Celebrities support The KIS Foundation, Inc. 12th Annual Celebrity Bowling Challenge

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. - Oct. 1, 2015 - PRLog -- Stars showed up in great numbers this past Saturday, September 26, 2015, to bowl for a worthy cause - Sickle Cell Disease Awareness. Hosted by Actress/Host KiKi Shepard, the K.I.S. Foundation, Inc. 12th Annual Celebrity Bowling Challenge along with a great mix of actors, comedians, athletes, musicians and more bowled with hopes of landing strikes to benefit the programs of the charity which supports families living with SCD in the underserved areas of Los Angeles.

Held during National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness month, the annual night of fun and charity was held at PINZ Entertainment Center, 12655 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA, 91604. The evening began with celebrity supporters walking the Red carpet, a Certificate of Appreciation presented to KiKi Shepard from the offices of Curren Price - 9th District Councilman of Los Angeles, a 2-game bowling tournament, silent auction, on-site bone marrow registration, and a BBQ dinner generously sponsored by Bludso’s BBQ.

“Once again I am humbled at the unparalleled support shown to the Celebrity Bowling Challenge. What an amazing event benefitting families living with SCD. Many of our guests, and celebrity friends gave generously and were educated by attending SCD survivors,” says Founder KiKi Shepard. “The support of the CBC is beyond belief and grows each & every year.”

Celebrities attending the event included: Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Dondre’ T. Whitfield, Dawnn Lewis, Rocky Carroll, Richard Brooks, Aaron D. Spears, Omar Benson Miller, Renee Lawless, Glynn Turman, Marsai Martin, Obba Babatunde’, Tamala Jones, Tonya Banks, Omar Gooding, Gabrielle Dennis, Angell Conwell, Arjay Smith, Chris Spencer, Elise Neal, Harold Bell, Traci Thoms, Affion Crockett, Wesley Jonathan, Shanica Knowles, Art Evans, Rodney Van Johnson, the ZENO family, Petri Byrd, Mari Morrow, Torrei Hart, Ralph Farquhar, Cameron Davis (Little Miss California), Reginald Vel Johnson, Beth Payne, and Mother Love. Our top bowlers were actor Quinton Aaron and Sickle Cell survivor Dominique Elston.

“As the newest board members of the KIS foundation, it was a pleasure to participate in the growth of such a great and impactful event. The Sickle Cell Disease community was once again well represented by Kiki Shepard and the entire KIS team,” say Dondre’ T. Whitfield and Salli Richardson Whitfield.

The evening ended with dancing, gift bag distribution and trophies awarded to our 1st place winners - Team Ft. Irwin and our 2nd place winners - Team Mercedes Benz of Beverly Hills. Lastly, the K.I.S. Foundation, Inc. received an unexpected donation of $5,000.00 from Warriors in Pink via Rocky Carroll as his designated charity of choice for his work with the Ford Motor Company.

KiKi’s Celebrity Bowling Challenge was 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.

Contributions from this annual event will support the initiatives of the K.I.S. Foundation’s programs - the Crises Care Package and the Catch-Up Program.

For more information or to make a donation, visit: www.thekisfoundation.org or call 310.293.4154.

About the K.I.S. Foundation, Inc.

The K.I.S. Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to inform and educate the public and raise awareness about Sickle Cell Disease through community outreach programs and educational scholarships. We also financially support the efforts of research institutions to find a universal cure. The mission of KiKi's "Celebrity Bowling Challenge" is to raise awareness about Sickle Cell Disease - an inherited, non-contagious blood disease that can be crippling, painful and life threatening. Visit www.thekisfoundation.org.

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.