KiKi Shepard’s K.I.S Foundation’s 12th Annual Celebrity Bowling Challenge for Sickle Cell Disease Awareness

LOS ANGELES - Sept. 16, 2015 - PRLog -- How can you have fun, give back to the community and support a great cause all at the same time? It’s simple! KiKi Shepard and The K.I.S Foundation host its 12^th Annual Celebrity Bowling Challenge to ‘raise awareness of Sickle Cell Disease’ on Saturday September 26, 2015. The night of fun and charity will be held at PINZ Entertainment Center 12655 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA, 91604. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. with celebrity bowlers, sponsors and supporters walking the Red carpet and playing a 2-game bowling tournament at 8pm. There will be on-site bone marrow registration, opportunity drawings, awards, surprise entertainment, food and a variety of event goodies.

“As we celebrate the 12th anniversary of the 'Celebrity Bowling Challenge', I remain extremely grateful to our amazing supporters. It takes a village to make a difference in the lives of many. The K.I.S. Foundation, Inc. is proud to be a part of that global village. We remain committed to educating the public about SCD, and are dedicated to improving the social health and quality of life for SCD patients and families here in Southern California. That is exactly what the Celebrity Bowling Challenge does and has done, year after year,” says Founder KiKi Shepard.

Raising awareness for Sickle Cell has always been a personal mission for KiKi Shepard (Actress/ Host of “It’s Showtime at The Apollo”) since she discovered she carries the SCD trait and lost a close friend to this crippling disease. KiKi, her celebrity friends, and corporate supporters will bowl-a-strike to raise awareness of Sickle Cell Disease and the need to get tested NOW!

About Sickle Cell Disease

- Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited, non-contagious, red blood cell disorder, present at birth

- 1 in 13 African American babies are born with the Sickle Cell trait every year

- More than 3 million people suffer from Sickle Cell related illnesses Symptoms include severe pain, extreme fatigue, swelling of limbs, anemia, difficulty walking or standing, and can affect vision and other parts of the body

- Currently the only cure found for SCD is the bone marrow transplant

- There is no universal cure for Sickle Cell Disease

Confirmed and invited celebrities lending their support in the charitable event include: James Pickens Jr. (Grey’s Anatomy), Chandra Wilson (Grey’s Anatomy), Rocky Carroll (NCIS), Super Bowl/Dancing with the Stars Champion Donald Driver, Jussie Smollett and Derek Luke (EMPIRE), Devon Franklin, Megan Good, Aldis Hodge (Straight Outta Compton), Dondre’ T. Whitfield (Real Husbands of Hollywood), Jenifer Lewis, Marsai Martin, Marcus Scribner & Yara Shahidi (cast of Black’ish), Lisa Vidal, Aaron Spears, BJ Britt and Brely Evans (Being Mary Jane), Richard and Tina Lawson, Wendell James, Harold Bell, Joshua Whitley and Rodney Van Johnson (cast of Raising Whitley), Pooch Hall (Ray Donovan), Mekhi Pfifer (House of Lies), Rochelle Aytes (Mistresses), Bresha Webb (Truth Be Told), Elise Neal (Hollywood Divas), Tonya Banks (Little Women LA), Affion Crockett, Jackee’, Arjay Smith, Damion Hall (GUY), Wesley Jonathon (The Soul Man), Alimi Ballard (The Catch, CSI), Chris Spencer and JB Smoove (Real Husbands of Hollywood), Tamala Jones (Castle), Eugene Byrd (Bones), Gabrielle Dennis (Rosewood), Larenz Tate (House of Lies), Nicole Murphy, Daphne Wayans, Shanica Knowles, John Salley (retired NBA), Paula Jai White (Hollywood Divas), Tank (Born Again Virgin), The ZENO Family (BRAVO’s The People’s Couch),Keith Robinson (Dreamgirls) and comedian Michael Colyar.

Chairman of the Board, Actress Vanessa Bell Calloway says, “The K.I.S.Foundation has been supporting the Los Angeles Sickle Cell community for almost 10 years. As a board member, the newly appointed Chairman of The Board, and a person that has been directly affected by Sickle Cell, I encourage everyone to support us in our efforts as we try to make a difference in the lives of those affected.”

Interested sponsors and bowlers can participate on various levels: Lane sponsors $2,500; Teams $800 (includes 4 bowlers plus a celebrity); Individual bowlers $150; Non-bowlers $75. All proceeds are tax-deductible. Sponsorship opportunities and tickets are available and can be purchased online at www.thekisfoundation.org. This year’s efforts will support the initiatives of the K.I.S Foundation’s programs - the Crises Care Package and the Catch-Up Program.

This event is sponsored by: UPS, Wells Fargo, Xerox, Donald and Betina Driver, NCIS, James Pickens Jr. Foundation, SermoonJoy Entertainment, LLC, US Bank, Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills, Genentech, Elgin Charles of Beverly Hills, Bludso’s BBQ, PINZ, SEIU and IX Winds Ranch Foundation.

For more information, talent submissions or media credentials, contact Lisa Humphrey, Premier Concepts, email: media@premierconceptspr.com or call 310.293.4154.

About Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited, non-contagious blood disease that can be crippling, painful, life threatening and strongly affects African-Americans, and people of, Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean heritage are also commonly affected.

About KiKi Shepard

KiKi Shepard hails from Tyler, Texas, the "Rose Capital of the World", and is a graduate of Howard University and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She is a versatile performer who loves entertaining, whether on film, television, or the stage. Best known as the "Queen of Fashion", for 15 years, millions of viewers tuned in weekly to "see what she will wear", as she showed off the season's latest designs in haute-couture as the smashing co-host of the original "It's Showtime at the Apollo"- TV's hottest late-night variety show.

About Premier Concepts
Premier Concepts PR (PCPR) is a full-service boutique firm specializing in Entertainment publicity for celebrities, special events, productions, lifestyle brands in addition to celebrity procurement and event coordination.