Osi Umenyiora Host 2nd Annual “Strike 4 A Cure” Celebrity Weekend in Atlanta

                 

 May 16- 18th 2008                                                                                                      

         Defensive End Osi Umenyiora of the Superbowl Champion New York Giants recently hosted his 2^nd annual “Strike 4 a Cure” Charity Weekend in Atlanta, GA. Last year, Umenyiora teamed up with Terrell Owens for the inaugural launch of the event to raise money for Alzheimer’s and HIV awareness for minorities. Mutually, both causes are dear to both NFL players; Umenyiora has an uncle that died from AIDS in Africa and Owens has a grandmother that battles Alzheimer’s disease. But this year, Owens’s did not participate and his presence was missed as the event was not an overall success for Umenyiora compared to last year’s event.  With a number of lavish events and parties, full of athletes and local celebrities, Osi’s foundation had hoped to raise $1 million for his foundation. Instead, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports his efforts raised less than $10,000.

             NFL players Adewale Ogunleye of the Chicago Bears, Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers, Julian Peterson of the Seattle Seahawks, Takeo Spikes, Carlos Emmons, and LaVar Arrington came out to support Umenyiora’s event. The weekend kicked off on Friday with a Black Tie Affair at the new W Hotel downtown Atlanta. U.S. Senate hopeful and local city official Vernon Jones gave a speech at this year’s event. Radio personality Ramona Debreaux of Atlanta’s V-103 FM co-hosted the event and was on hand to give out the first award from “Make Plays for Africa” (Osi’s foundation) to rapper T.I.’s Grand Hustle’s Organization for their community work. Then on Saturday Umenyiora and friends headed over to 300 Bowling Alley for a celebrity bowling challenge. The event wrapped up on Sunday. A private event was scheduled to be held for invited guest and sponsors at Umenyiora’s mansion in Atlanta however it was canceled for undisclosed reasons. Throughout the weekend Osi and his celebrity friends hosted many parties at the hottest nightspots around Atlanta, but at the end of the day all of the events and celebrity guest failed to raise money for the cause; how disappointing.

             Osi Umenyiora and his brother Jim Umenyiora founded the event 2 years ago and wanted it to become one of the most reputable charities to raise money for AIDS and Alzheimer’s research & awareness programs. The brothers spent more than $40,000 on the event this year and were dissatisfied with the outcome. Seemingly, the brothers’ goal was to raise money for a great cause but instead they wasted thousands of dollars on lush events that turned out uneventful. The goal now, an apparently censured Jim Umenyiora said, is to refocus on good works, not good times. “The parties did nothing. They didn’t help anybody,” said Jim Umenyiora, a 31-year-old financial planner. Jim Umenyiora said in a statement to AJC that he and his brother have canceled future charity events as they plan to regroup. He said the charity eventually is going to succeed. “Hopefully in the next three years, we will get there,” he said. “My brother and I want this to work.” The brothers donated all money raised to the Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and to the National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities Inc..Both organizations are based in Atlanta.