Ebony group to honor sports achievements

YOUNGSTOWN — Ebony Lifeline Support Group, a self-help group for minorities, has scheduled its 12th Annual All-Sports Banquet for Oct. 24 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Social Hall, 343 Via Mount Carmel.

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7. After dinner, nominees will be inducted into the Ebony Lifeline Hall of Fame. Lucille Smith will be the master of ceremonies, and the guest speaker is Michael Rhodes, international representative of UAW of General Motors.

This year’s inductees include Maggie McClendon, sports contributor; Frances Singleton, rifle team; Olga Rivera, soccer; Alfred “Red” Hart, golf and baseball; Sanford Rivers, NFL official; Charles Perdue, track; Carl Bryant, bowling; Leslie Johnson, baseball and community service; Irma Davis, community service; James Harrod, weight lifting; Charles Coleman Sr., bowling; William Moxley, bowling, and Charles Lomax, boxing.

Service award

For the fourth year, Ebony Lifeline will present the McCollough Williams Jr. Community Service Award to a junior or senior minority student from Youngstown City Schools who serves the community and participates in a sport. This year’s recipient is Aaron McKinney of Chaney High School.

Anyone wishing to attend the banquet may purchase a ticket by calling Bob Thomas at (330) 261-1825, Ed Prayor at (330) 743-6193 or Pat Traylor at (330) 792-0234. Tickets cost $30 per person or $220 for a table of eight. A special invitation is extended to those who were previously inducted into the Hall of Fame.

About the group

Ebony Lifeline helps minority residents transition from addiction to recovery by integrating them into self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous. Anyone who is seeking assistance can contact Ebony Lifeline regarding recovery issues that are specific and unique to minorities. Ebony Lifeline works in cooperation with area treatment facilities, employers and others.

The support group meets from 8 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Homeless Solutions Passages, 550 W. Chalmers St. Enter from Cleveland Street. The meeting will be in the lounge. For more information, call Prayor. For a list of other available meetings, call Thomas.

The support group has helped to restore pride and dignity to the black community by founding a sports exhibit. The exhibit, which features pictures and trophies from local athletes, is housed in the Mahoning Valley Historical Society building on Wick Avenue.