Athletes & Celebrities come together in support of educational choice at pre-ESPYS event
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Third Annual Champions for Choice in Education hosted by Jalen Rose, Lisa Leslie, Vivica Fox and Stephen A. Smith
LOS ANGELES (July 16, 2014) – Last night the American Federation for Children and the Alliance for School Choice wrapped its Third Annual Champions for Choice in Education Pre-ESPYS Celebration at the Luxe City Center Hotel in Los Angeles.
Athletes and celebrities attend the annual pre-ESPYS event to draw attention to the urgent need to offer children access to quality educational options – no matter their race, family income or ZIP code.
“We were thrilled to have hosted such talented individuals at our Champions for Choice in Education Pre-ESPYS Celebration last night,” said Kevin P. Chavous, executive counsel for the American Federation for Children and the master of ceremonies for last night’s event. “The event was an amazing opportunity to generate awareness and support for programs that give children access to a quality education, no matter their background, so every child has the opportunity to succeed.”
More than 200 guests walked the red carpet, and 120 guests attended a private dinner where celebration hosts Jalen Rose, Lisa Leslie, Stephen A. Smith, Laila Ali and Lou Gossett Jr. expressed the need for more educational options in communities across the country. NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders was honored for his commitment to educational choice and guests heard from Denisha Merriweather, a graduate of Florida’s educational choice program, about how receiving a tax credit scholarship changed her life and helped her to successfully graduate high school and now college.
A video wrap-up of the event and photos are available. Also, Champion for Choice and event host Jalen Rose penned an op-ed in today’s Orange County Register on the importance of educational choice.
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The American Federation for Children is the nation’s leading school choice advocacy organization and works in states across the country to help secure additional, high-quality educational options for families.