AUDI children Gidewon Grant’d to ‘em

Words by C. Daniel

Photos contributed by Thaddeus McAdams (ExclusiveAccess.net)

Deon Grant, Founder of Grant D Knowledge Foundation

Deon Grant is dapper; he’s dressed in an all-black Louis Vuitton ensemble from head to toe topped off with a white dinner jacket. On the other hand, this particular July 11, 2009 evening is all ‘cause of the children – a “Party for the Cause Ball,” that is.

“This is super important because if we don’t reach back: the ones with the money, the ones on the TV and show these kids in the community they can do it, they won’t learn it from nobody else,” the Seattle Seahawks defensive back says.

Tonight, Atlanta’s Fernbank Museum of Natural History, located in the Druid Hills community, is hosting a posh “Evening Under the Stars,” courtesy of Grant’s Grant D Knowledge Foundation along with The Gidewon Foundation in conjunction with Suntrust Bank; AG Entertainment; the Music Education Group (MEG, Inc.); the Collective Renaissance Guild (CRG) and Jim Ellis AUDI of Atlanta. Guests upon arrival are treated to a lush waterfall beneath a display of bronze dinosaurs and four AUDIs displayed across beds of red carpet over the cobblestone driveway. The Perimeter Saxophone Ensemble serenades guests at the entrance with everything from The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” and Henry Mancini’s “The Pink Panther” to the Average White Band’s “Pick Up the Pieces.”

Grant and Alex Gidewon

As guests make their way down Fernbank’s spiral staircase in their after five attire, it’s a golden affair. Underneath the 86-ft. tall atrium’s enormous (and world’s largest) Argentinosaurus fossils sit a series of finely decorated golden furniture draped in golden brown tablecloths. Of course, there are fully-stocked open bars inside and out serving up some high quality cocktails. Trays of fruit; cheese and shrimp hors d’oeuvres are plentiful. In the Fernbank Cafe, there are Vegas/Atlantic City-styled blackjack and poker tables full of colorful chips and decks of cards (think Sugar Ray’s club from the 1989 comedy Harlem Nights).

This is all history in the making. For the past 10 years, Grant has been about taking care of the youth. The All-American, Augusta native (and highest paid defensive back in NFL history) opens his heart along with his wallet for educational support. The Grant D Knowledge Foundation raises funds to show inner city youth throughout metro Atlanta and the United States the key component to become future leaders and academic successes. The opportunities allow young people access to various scholarship funds; recreational programs and technological advances. Later in the evening, Grant verbally commits to an additional donation of $5,000 towards the Gidewon Foundation.

Special guests include Mayor Shirley Franklin; Upfront Entertainment CEO/choreographer Devyne Stephens; Disturbing the Peace CEO Chaka Zulu; New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant; Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Kandi Burruss; attorney Charles Mathis; GA Sen. Kasim Reed; recording artist Rasheeda; artist Verse Simmons and Imani Entertainment CEO/manager Manny Halley.

 Special thanks 2 Deon Grant; Crystal Betts of the Gidewon Foundation; Sheena McDonald of 5 Star Relations; Charles Grant; Justin G. Tanner of the J3 Group; Brian Wynder of Rolling Out; N.V. Johnson of Inside 285 Photography; Thaddeus from ExclusiveAccess.net; the lovely ladies from CRG (Terrinee, Christine and Kamal)! I appreciate all of U!