The Diamond Empowerment Fund™ (D.E.F) has formed a Donor Advocates Program called ATHLETES FOR AFRICA (A.F.A). The AFA Members are selected for their compassion, commitment to D.E.F.’s mission, and their ability to leverage their influence, contacts and celebrity to raise awareness and funds in support of the organization’s vision to help Africans help Africa though education that empowers and provides tangible skills to help build lives. ATHLETES FOR AFRICA members will help the Diamond Empowerment Fund’s cause by personally embracing the mission.

Reggie Bush, Ray Crockett, Kim and Khloe Kardashian visit Botswana and South Africa.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME AN ATHLETE FOR AFRICA

Serving as co-chairs of the advisory committee are D.E.F. Governing Board member Jaci Wilson Reid and former NFL Player Ray Crockett.

Jaci Wilson Reid is a volunteer fundraiser for non-profit organizations focused on women, children, the arts and minority causes.  For the past nine years she has hosted the Behind the Bench, the National Basketball Wives Assoc. annual Luncheon, benefiting the Behind the Bench organization and honoring the charitable efforts of individuals and organizations.  Jaci is also a managing director of Westin Rinehart, focused on philanthropic strategies and lifestyle marketing.  Jaci has served as a member of D.E.F. Governing Board since 2008.

As a stellar fourteen year NFL corner, Ray Crockett spent five years with the Detroit Lions 89-93, seven with the Denver Broncos 94-00 and two with Kansas City Chiefs 01-02.  An important note here is that Ray Crockett, serving as captain, was a member of Denver’s Back to Back World Championship teams in ‘97 and ’98, earning him two rings for Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII. A graduate of Baylor University, Ray has been very active in business and entertainment as well.  He owns several companies and has been in movies, on TV shows and on radio stations across the U.S.  Ray’s heart lies within his community.  He has hosted charity events that have helped benefit numerous charities including the American Cancer Society, The Lupus Foundation and The Children’s Charities.

For further information please contact Ellen Haddigan, Executive Director, Diamond Empowerment Fund,
O: 917-229-7231, C: 917-658-6657, E: ehaddigan@diamondempowerment.org

Among his numerous honors were the National League Championship Series MVP in 1977 and a Gold Glove in 1981.Prior to joining the Reds organization, Baker was manager for the Giants and the Chicago Cubs, earning the NL Manager of the Year honors in 1993, 1997, and 2000.

Click here for a complete biography of Dusty Baker.

Reginald Alfred “Reggie” Bush was born on March 2, 1985 in San Diego, California. Reggie is an American football player who plays for the New Orleans Saints and formerly played for the University of Southern California (USC). He played running back/tailback, wide receiver, and punt and kickoff returner for the team. He is generally recognized as one of the best running backs in college football history due to his speed, agility, evasiveness, and outstanding instincts on the gridiron.

Click here to read about Reggie Bush’s trip to South Africa and Botswana with the Diamond Empowerment Fund.

Read Reggie Bush’s blog post from his trip or watch a video of Reggie’s in Africa.

Click here for a complete biography of Reggie Bush.

Click here to read about Ray Crockett and other D.E.F. Advocates’ trip to South Africa and Botswana on behalf of the Diamond Empowerment Fund.

Click here for a complete biography of Ray Crockett.

Click here for a complete biography of Curtis Granderson.

A Camden, SC native, Vonnie was raised as the only male in a house of five women (mother, grandmother, an aunt and two sisters). “My grandmother had a huge impact on my life. She raised me to be a responsible young man,” says Vonnie. “More importantly, I was always taught not to embarrass myself or our family.”

Though he lived with all women, Vonnie had strong male role models who provided him with encouragement, advice, and discipline. This strong sense of community is what drives Vonnie to give back.

In 2001, Vonnie founded the Vonnie Holliday Foundation to improve the quality of life of citizens in underserved communities by donating time and monetary resources.

Since its inception, the Foundation has improved the lives of those in many communities. During his tenure in Green Bay, Vonnie started the “Kids Company” in Richmond, WS, an organization that benefits at risk youth. As a Dolphin, Vonnie worked with the “Reach for the Stars” foundation, which benefits children with Cystic Fibrosis. He also donated his time by visiting children at the Mt. Sinai Hospital in Miami.

Most of the Foundation’s resources have benefited Vonnie’s hometown of Camden, SC. Vonnie is determined through the Foundation, to give back to the community that has given him so much. For the past ten years, the Foundation in conjunction with the United Way has sponsored a Turkey Giveaway to families in need. Vonnie is also the honorary chairperson for the fundraising efforts of the United Way of Kershaw County, SC. The Foundation also does work with the Council on Aging in Camden. Vonnie annually hosts the Vonnie Holliday Bulldog Football Camp at his alma mater, Camden High School.

Vonnie’s community efforts and his strong character have helped him gain a reputation as a leader in the NFL and the community. As such, he was recently named to the 2010 -2011 NFLPA Board of Player Representatives, an honor he held while with the Miami Dolphins as well. Additionally, Vonnie served as co-captain for the Miami Dolphins during the 2008-2009 season of the UNC Tarheel during his senior year (1997-1998 season).

On the field, Vonnie has proven to be a leader as well.

Holliday has played in 167 career games, with 144 starts, in 12 NFL seasons with four clubs. For his career, he has recorded 572 tackles, 60 sacks, two interceptions, 38 passes defensed, nine forced fumbles and 11 fumble recoveries. He spent the 2009 season with the Denver Broncos, where he played in all 16 games, with three starts, and registered 33 tackles, including five for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

In his first season as a Packer, he was a consensus All-Rookie selection and finished second for AP’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. During his 5-year tenure in Green Bay, he amassed more than 200 tackles, more than 20 sacks, and numerous forced fumbles. His most impressive outing came in 2002 against the Buffalo Bills. He sacked Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe five times and forced three fumbles, a Packers single game record. Holliday played the two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, before being signed to a multi-year deal with the Miami Dolphins. During his tenure in Miami, Vonnie put up big numbers, amassing 66 tackles, 7 sacks, and a fumble recovery in 2006 alone.

Serena was born September 26, 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan, to Richard Williams and Oracene Price. While still an infant, the family moved to Compton, California where she began playing tennis at the age of four. At nine, Serena and her family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida. Since that time, she has become one of the most dominant figures in tennis.

Click here for a complete biography of Serena Williams.