22nd Annual HAL Awards in Beverly Hills, CA

There will be a Tribute to Heroes and Legends on Sunday, September 25, 2011, at the Beverly Hills Hotel, in the beautiful city of Beverly Hills, CA. This year, the Honorees are:
Ray Parker JR., Sonja Norwood, Jay Brown, and the Temptations. The Mistress of Ceremonies will be the  highly favored  Jo-Marie Payton

Created by songwriter and Motown Alumna, Ms. Janie Bradford, who states ," The Heroes And Legends (HAL) Scholarship Foundation was created to give recognition to "at risk" youth " The Foundation was also created to give recognition to those who embrace what Ms. Bradford has accomplished in the community, on a global basis,  through this recognition.  

'The primary purpose of HAL is twofold: First, to help talented young people in the community realize their lofty -but- attainable dreams of shaping careers for themselves in one of the many performing arts.

We do this by providing much needed scholarship funds.

Secondly, HAL spotlights positive role models from many diverse backgrounds,

including leaders in the fields of music, theatre, motion pictures and business each year at the

Annual HAL Awards and Scholarship Dinner, Silent Auction, Dinner and Awards.'

If you'd like to support the HAL Scholarship Foundation, please get in contact with them -

361 South Oakhurst Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 or info@halawards.com or call 310.274.1609

It's Been 10 Years Since You've Been Gone

Dear Dad, It's been 10 years since you've laid down with my Ancestors. You were born on purpose with a purpose, and through which we, your children came through you. If you and Mother had not decided to take a chance and love each other, against all odds, I would not be here. So, I just wanted to let you know that all the rides that I got a chance to take on your shoulders, all the walks through San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, all the sand castles that we built in the sand box, all the pushes on the swings that you gave us, all the walks through the rain in the Golden Gate Park with you and Mother, all the trips to Petrini's Market on Fulton and Masonic,  and Gene's Market on the corner of Hayes St., just around the corner from our apartment at 825 Masonic - are not forgotten.

You served this beautiful country, this United States of America, in the Navy - and you proudly wore your years of service like a badge. Although you were in a terrible car accident a few years after getting out of the Navy, and paralyzed from the neck down, you still managed to somehow make me feel like the most blessed, beautiful baby girl in the world! I can still here you say, " You are my heart piece, and Daddy loves you, loves you!" Oh Daddy. Despite being a quadriplegic, and on an emotional roller coaster - angry, sad, grateful and mad  at times,  you always managed to shift gears emotionally to let us know that you loved us. To tell us that all of us were conceived in love was a beautiful thing. I thank you and Mother for that.
I carry that love with me today and always, Dad. Missing you, your baby girl, Carla
( My Dad was buried with full regalia at Golden Gate National Cemetery.