom was really happy when I told her what I was going to do. I do remember them helping my brothers and giving them jobs, so I knew I wanted to help them when I got into a position where I could.

Some kids are embarrassed when their family needs help to get by. What advice would you give to them?

Jackie: I would remind them it’s only a temporary situation and when they grow up they’ll be happy to know that someone was there to help them too and now they can give back. That’s what this world is supposed to be based on – helping each other. Just be thankful you’re in a system with an organization that can help you. Just to be able to go to an organization like this is so special; I’ll spend the rest of my days giving out to organizations that can help others. I have a 13-year-old daughter who watches TV and models, but her main character is about giving. We are instilling traditions about giving back with all of our children. We tell them that just because you’re more fortunate don’t mean you don’t give back. We tell our kids to donate their toys or, at Christmastime, they get a certain amount of gifts and they have to pick out gifts for other kids. They really enjoy that. We take them with us to events. If you start your kids young, they’ll grow up with a mindset about giving and grow up to help the community.


NBA players make a lot of money. How did you and Doug get past the comments from others that the two of you were just showing off your money?

Jackie: First, we know in our hearts what is right. There has been a lot of stuff written about our relationship and our love for each other. He is really dedicated to his family and that was hard for others to swallow. People can say whatever they want, we will continue to help and that’s all that matters, so it really doesn’t bother us, what’s really important to us is that people understand we don’t do what we do for publicity. This is a gift from our hearts and it’s something we want to do. It doesn’t matter what they think. If someone needs our help, we help them.

Doug, take me back to your childhood.

Doug: It meant a lot growing up in Seattle. We weren’t always able to have what we needed. I was a latchkey kid, I came home and did schoolwork, but mostly hung out and played. At holiday time, mom would get help from schools or wherever. She was concerned and would get from various places to make sure we got what we needed. That was part of what you did and how you grew up. Whatever mom had to do to make sure there was food on the table, she did.

Most kids in that position just focus on getting out. How did you turn around and give back?

Doug: I was never in that mindset (of just getting out). I used to tell my mom, “I’m going to live with you forever.” Then when I was making my own money and I knew what it was like to be in those situations. I had a knowledge of myself and I started learning more about who I am and I see the kids now who don’t understand what’s going on and we want to help them to turn the light on, change everything including their outlook on things. We want to tell them to go to school, get an education and then anything is possible. I truly believe that anyone can.

When you make it big in the NBA there are perks and glamour and many players can blow their money quickly on stuff.

Doug: I think that when you get that money and you come from not having a lot or not having anything, there’s no rulebook telling you how to spend that. You just don’t know. The real basis though is family. I think about what I want my children to do and I can’t be hypocritical – I have to show them the way I think they should do things, including giving back.

When I was playing for the Lakers and I would leave the forum, there would always be this guy by the freeway and I would always give him a bill and whatever he did with that he did. I look at my children’s faces and I want them to be good people.

The Infinite Love Foundation – what does that mean to you and Jackie?

Doug: Everything we do from helping people to loving each other to whatever we pour into our children – love is just spreading in every direction. Even in our business dealings, we try to do it with the love that people would want to be treated with.

You’ve taken hits with the media. How do you stay focused without saying “I can’t take this anymore?” Many people have obstacles when they start a foundation, so how did you overcome this one?

Doug: The media is a big one. People are going to have their opinions and say mean and kind things – we don’t pay attention to the mean things. There are obstacles in getting to be an NBA player including being told that you’re not good enough to make it. This is just another thing and maybe being an athlete has taught me how to have a tough skin in a lot of areas, and what people say about me is just one of them.

What is your primary goal?

Doug: Hopefully we help someone and they can keep it going and when they give back it just keeps going and it gives hope.

Thanks Doug and Jackie!


Other Tidbits:
* The Children Affected by AIDS Foundation will hold its Dream Halloween® fundraiser at Roseland Ballroom from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 21, 2007. This year Chris Meloni, star of “Law & Order: SVU,” and his wife Sherman Meloni will receive the Foundation’s Ribbon of Dreams® Award. Each October, the Foundation opens its doors to hundreds of families to attend Dream Halloween® in-costume and trick-or-treat for toys, meet their favorite cartoon characters, play games, create arts and crafts, and enjoy delicious food.

* Hollywood, Bollywood and Nollywood Stars Rallied at United Nations – On September 25, actors united for a world without hunger, as part of HungerFREE, a global campaign sponsored by Action Aid International. Celebrity speakers included Tim Meadows (Hollywood); Shabana Azmi (Bollywood - India); Hilda Dokubo (Nollywood - Nigeria) Why are they Protesting? According to Action Aid Int’l, seven years ago governments at the UN committed to halving hunger by 2015. At that time, there were 800 million hungry people across the globe. Today, 854 million are hungry. HungerFREE is a global campaign that will provoke governments to deliver on their commitment to halve world hunger by 2015.

* Padres Contra El Cáncer (Parents Against Cancer) will celebrate its annual fund–raising gala, El Sueno De Esperanza; An Evening for Celebration & Hope on Thursday, October 18, 2007, from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., at The Lot in Los Angeles, California. The organization will pay tribute to the courage and heroism demonstrated each and every day by its extraordinary children and families. ‘EL SUEÑO DE ESPERANZA’ will also recognize PADRES’ distinguished friends and colleagues for their humanitarian contributions in support of the cancer community. Honorees this year include Alex Wallau (Special Senior Advisor, The Walt Disney Company), a cancer advocate who will receive the CHAMPION OF HOPE Award; Beto Cuevas (Grammy Award–Winning Musical Recording Artist), who will receive the RUBY OLIVA CEDILLO TRIBUTE Award; and Cingular Wireless/The New AT&T whose direct financial contributions in support of PADRES and its life–saving mission will be acknowledged with the ‘EL SUEÑO DE ESPERANZA’ Award.Eva Longoria is the PADRES National Spokesperson; Gala Chair and George Lopez serves as Master of Ceremonies.
Founded in 1985, PADRES brings together children, families, healthcare professionals and community leaders to promote a comprehensive understanding of childhood cancer and other blood disorders, as well as effective methods for their treatment. PADRES’ unique and inclusive program model is premised upon the delivery of a health and education curriculum designed to be culturally–relevant, family–centered and community–based. While primarily oriented to the Latino community, PADRES’ programs, activities and services serve childhood cancer patients and their families from all races, nationalities and ethnic origins. NO FAMILY IS TURNED AWAY. For more information, please visit www.iamhope.org.

* The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation will hold their annual New York gala, "A Magical Evening," on Monday, November 12, 2007 at the New York Marriott Marquis. Meryl Streep, and Lee and Bob Woodruff are being honored at this event. The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. More information on this organization and event as we get closer.