Off-The-Field: Players Are Doing Good Things

Welcome to my column, Off the Field. I'm Lisa Iannucci, the founder of www.celebrity-do-gooders.blogspot.com and in this column on Bleacher Report I'm going to tell you about all the good things that the players are doing off the field. You'll find out about events and appearances and charities of your favorite players.

And I'll be conducting personal interviews with some of your favorite players about their charities and their stories. Learn more about what your favorite players do OFF the field and why it's important to them. For many of them, like Alonzo Mourning (here's an interview I did with him for my blog) it's not just about dropping off a check. It's 'personal.' And I'm going to bring you those stories!!!!! I hope you're looking forward to it as much as I am!

Today, I have event information for you. This is where you can participate with your favorite athlete and their charity.

If you're in Orlando, Florida and love to golf, or just have a good time, Orlando's AAA Four Diamond Rosen Shingle Creek hotel and the championship Shingle Creek Golf Club welcome Lucille O'Neal and her son Shaq, to the "Sixth Annual Shaq's Mama Said Knock You Out" charity fundraising event.

It's being held on September 18, 2009 and includes golf and a new "Soulful Midday Soiree, which features golf followed by a fun-filled and nostalgic afternoon of good food, good music and good friends. It's 1930s Cotton Club style (that sounds soooo cool!) and features jazz, soul food and more! (Hey if you go, dance a dance for me!)

Tickets to the soiree are $150 per person, golf tournament tickets are available through sponsorship packages -- they are pricier, but good for a business to get involved (ranging from $3K and up).

Shaq's charity is the Odessa Chamblis Quality of Life Fund (http://www.ocqualityoflifefund.com/) and it's important to Shaq because Odessa was his grandmother. It was established in honor of his grandma, who worked for more than 16 years as a nurse and passed away in 1996. It honors the nursing and educational scholarships at various colleges and universities and funds cancer research.

Shaq and his mother will be joined by friends including NBA legends named among the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History – Charles Barkley and Julius “Dr. J” Erving -- as well as former Orlando Magic star and Atlanta Hawks radio announcer Dennis Scott. Other shining luminaries include Alonzo Mourning, Shaq’s teammate on the 2006 NBA Champion Miami Heat; Matt Geiger, former Philadelphia 76er NBA Star; Andia Winslow, LPGA Golfer; and Sam Jones and Jamal Wilkes, both retired NBA stars. 

If you want to go, for more details including how to purchase tickets and sponsorship opportunities, call LO and Associates at 888-358-1082 or Deena Copeland at 813-286-8520, ext. 251 or visit www.ocqualityoflifefund.com. To book a room for the event, guests may call the Rosen Shingle Creek reservations line at [phone].  For more information, visit www.rosenshinglecreek.com or call [phone].