Hollywood’s finest “Roll- a-Strike” to break the cycle of Sickle Cell!
Cast of Grey’s Anatomy, Wayne Brady, Dawnn Lewis, Quinton Aaron, Rocky Carroll, Harold Perrineau, MC Lyte and more!
What better way to contribute to an important cause than to unite numerous celebrities for a night of one of America’s favorite pastimes during Sickle Cell Awareness Month! On Friday September 16th, leading talents will demonstrate their bowling skills at KiKi Shepard’s K.I.S. Foundation 8th Annual Celebrity Bowling Challenge in order to help increase knowledge of the ever-growing Sickle-cell disease. Actors, comedians, musicians, athletes, and more will roll-a-strike to raise awareness of the disease, and to benefit the programs of The K.I.S. Foundation, Inc. and the Dorothy H. Shepard Scholarship Fund. The event will take place at PINZ Entertainment Center 12655 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604 at 8:00 p.m. Guests will participate in a lively 2-game bowling tournament including a celebrity bowl-off. Event highlights include Red Carpet, silent auction, on-site bone marrow registration, drawings and after-party.
The mission of KiKi’s “Celebrity Bowling Challenge” is to increase knowledge about Sickle Cell Disease — an inherited, non-contagious blood disease that can be crippling, painful, and life threatening. The CBC stresses the need to educate the public about this fatal disease, and to stimulate continued dialogue about how it is spread, its debilitating effects, ways of prevention, and the need to get tested now.
Discovered in the United States over 100 years ago, sickle-cell disease (SCD) statistics are staggering. In the US, 1 in 2,500 newborn babies has the disease and approximately 54,000 babies are born each year with sickle-cell trait. Primarily an African-American disease, there are approximately 80,000 Americans with sickle-cell disease and 3.5 million with sickle-cell trait and related disorders. The disease has now crossed into all races. While there is no general applicable cure for SCD, several promising developments have occurred to improve the quality of life and survival of SCD patients.
“As we approach the 100th year of discovery, we are extremely excited to host our annual fundraiser during Sickle Cell Awareness Month which brings awareness to the disease and dispels some of the myths that come along with the lack of knowledge of this horrible disease,” says K.I.S. Founder and actress KiKi Shepard.
Bowlers will be able to participate on various levels: Lane sponsors $2,500; Teams $600 (includes 4 bowlers plus a celebrity); Individual bowlers $150; Non-bowlers $50. All proceeds are tax-deductible. Sponsorship opportunities and tickets are still available.
Confirmed celebrities lending their support and participating in the charitable event include: James Pickens Jr., Chandra Wilson, Sara Ramirez, Jesse Williams, Kevin McKidd, Justin Chambers, Wayne Brady, Glynn Turman, Dawnn Lewis, Quinton Aaron, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Harold Perrineau, Loretta Devine, Jackee’, Obba Babatunde, Jenifer Lewis, Chico Benymon, Rocky Carroll, Tracie Thoms, and celebrity DJ MC LYTE spinning live throughout the tournament and after-party.
Sponsored by: Herbalife, Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills, American Airlines, Dana da Designated Hata, Premier Concepts.
Tickets are still available starting at $50, for more information visit: www.thekisfoundation.org or call 310.605.5472
