Arthur Ashe 2012 SPORTSBALL GALA Cheryl Article Beacon
Cheryl was honored to moderate an panel of father’s who are taking a stand for their children.
This was very personal for Cheryl — because her father didn’t know how to handle her brother — who was diagnosed with autism as a toddler. Confused and in deep denial, Cheryl lost her dad in a horrific motorcycle crash in 1980 — he never did bond with his autistic son… who is now an artist and productive adult.
“Autistic Like Me: A Father’s Perspective” is a documentary/advocacy film that examines the difficult emotional journey experienced by fathers of autistic children. Having an autistic child turns a parent’s world upside down. Dreams are broken and lives are changed forever. Men are especially affected because we often do not seek out the support network needed to deal with this type of emotional upheaval. http://www.autisticlikeme.net/
Cheryl Wills was honored to host the Jackie Robinson Foundation Induction Ceremony which salutes some of the nation’s best and brightest young people.
Four Jackie Robinson Scholars received sponsor-led awards at the Mentoring and Leadership Conference held in New York City March 3-6th. Troy White, a marketing major in his senior year at Northern Illinois University, received the 2012 Nike Prize. UCLA Senior Ashley Williams received the Spike Lee Youth Motivation Award. Syracuse University Junior Olevia Mitchell received the coveted Unilever Legacy of Leadership Award and Baylor University’s Prince Adotoma received the prestigious Ralph E. Ward Achievement Award. Awardees received cash ranging from $1000 to $10,000. To learn more visit www.jackierobinson.org
At the invitation of The Honorable Robert L. Bowser of East Orange, New Jersey, Cheryl was invited to be the keynote speaker for The City’s official Women’s History Month Celebration. An enthusiastic crowd was in attendance and at the conclusion of the event, Mayor Bowser issued Cheryl a proclamation and “pinned” her as an honorary resident of East Orange. Cheryl was thrilled to share her story with the wonderful citizens of New Jersey. The booksigning that followed was equally exciting because she sold out of copies of her acclaimed “Die Free” and personally autographed every one!
Cheryl is always thrilled to visit Fortune 500 Companies and talk about “Die Free”. On February 2, 2012, she was invited back to visit New York Life Insurance Company (back by popular demand) to discuss how tracing one’s ancestry can help individuals expand both personally and professionally. The author’s engaging powerpoint presentation was beamed around the country to New York Life sites coast to coast. Cheryl was very well received by a very enthusiastic audience.
Click here to watch NY1 News report on Harry Belafonte
ALL PHOTOS MANDATORY COURTESY: ZO PHOTOGRAPHY
Click here to read about the Holiday Lighting Event
All photos mandatory Courtesy: Zo Photography
