Wantagh, NY - July 12, 2016 - It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning over at the Wantagh State Park in Wantagh, New York. For the third straight year, The Dollicia F. Holloway Memorial Foundation, Inc hosted their third annual “Walking towards a Brighter Future” 8K Walk-A-Thon.
Photo Credit: The Dollicia F. Holloway Memorial Foundation, Inc.
Over the last two years, the walk has attracted a great turn out of participants, has had an opportunity to recognize community leaders, who have made significant impact in their communities, paying homage to recording artists, who have made an indelible impression on Hip Hop culture as well as being a positive role model to the young and young at heart and having the opportunity of raising funds for college bound High School seniors, who are acknowledged for their community service and academic excellence.
The H.I.P. H.O.P. Movement Gold Merit Award was created to allow the student’s community and various corporate sponsors to become stakeholders in the education of college bound High School seniors. The goal is to raise an unlimited amount of funds through the Walk-A-Thon to assist in offsetting college expenses, as well as being able to enable, equip and empower, as well as encourage students to become philanthropic to their communities once they graduate and to keep the door of opportunity open for other future candidates.
Photo Credit: The Dollicia F. Holloway Memorial Foundation, Inc.
In times past, the Dollicia F. Holloway Memorial Foundation, Inc’s Youth Initiative, The H.I.P. H.O.P. Movement Community Enrichment & Economic Development Program was fortunate to award The 2014 H.I.P. H.O.P. Movement Gold Merit Award to Ms. Rachel Johnson, a high school graduate and valedictorian of her class at Abundant Life Academy, out of Nutley, New Jersey. Ms. Johnson had the opportunity to study abroad to Cambridge University in London, England and upon her return to the state as a Clinical Psychology major at Rutgers University, where she’ll be a junior this fall.
Photo Credit: The Dollicia F. Holloway Memorial Foundation, Inc.
This year, the “Walking Towards A Brighter Future” 8K Walk-A-Thon had the distinct privilege of honoring not just one but two college bound High School seniors from Long Island. The recipients of the 2016 H.I.P. H.O.P. Movement Gold Merit Award were Mr. Gregory S. Allen, II and Mr. Byron Rudolph. Mr. Allen is a graduate of Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville and Mr. Rudolph is a graduate of Paul F. Schreiber High School in Port Washington.
Both recipients, being very modest, didn’t make a long speech, but were extremely humbled and grateful to be honored for their academic achievements and their commitment to community service.
Keith H. Burgess and his wife, Altanya Gerald-Burgess, who serves as the Founders of the foundation and the Project Leaders of the event ,agreed when saying, “The opportunities of a college bound High School senior to raise unlimited funds through the merit award by allowing the community and the businesses they patronize to become stakeholders in their educational future.
The H.I.P. H.O.P.(which is an acronym for “Helping Individuals Prosper, Honoring Others Potential)Movement Gold Merit Award was created to impact the future of our generation and create a legacy of hope and unlimited possibilities for students, who’s hope are to become college graduates, will have the opportunity of “Walking Towards A Brighter Future.” Our tagline for the foundation is that we D.A.R.E. our youth to “Dream, Achieve, Rise and Explore. “ Ms. Erika Bostic, Gregory’s Mom and Ms. Nola Smith, Byron’s Mom were very pleased and appreciative of how the communities in which they live and attend school were very supportive in their son’s fundraising efforts.
Gregory will be attending John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Byron will be attending the State University of New York at Buffalo to study Electrical Engineering. In the last three years, The “Walking Towards A Brighter Future” 8K Walk-A-Thon has been successful at assisting 3 college bound High School seniors by raising a total of $3,925.00 to date.
The Dollicia F. Holloway Memorial Foundation, Inc. were also pleased to recognize the great work of two community leaders and a pioneer from the Hip Hop Community at the 2016 8K Walk-A-Thon. The recipients of the 2016 H.I.P. H.O.P. Movement Community Service Awards for their contribution to education, community service and economic empowerment were Mr. Steven Muir, Co-Founder/President of Heeling Soles, Inc, Mr. Wayne Devonish, Founder/CEO of 500 Men Making A Difference and Mr. Parish Smith, Mentor and Hip Hop Pioneer of the legendary rap group, EPMD.
Corporate Sponsors, such as HealthFirst, Modell’s Sporting Goods, TD Bank, The Town of Hempstead, The Legislatures Office of Nassau County and the Comptroller's Office of Nassau County, as well as private community sponsors and donors, such as Whipped Treats, Inc, Excel Homecare Service, LLC,National Alliance Insurance Agency, Ltd, Winners Academy, Inc loaned their support to the 8K Walk-A-Thon.
The Dollicia F. Holloway Memorial Foundation, Inc is a registered 501(c) (3) Not-For-Profit Educational Organization. The mission is to be committed to serving men, women and children by bringing awareness to the community and providing informational, educational and financial resources to survivors of Domestic Violence, hearing impaired adults and the youth to empower, encourage and equip to they may overcome and obtain a better quality of life.
For further information about the 8K Walk-A-Thon for 2017, please send an email or visit here and here.