Wednesday, July 16, 2003
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Wednesday, July 16, 2003 |
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Holyfield hosts annual youth fest By WALI MUHAMMAD
One of Fayette County's best-known residents shared his influence, his affluence and his aspirations with the community on Independence Day by inviting thousands of Atlanta metro youth to his spacious compound on Holyfield Boulevard. at the north end of the county as he has for the last 10 years. Evander Holyfield, the "Champ," as the majority of his guests called him, explains his motivation like this, "I was exposed to things like this as a child. Someone always gave me an opportunity ever since I was little." The Champ described the Holyfield Foundation Annual 4th of July Celebration as based on the realization that throughout the year everyone looks over the fence and says, "What's over there?" Once a year they get a chance to see what's over here and have a chance to see what the Foundation is all about. "It's fun for the kids and it gives people an opportunity to reach their goals, and they may extend the same thing to someone else," Holyfield said. The Foundation's stated purpose is to enhance the lives of youth worldwide by establishing programs and facilities dedicated to their spiritual, educational and athletic development. The event drew more than 3,000 official participants and hundreds more that gathered outside the 200-acre estate at dusk to view the outstanding fireworks show. According to the Champ, "A lot of different companies donated certain things basketball, baseball, hot-air balloons, pony rides a lot of different things that cater to the children. Real Deal Records is putting on a concert. We know everybody likes music [and] all the music will be positive." Cosponsors with the Holyfield Foundation for this year's event included Coca Cola, Kraft Foods, Real Deal Records, the Atlanta Hawks, Wayfield Foods, HBO, and the MBC Network, among others. The MBC Network, a Holyfield enterprise, is the only African-American owned and operated cable network in America, now available in 41 states, 1,400 cities and 17 million homes. The day began early with Holyfield instructing guests with invitations where to park on the estate. He then visited all the event sites and welcomed hundreds of children and groups personally. Celebrity guests included baseball great Cecil Fielder, whose monster home run won the 1996 World Series for the New York Yankees, and attorney Willie Gary, internationally recognized trial advocate, praised for his rise to the top of his field and his work on behalf of injured persons. Both Fielder and Gary are executives the MBC Network. A multitude of questions were asked the Champ about his recent wedding to the former Candi Smith, a 24-year-old Emory University senior. He parried questions as if he was in the ring and flatly refused to confirm either date or location for the wedding. About his wife, the Champ told reporters, "I'm happy with her. Family is very important to me. It's important for my children to see, regardless of how many mistakes their father made, he would get it right." Asked about this being his third marriage, Holyfield said, "Each and every time you get better. You learn from your mistakes and you gotta be positive. When you're dealing with different individuals and they may make mistakes, the most important thing is that it's always forgiven. God forgives me and I forgive them. I'll keep doing it until I get it right." "No! No!" The Champ was emphatic when asked if he was through with boxing, "I will be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world." Oct. 4 he'll be back in the ring with James Toney. Explaining that this is just a stepping stone to his return as undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Holyfield said he's been striving for that since 1992 when he lost it. "I've been close but I haven't got it. But I have faith, I will get it." The Olympic sized pool behind his home was open to the guests and the kids made the most of it to beat the heat of the day. Others rode ponies and visited the petting zoo. Local radio station Hot 107.9 broadcast the event live from poolside. Ramona Debreaux hosted the poolside show and at one point put the Champ on the air. "We're here to participate with the Holyfield Foundation and everyone else who's participating. Just to support and tell folks out there what's happening." Also at poolside to ensure the safety of the swimmers was Pam Young, the executive director of the Fayette Family YMCA, who coordinated the lifeguards. Young has been with the YMCA for seven years but this was her first year being involved with the Foundation. "It's a pleasure to help out and help keep kids safe," she said. For most of the time there were four lifeguards actively on deck with a company of nine volunteers working in shifts throughout the day. There was food and drink in abundance to combat exhaustion and the heat of the day. Heavy clouds and an early evening thunderstorm provided a natural display and cooled temperatures for the evening concert. The Champ's record label, Real Deal Records, actually put on two concerts, an early one for the youngsters that the Champ described as "giving the guests a chance to be with the artists and have an opportunity to hear clean music; most important to me is clean music." The evening concert concluded with all the performers on stage joining the guests in a hearty rendition of "God Bless America," a natural introduction to a fabulous and lengthy fireworks display.
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