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By Alice Meikle
April 20, 2009
The Orange Bowl continues its community outreach effort in South Florida, as its reaches out to citizen’s young and old recognizing their contribution in education and sport. The ”OBC” especially placed their focus on youth academic and athletic programs says Lynn Washington, co-chair of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Orange Bowl Field of Dreams Committee.
The Orange Bowl Committee has been celebrating with America’s future leaders and the OBC’s legacy has been realized for some 75 years or more.
The Orange Bowl Committee will host its seventh annual Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Field Of Dreams Scholarship Benefit on Friday May 8 at the Broward County Convention Center, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida commencing with a reception at 7 p.m. followed by dinner and entertainment at 8 p.m.
The Orange Bowl Keith Tribble Trailblazer Award is annually presented to an innovator, pioneer and ground breaker, a person who has helped open doors, blazed trails and prepared a way for others to have better lives.
So it was only fitting when the OBC decided to select the 2009 recipient for this prestigious award, as University of Miami Head Football Coach Randy Shannon. The OBC feels that Randy Shannon has made an individual contribution, which has significantly impacted the South Florida community at large.
Shannon was named head football coach of the University of Miami on December 8, 2006. A native of Miami, Shannon, played at Norland High School before moving on to the University of Miami where he was a four-year letterman and starting outside linebacker on the 1987 National Championship team.
After graduation, he played for the Dallas Cowboys before moving into coaching at the University level, before joining the Dolphins staff. He returned to UM as defensive coordinator for six years, coaching top 10 defenses in five of those six seasons before being named the 20th head coach in school history.
Shannon, 43, played on or was a coach for three of the school’s five national championship teams. He is one of only seven African American head coaches from among the 119 schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1-A).
Other recognitions include Barrington Irving, the youngest and first black person to pilot a plane around the world solo, Christopher L. Smith Florida State Senator District 29 and founder of The Chris Smith All-star Football Classic, and Clarence Anthony former Mayor of South Bay and is presently the Chief Marketing Officer and Presiding Director of the Board of Directors for Post Buckley Schuh & Jernigan, Inc.
“Everything is in place for one of the more successful, star-studded and meritorious group of honorees since the Field of Dreams began. This promises to be one of the premiere events of the season.
Now part of the Orange Bowl Committee’s 75 year legacy, our Field of Dreams offers a can’t miss night of entertainment, recognition and the generous spirit of South Florida,” comments Antonia “Toni” Williams-Gary, Co Chair of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Orange Bowl Field of Dreams Committee.
The Field of Dreams Scholarship Benefit is an annual Orange Bowl Committee event with a purpose of providing college scholarship funding for deserving high school seniors.
The program has awarded individual scholarships, and contributed over $300,000 for African-American scholarships to organizations such as the Tom Joyner Foundation, The Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, Florida Memorial University’s Athletic Scholarship Fund and the UNCF.
The Orange Bowl Committee is a not-for-profit, 330-member, primarily-volunteer organization. It is a self-sustaining, independent organization that supports and produces activities and events that enhance the image, economy and culture of South Florida. The Orange Bowl Festival features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the FedEx Orange Bowl on Jan. 5, 2010.
In 2013, the OBC will again double-host both the FedEx Orange Bowl and the BCS National Championship. Other OBC core events include the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance, Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships and Orange Bowl Sailing Regatta Series.
For more information on the 2009-10 Orange Bowl Festival and its events, including promotional and volunteer opportunities through the Ambassador Program.
