FEATuRED GuEsTs EVENT SPEAKER

Growing up in the Binghampton neighborhood of Memphis, tennessee, penny was raised by his grandmother while his mother was away at work. his grandmother would call him “pretty,” but with a deep southern accent, it sounded like “penny,” which resulted in the nickname. penny attending the ira samelson, Jr. Boys & Girls Club, where to this day, past Board Members are able to recall seeing sixth grade penny dunk a basketball on a ten-foot goal. after graduating from treadwell high school, penny went to the university of Memphis where he played until 1993 when he was drafted by the Golden state Warriors as the 3rd overall pick in the NBa draft. penny has often times been compared to Magic Johnson due to his size and quickness. as an alumni of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, we are beyond thrilled to welcome penny back home to inspire many, especially our kids.

Event Host

Chris and the Chris Vernon show have taken home several of the Memphis flyer’s Best of Memphis awards, including “Best radio personality,” “Best Drive time show” and “Best sports radio show,” most recently in 2015. the Chris Vernon show won five consecutive “M awards” in Memphis sport Magazine, each year winning in both categories favorite sports radio program and favorite sports radio personality. 2009’s “M awards” also saw Chris Vernon take home a third victory in the favorite sports Blog category, with his personal blog, chrisvernon.com. Chris is also a pre-game, halftime, and postgame analyst for fox sports southeast on the Memphis Grizzlies television broadcasts. Chris has lived and worked in Memphis for many years, forming close ties to Memphis tigers basketball and the Memphis Grizzlies. he has also lived in New york and st. louis.