ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC.
TAU BETA OMEGA CHAPTER
presents
Giving
FROM THE
Sole
SNEAKER GALA & SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER
November 11, 2023
Marina del Rey, California
Souvenir Journal
2023 GIVING FROM THE SOLE SNEAKER GALA & SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER
President’s Message Dear Friends, Family, and Honored Guests, On behalf of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Tau Beta Omega Chapter, welcome to the 2023 Giving from the Sole Sneaker Gala & Scholarship Fundraiser. We are honored to have you with us as we celebrate our 2022 scholarship recipients and community honorees. We are grateful for your support. Chartered on April 27, 1991, Tau Beta Omega Chapter serves Marina del Rey and its surrounding communities with a keen focus on scholarship, service, and sisterhood. Tau Beta Omega’s 74 members are among Southern California’s best and brightest college-trained professionals from diverse backgrounds who know that “Service to All Mankind” is a serious matter. Tau Beta Omega is implementing the 2022-2026 International Program, “Soaring to Greater Heights of Service and Sisterhood,” under the guidance of International President and CEO, Danette Anthony Reed. This multi-faceted program galvanizes our sisterhood of more than 120,000 active members to lead the way in Strengthening our Sisterhood, Empowering our Families, Building our Economic Wealth, Enhancing our Environment, Advocating for Social Justice, and Uplifting our Local Community. The Tau Beta Omega Endowed Scholarship Fund through the Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation (EAF) was established to promote lifelong learning by awarding scholarships to deserving high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate/professional students nationwide. Over the years, we’ve awarded more than $60,000 in scholarships. Our 2023 recipients represent some of the country’s most prestigious universities, including Temple University, Tulane University, Prairie View A&M University, University of Southern California, College of William & Mary, Spellman College, and Duke University. Your support today ensures Tau Beta Omega can continue to deliver impactful community service and funding higher education for tomorrow’s leaders. Again, thank you for attending our first-ever Giving from the Sole Sneaker Gala and Scholarship Fundraiser and for supporting Tau Beta Omega Chapter year after year! Yours in Service,
President 2022 - 2023 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Tau Beta Omega Chapter Marina del Rey, CA
Program WELCOME Janine Rubenstein Editor-at-Large, PEOPLE Magazine
Host, PEOPLE Everyday Podcast
RECOGNITION OF VERY SPECIAL GUESTS Latina Wright-Booker Protocol Chairman, Tau Beta Omega Chapter
FAR WESTERN REGIONAL DIRECTOR’S GREETING Shelby D. Boagni
PRESIDENT'S GREETING Tinisha Landry President, Tau Beta Omega Chapter
INVOCATION Stacey Whitehead Hostess, Tau Beta Omega Chapter
Dinner PRESENTATION OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Nichelle D. Jordan Scholarship Committee Chairman, Tau Beta Omega Chapter
COMMUNITY LEADER AWARDS Misty Anderson Honorees Committee Co-Chairman, Tau Beta Omega Chapter
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS & CLOSING REMARKS
Mistress of Ceremonies Janine Rubenstein Janine Rubenstein is Editor-at-Large at PEOPLE Magazine and host of PEOPLE Every Day podcast, a daily dose of breaking news, pop culture, and heartwarming human interest stories. Formerly Senior Editor of music content, she's also covered crime, human interest, and television news throughout her many years with the brand. Before PEOPLE she's written for Essence Magazine, The Cape Times newspaper, and Los Angeles Magazine, among others. On-screen, Rubenstein can be found featured on shows like Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight. She routinely hosts PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly's star-studded Red Carpet Live specials during awards season. The San Francisco native is mom to a son and daughter with her husband Doug, and she's a lifelong 49ers fan, Black Barbie collector, and proud alum of UC Berkeley and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Rho Chapter). She is a member of Tau Beta Omega Chapter.
2023 ScholarshipRecipients FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS Jaylen Coleman Temple University | Philadelphia, PA Major: Sports Management GPA 3.5
Milka Zekarias Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA Major: Computer Science GPA 4.6
2023 ScholarshipRecipients UNDERGRADUATES Aryanna Baytop Tulane University | New Orleans, LA Major: Management GPA 3.8
Nazhir Carter Prairie View A&M University | Prairie View, TX Major: Mass Communication GPA 3.6
2023 ScholarshipRecipients GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL Malcolm Baytop College of William and Mary | Williamsburg, PA Masters in Public Policy GPA 3.7
Caroline Henry University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA Masters in Public Administration GPA 3.3
2023 ScholarshipRecipient VERA MOFFETT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Heaven Robinson
Southern University | Baton Rouge, LA Major: Nursing GPA 3.9
Vera Moffett was a teacher and advocate who was passionate about educating inner-city youth. As a charter member of Tau Beta Omega, she was a mentor and friend to many.
2023 ScholarshipRecipient A. MABLE LAPERSARDE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Lauren Forney
Spelman College | Atlanta, GA Major: Health Sciences GPA 3.1
A. Mable Lapersarde was a charter member and the first President of Tau Beta Omega Chapter. She was also a businesswoman, scholar, and lifelong educator in the fields of psychology and sociology. Blessed with a keen business acumen, her sage advice was to invest your time before you invest your money.
2023 ScholarshipRecipient DR. LACEY WYATT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
January Cornelius
Masters in Public Health | Emory University | Atlanta, GA Ph.D. in Population Health | Duke University | Durham, NC
Lacey E. Wyatt, M.D., MPH, was a leader at UCLA in medical education, a treasured mentor to trainees and junior faculty, and a clinician who consistently worked to improve the care of underserved populations throughout Los Angeles County.
2023 Honoree BUILD OUR ECONOMIC WEALTH
DeAnna Lewis DeAnna Lewis began her career over 25 years ago, now known as an expert speaker on teen’s issues, business topics, and just about everything in between. DeAnna is an example to women, teens, and professionals seeking to better themselves with faith, family and finances. She is the owner of 5 Wingstop Franchises, 2 Fatburgers and 2 Handel's Ice Cream with her partner and husband, Clint Lewis. She is also the co-founder of Girls Win Inc., a non-profit organization helping teen girls in the foster care system. DeAnna utilizes her over 20 years of experience as a Social Worker, putting her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a Master’s Degree in Educational Counseling to work. Married for 25 years to Clint Lewis Sr. They have two children – Clinton Jr. and Cydni – and a niece, Charli. DeAnna and Clint are heavily involved in their church and community and are scholarship donors for Cal State University Bakersfield and Harvest of Hope Education. DeAnna is a best-selling author of "Faith, Family and Franchise” and brings a wealth of experience, education, business, talent, and dedication to help people find balance between their Faith, Family and Finances.
2023 Honoree EMPOWER OUR FAMILIES
Codie Oliver Codie Elaine Oliver is CEO and founder of Black Love, Inc., a fastgrowing media company comprised of the Black Love+ app, Black Love podcast network, BlackLove.com, Black Love’s social and digital platforms, and live and virtual events, including the annual Black Love Summit and Black Love Honors. She hosts two podcasts and is also the director and co-creator of the ground-breaking, five-time NAACP Image Awards-nominated docuseries, Black Love, which premiered as the most-viewed unscripted series in OWN’s history and wrapped its sixth and final season in 2022. Oliver is partner and co-chair at Confluential Films, a company she shares with her husband, Tommy Oliver, and the production company behind the recent HBO Documentaries Juice WRLD: Into the Abyss, 40 Years A Prisoner, and the upcoming films, The Perfect Find, starring Gabrielle Union for Netflix, and Young. Wild. Free. starring Sanaa Lathan. Codie is a fourth-generation Howard University grad, a graduate of the University of Southern California Peter Stark Producing Program, and in addition to being an entrepreneur, she's a mama to three boys 6 and under.
2023 Honoree UPLIFT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Charles “Beloved” Kuykendoll Community building is Charles Kuykendoll’s superpower. He is best known as the exited founder of RNBHouseParty, an event series dedicated to creating inclusive spaces for multicultural creatives to live life authentically. The company was recently acquired by Blackowned media tech giant Blavity Inc., home to the AfroTech Conference. Over the years, Charles has hosted events for the ESSENCE Festival of Culture and was featured on Season 5 of The Black Love Doc on the OWN Network. He and his wife, Shirreen, cohost the For Better or Best Podcast, executive produced by singersongwriter Bridget Kelly. By day, Charles has held numerous recruiting leadership roles within the tech industry and now serves as General Manager of Community at Blavity. He truly believes that no one should be put in a box. Charles is a native of the west side of Chicago and graduate of DePauw University, where he was initiated into the Rho Tau Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is a proud husband to Shirreen and father to two sons, CJ and Carter.
2023 Honoree TBΩ COMMUNITY PARTNER
South Bay Senior Living The South Bay Senior Living is a thriving retirement community in Los Angeles’ South Bay area, providing residents with a great lifestyle that combines comfort, convenience, and affordability. Its motto, “Going Beyond the Call of Duty,” is representative of the care its staff demonstrates in curating personalized living solutions for seniors. Located in the City of Torrance, the South Bay Senior Living facility proudly offers a comprehensive array of services, amenities, activities, and wellness programs designed to enhance its residents’ lives. Through these activities and programs, residents experience the benefits of belonging to an engaging and compassionate community. The members of Tau Beta Omega Chapter acknowledge that seniors are the cornerstone of our families. Seniors are our parents, grandparents, caregivers, and much more! Accordingly, the Our Seniors subcommittee for the sorority's Empower Our Families program initiative has partnered with South Bay Senior Living to support the vitality and well-being of our treasured loved ones. In 2023, the Our Seniors subcommittee sponsored afternoon chair aerobics classes and hosted a summer mixer for residents, staff, and chapter members to fellowship. This holiday season, Our Seniors will gift South Bay Senior Living with holiday care packages, and assist residents with connecting with loved ones.
Soror Tifara Monroe
OUR NEWEST SILVER STAR With Sisterly Love, SOROR KATHERINE CASTLEBERRY SOROR JOI RICHARDSON SOROR NICHELLE D. JORDAN SOROR NEIKIA BOGGESS SOROR CHANNA SCOTT
SOROR QUIANA CALDWELL SOROR LASHONDA TOSTON-ZENO SOROR TAMARA DIGGS SOROR NICHOLE ALLEN SOROR JESSICA GHOLSON # gg
Book Private Tutoring, Small Group Tutoring, or Attend a SAT, ACT, SSAT, PSAT Workshop
VISIT www.coachkam.com Text or call 678-671-1833 for more information
The Marina Pearls Foundation was established in 2023 to elevate and empower communities in the Los Angeles metropolitan area through transformative programs, services and education
SILVER SPONSOR $5K CONTRIBUTION
PEARL SPONSOR $3K CONTRIBUTION
IVY SPONSORS $1K CONTRIBUTION
St. Joseph Center The Law Office of Michael J. Curls Andaz Hotel
Dickens Consulting Group
Leslie Barnum
The Lowery Group
Bridge Builders Talented Thomas Productions US Bank
PIPELINE SPONSORS $500 CONTRIBUTION
Sarah Barnum Elizabeth Nguyen, Esq. & Lucien Hardy
Special Acknowledgements Mrs. Nichole Allen Ms. Misty Anderson Beats by Dre Ms. Allegre Burlew Ms. Qiana Caldwell Mrs. Erica Campbell Ms. Rahel Cook Mr. Michael Curls Mrs. Latia Curry Harrison Mrs. Erica Davis Mrs. Bridgette Eagle-Spirit Councilwoman Dionne Faulk Footlocker Ms. Ebony Francis Mrs. Camille Granville Ms. Toni Hamilton Dr. Toni Henderson
Ms. Lynnae Jackson Ms. Alexis Johnson Mrs. Nichelle Jordan LA Clippers Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles Rams Mrs. Tangela Levinson Make It Sparkle Casting Ms. Tifara Monroe Dr. Victoria Morris-Ivie PRP Wine International Mrs. Kyra Ridding Mrs. Tiffany Simms Mrs. Annette Story Patrick Starr We Olive | Pasadena Ms. Stacey Whitehead
Hoops University Youth Basketball by Keith Davis
Tau Beta Omega 2023 CHAPTER MEMBERS
DOLANN ADAMS* PATRICIA ADAMS MIA AKERS*
TIMIESHA FORD* BRENÉ GANTHER NATALIE GANTHER*
DANA MARTIN* SONYA MEHEUX TAMI MIMS
NICHOLE ALLEN MISTY ANDERSON
JESSICA GHOLSON* JEAN GIGGERS
TIFARA MONROE BRITTNEY MURRAY
MICHELLE BANKS-ORDONE CAMILLE BETHUNE-BROWN NEIKIA BOGGESS
CAMILLE GRANVILLE KAREN HAMILTON TONI HAMILTON
KIM NEWTON* PAULETTE PROCTOR* ASHLEY REED
DEMETHRA LASHA BRADLEY* KRISTINA BROWN* VICKIE BROWN*
CHARLENE HARPER* ADRIA HARRIS* TONYA HARRIS*
JOI RICHARDSON LISA RICHARDSON* KYRA RIDDING
QUIANA CALDWELL
PHYLLIS HAYES
NICOLLE ROBINSON*
KATHERINE CASTLEBERRY CHRISTINA CHANCE* EBONÉ CHATMAN* ALLISON CHESTER SABRINA COLEMAN* LATIA CURRY HARRISON* ERICA DAVIS* LEESA DAVIS* FRANCES DELOACH VERNELL DESLONDE ALESHA DOMINO-WALKER JODIE DUQUESNAY* CORNELIA EDWARDS MESHA ELLIS DIONNE YOUNG FAULK*
JESSICA HAYMOND* TONI HENDERSON DONIA HORTON LYNNAE JACKSON SHONNIE JACKSON ALEXIS JOHNSON SAUDA JOHNSON-MCNEAL NICHELLE JORDAN TAMIA KEARNEY ERIN KING TINISHA LANDRY WANDISA LANDRY TANGELA LEVINSON ALETA LILLY* CYNTHIA MCGREGORY
DESTINEE ROSS* KIRBY ROSS JANINE RUBENSTEIN* CHANNA SCOTT TIFFANY SIMMS NICOLE STEPHENS* ANNETTE STORY PATRICE SWEENEY* JANAY TERRY-RAMOS* ANDREA THORNTON-BOLDEN LASHONDA TOSTON-ZENO* STACEY WHITEHEAD SONIA WILLIAMS LATINA WRIGHT-BOOKER *NOT PICTURED
Thank You