Houston based entrepreneur gifts $110K George Floyd statue to Harris County

COMMUNITY Houston based entrepreneur gifts $110K to GEORGE FLOYD STATUE

By d-mars.com News Provider

Dannette Davis of Kay Davis Associates has donated a $110,000 statue of the late George Floyd to Harris County. The entrepreneur and philanthropist commissioned the piece, which is titled “A Conversation with George” by renowned sculptress Adrienne Rison-Isom.

Harris County

Q&A With Dannette Davis: Q&A With Dannette Davis:

D-MARS: Does this gesture confirm for you that the injustice committed against George is still at the forefront of our minds and that we should stay in the fight against injustice? DD: Anytime you memorialize someone it’s because you don’t want people to forget. What happened to George was a human tragedy— so yes, we want to keep it at the forefront of everyone’s mind. I wanted to memorialize him so that he will always be a symbol of change, and a symbol for higherlevel thinking. It’s crucial that people don’t forget so that history doesn’t repeat itself.

Dannette Davis of Kay Davis Associates.

D-MARS: How have you seen this injustice enhance police accountability?

DD: How have you seen the community respond since this incident? I think that there is more consciousness surrounding how we respond when we see injustice. People are more apt to record and get involved than they were before and we have even seen officers hold their counterparts accountable by reporting bad behavior in the field.

D-MARS: During Derek Chauvin’s trial, we were on fire, coming together in a way this world has never seen speaking out against this injustice. But talk about how we can’t let the fire die and get comfortable.

DD: We must continue to keep the movement going by creating murals and memorials like our unveiling of the “Conversation With George” statue at Tom Bass Park and we continue to have legislation. The fact that the officers were convicted lets us know that the American system and the legislative process can work, but we just have to stay vigilant. encourage us to use our own particular gifts and talents to make a difference and raise awareness of social injustices? DD: We all have special talents that we can use for the greater good. If you’re an attorney, it’s the cases that you fight for; if you’re a politician, it’s the bills that you pass; if you’re in the classroom, you fight to teach the truth; and if you’re a filmmaker, you get the story to the masses and make it relevant. Whatever you do, use it for the greater good and for the betterment of our community.

Photo Source AG Media Agency: Mockup of the statue of the late George Floyd that will be unveiled in May.

Dannette Davis with Commissioner Rodney Ellis.

D-MARS: Is there anything else you want our readers to know?

DD: Although Kay Davis Associates is my company, I created the Kay Davis In The Community Foundation to give back to the underserved. We are always looking for partners and local projects to connect with and support. There are opportunities available for those partners who want to work directly with us and opportunities for partners who want to help us serve others.

The unveiling is scheduled for May 25, 2022, at Tom Bass Park. For more information, please email Alex Green at info@agmediaagency.com.

By d-mars.com News Provider

This month d-mars.com shines the spotlight on Texas Southern

University’s Tiger Ball, the

University’s largest fundraiser for student scholarships and programs. The sold-out event hosted at the George R. Brown Convention Center was presented by the TSU Foundation Board. This year’s theme was “Supporting Scholarships and Transformation at

TSU.” Hundreds of TSU students excel in their areas of study, but without the necessary funding, they would not have the opportunity to pursue a college education.

Texas Southern University’s partners have demonstrated a willingness and readiness to invest in the success of our students who are pursuing their education on our historic campus,” said TSU President Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young. “That investment will undoubtedly assist our community of scholars in achieving their academic and career goals and transform lives.”

A Parade of Partners accompanied by TSU’s Ocean of Soul kicked off the event, acknowledging the top sponsors and celebrating their contribution to TSU’s success.

“The Texas Southern University Foundation Board is grateful for the support of all of our sponsors, alumni, and friends for making the night a success to benefit student scholarships and transformation at TSU,” said Dr.Frazier Wilson, Chairman, TSU Foundation Board of Trustees. “We look forward to continuing our work to support the University under the direction of the Board of Regents and President Young. Together, we are TSU Proud.”

TDECU was the presenting sponsor of this year’s Tiger Ball.

“As a proud graduate of TSU’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law, I understand the significance of HBCUs and how investing in education can help transform students’ lives in our communities,” said TDECU President & CEO Isaac Johnson. “TDECU believes in helping our members navigate their financial journeys. I am intentionally expanding the reach of our organization to communities including TSU and making investments in those communities to provide access to the services we offer.” TDECU was joined by seven other “Transformation” sponsors at the $100,000 level: JPMorgan Chase, CenterPoint Energy, Nikki, and Benny Agosto Jr., Shell, the Houston Texans, the Houston Astros Foundation, and Antoinette M. Jackson Esq.

The Tiger Ball’s $75,000 “TSU Proud” sponsors were President Lesia, Reginald, Mattlyn, and Ashlee Young. “Visionary” sponsors, representing a $50,000 sponsorship, included Bayway Auto Group and Challenge Office Products. The “Tiger Walk” sponsors, representing a $25,000 sponsorship, included A-Rocket Moving and Storage, the Daffin Family, HillDay Public Relations, the Jacobson Family Foundation, Health Care Services Corporation led by Maurice Smith, and the Verizon Foundation.

The event’s “1927” sponsors, representing a $15,000 sponsorship, included Houston First Corporation, LaTanya Easter, and Sysco. “Maroon and Gray” sponsors, representing a $10,000 sponsorship, included 1Vision, Aundrea and Richard Young, Comcast, TSU law professor Dr. Edieth Wu, Dr. Judith L. Craven, Houston Airports, Frost Bank, TSU Athletics, and the TSU Center for Justice Research.

“Partnerships are vital to the success of Texas Southern University,” said Melinda Spaulding, Vice President of Communications & University Advancement. “Every sponsor that chose to partner with TSU in this effort showed they believe in the students and they believe in the transformative work happening on the campus daily.”

The climax of the evening was a raffle for a new car, sponsored by Bayway Auto Group and HillDay Public Relations led by TSU alumna and President/CEO Argentina James. The winner of the raffle was TSU senior student-athlete Briana Creeks. She won her choice of a 2022 Lincoln Corsair or Cadillac XT4.

Tiger Ball guests were entertained by KTSU personality Chilly Bill Smith and the

Transformation Band, under the direction of Ernest Walker, KTSU’s general manager, and composed of TSU alumni, staff, and Tiger talent.

The Tiger Ball celebrated groundbreaking partnerships that will continue to support scholarships and transformation at TSU. Knowledge is power. And when it comes to education, without financial support, many of our students lack the funding to receive a quality education. It is our duty to invest in our scholars, helping them achieve their academic goals and reach the highest level of success in their careers. When we invest in them, they can invest in the next generation, building a strong legacy of leadership and service that will last a lifetime.

For more information on how you can support the students at Texas Southern University, please visit www.TSU.edu.

Source: Texas Southern University