By Cheryl Smith
I Messenger Media LLC
Publisher & Editor
Please indulge me for the next few weeks, because I intend to inundate you with information about an opportunity to join me in something very important to me. I am asking for your support of my plans to endow a scholarship at Florida A&M University (FAMU). From the time I stepped on that campus in 1976, I have loved FAMU.
Some of the best years of my life were spent on that campus because I had an opportunity to meet wonderful people, to learn from greater people, and to grow as a person — mentally, socially, spiritually, physically, intellectually, and, as a result, financially. In the next few weeks, I’ll be asking for your support with whatever you have — even down to as Johnny Taylor sang, “Your last two dollars!”
We are raising money by asking, and we’re not too proud to beg, either. And in a few days, we will have the silent auction going live, so I want you to pay attention because we have everything from American Airlines miles to healthy air fryers, a Michael Kors dress, a computer, several gift cards for events and hotel stays, in addition to State Fair Classic and State Fair Tickets, to a number of your favorite restaurant, even Kitchen+Kocktails by Kevin Kelley, and yes, Black Pizza.
I am so excited and look forward to raising money and supporting FAMU when, on October 17th, there will be the official unveiling of my portrait on the Thelma T. Gorham Distinguished Alumni Wall in the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication. I feel honored to have sat in and learned from Dr. Gorham, and her lessons appear in any and all the work that I did and continue to do.
We have an autographed book by the late great Mr. Dick Gregory and the autobiography of the Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson. There are a lot of other cool items, including, guess what? You may say “not interested,” but I say it’s better to have and not need than to need and not have; so thanks to Golden Gate Funeral Home and CEO John Beckwith, we’re auctioning off a funeral service and cremation.
You may remember Golden Gate from the reality show because they plan your service to your needs and wants. You get the service, plus you get the obituary in all four publications of I Messenger Media —that’s a $5000 package. In the name of charity, in the name of Grace, in the name of giving back and lifting as we climb, as well as taking care of our own, I ask for your contribution.
Thanks to those who have already contributed, and especially to my Champions — those who said we “believe in you, Cheryl, we believe in your cause, and we believe in FAMU.” So, I want to share this information with you. I’m going to give you the links so that you can donate, and the link for the auction that won’t be live for a few days.
And here’s a phone number, 214– 941–0110, so that you can make your contributions or find out additional info. Thanks for your support. I feel honored to be able to give while I can see the gift being received and used!
