Mourning Family Foundation (MFF), formerly Alonzo Mourning Charities, a not-for-profit organization supporting youth development and education programs, including Overtown Youth Center and Honey Shine Mentoring Program, today announced the official rebrand of the organization following a private luncheon and reception at Prime 112 on Tuesday, April 16. The luncheon served as the backdrop to unveil the new MFF logo, announce the launch of its website and recognize and thank its new leadership team, Board of Directors and select sponsors.
Prior to the event, Alonzo and Tracy Mourning explained the rationale for the rebrand, “Both Tracy and I recognize that we are in a position to help educate and enrich the lives of South Florida’s youth – our future,” stated Alonzo Mourning. “We are humbled to serve the community through our individual endeavors, Overtown Youth Center and Honey Shine, and our collective efforts as a family. Working to empower today’s youth is bigger than any one person, and the rebrand reflects that.”
MFF provides at-risk youth and adolescents with opportunities to not only survive, but to flourish through educational, financial and emotional support. During Tracy Mourning’s remarks to guests at the luncheon she added, “If they can keep you uneducated, they can control you. We are inspired and proud to see our students reclaim that control for their lives.”
Also recognized at the luncheon was MFF’s leadership team including Tina Brown, director of Overtown Youth Center, Edlyn Griffith, director of Honey Shine, and the newly appointed president of Mourning Family Foundation, Towalame Austin. Austin has a rich history of managing, creating programming and fundraising for not-for-profit organizations and previously served as president of the Magic Johnson Foundation.
MFF exists to serve the South Florida community through donations, sponsors and its prestigious Board of Directors. Members of the Board include: Ron Book, President and CEO of Ronald L. Book, P.A., Stephen Boucher, co-founder of Boucher Brothers Management, Linda Coll, director of Carnival Foundation with Carnival Cruise Lines, Shakim Compere, owner of Flavor Unit Entertainment, Rick De La Croix, president of the Americas with Hublot, Albert Dotson Jr., a member of the Executive Committee of Bilzin Sumberg and serves as the Practice Group Leader of the Land Use & Zoning and Government Relations Practice Group, Allen Furst, owner and founder of Monarch Business & Wealth Management and president of Agency 21 Consulting, Michael Fux, entrepreneur and CEO of Comfort Revolution, Salo Grosfeld, president of J.R. United Industries, Ralph Patino, founder of Patino & Associates, P.A., and Jerry Powers, founder of Ocean Drive Media Group.
The luncheon at Prime 112 included a decadent three course meal courtesy of Myles Restaurant Group and was made possible through its media sponsor, Haute Living and event sponsors Xante, Mogul Media Group and BMW.
Since 1997, the Mourning Family Foundation, formerly Alonzo Mourning Charities, has served as hosts to fundraising events and galas in South Florida to advocate and empower underprivileged families and children through educational programs and resources. Together, Tracy and Alonzo Mourning have raised more than $10 million for their charity initiatives, including, Overtown Youth Center, a state-of-the-art facility that serves as a safe haven for children and families to participate in recreational and educational activities from 2nd grade through graduation, and Honey Shine Mentoring Program, which provides at-risk young women with positive role models and influences through its enrichment programs, workshops, camps and sisterhood.