People behind ‘Toys for Tots’

Take a look at the Who’s Who of the Benefit Concert ‘Toys for Tots’ that is going to be held on December 13, 2013. The ‘Toys for Tots’ concert organized by the Victory University would not have been possible if not for the effort and support of some of the well-wishers of the local Memphis area and the kids.

These people have continued to be along with Victory showing their support towards the concert and its promotional activities.

Celebrity Statement

Just as we all are eager for the musical evening, so is the star, who is going to perform on the evening. Alexis Grace has extended her invaluable support and time for the kids and Victory University. She is actively involving herself in the advertisement and promotional activities for the success of the concert.

When asked about her expectations and thoughts on the event, the singer shared that the event is going to be fun to participate in and she is more than thrilled to perform on the evening.

Alexis Grace is the local singing sensation and the American Idol Season 8 finalist.

The Chief Guests of the Event

The utmost important and an integral part of the concert are without doubt the media and the sponsors. Their involvement and contribution to the show is widely appreciated by the University and its members. The effort put by media and the sponsors for this event cannot be got over with by just appreciating them.

This year, the media partners and the sponsors of the event include Local24, CW30, Sonic Restaurants, and the Memphis Redbirds. The chief guests of the event are Joyce Peterson and Cameron Harper from ABC Local24 and CW30.

Joyce Peterson is the co-anchor of Local 24 and CW 30 News. Her commitment towards the education for young people is well-known and evident through her involvement in mentoring children of Mid-South schools. She also spends invaluable time for local charities and organizations.

Cameron Harper is the co-anchor of Local 24 and CW 30 News. He is a member of Leadership Memphis. He organized the first ever Celebrity Putt-Putt Golf Tournament and raised thousands of dollars for Ronald McDonald House of Memphis.

Launching ‘Local Cares’

WATN/WLMT-TV Vice President and General Manager, Ardyth Diercks said that the extension of their support for the Memphis community called ‘Local Cares’ will be launched at the concert. He also added that ‘Local Cares’, as the official media outlet of the concert, is honored and looking forward to help brighten the holidays of children of Mid South.

Victory University Welcomes You

Kenneth Kinney of Victory University said that Victory is elated to continue to serve ‘Toys for Tots’ and the local community with such great partners as Local24, CW30, Sonic, and the Memphis Redbirds. He also mentioned that Alexis, the local singing star, would make the concert and the evening, a phenomenal success.

The Toys for Tots coordinator for Memphis, HM1 EmanuelaSpeal thanked all of the supporters of this year’s Toys for Tots campaign. He said, “We look forward to the Toys for Tots Concert with Alexis Grace that has been put together by Mr. Kinney with Victory University and many other supporters. The Toys for Tots program is a success because the community gets involved, making a child’s Christmas dream come true by donating toys.”

It is commendable to see that such sponsors, media partners, and celebrities have raised this cause so much and are still encouraging people to participate, contribute, and enjoy the evening.

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Cheer Up for the Graceful Alexis at Victory University

We all know Alexis Grace as the American Idol Season 8 finalist, a beautiful country singer, and as a caring mother. You would also know more about her from her morning show on a Top 40 station Q107.5 where she co-hosts the show as a radio DJ.

She is one of those inspiring people who are doing their best at both the worlds and enjoying the same. Growing up as a singer with her father, she involves in her music through stage performances and by taking active part in the local theater community in Memphis. She has also played Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago and Serena in Legally Blonde, which was her ‘Playhouse on the Square’ debut.

According to Alexis, the most important thing in her life is raising her beautiful daughter, Ryan Elizabeth. Her enthusiasm towards motherhood and her true love towards kids is clearly visible in her expression when she talks about Ryan. Extending the same emotions, she involves in concerts like the ‘Toys for Tots’ Benefit Concert which is being held at Victory University on December 06, 2013 at 7pm. She is singing to encourage donation of toys for kids.

As a single mom and an upcoming singer who works as a DJ, Alexis manages many things in her life with such a bubbly attitude that many should note for us seriously. She lives and takes it to her heart, the inspirational quote of Walt Disney:


“All of our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney.

She works for her dreams round the clock, tours to sing, and plans her life to pursue and achieve her dreams. For the benefit concert she is coming together with Victory University to help realize the dreams of few underprivileged children, to see their starry eyes when they hold those beautiful toys to play and have fun with.

As a mom to a seven-year old girl herself, she can understand what it means for a child to have a toy or a present to explore. Talking of the American Idol days, people say that she made the locality real proud with her presence at the iconic singing show.

Alexis cheers the kids at this night of the concert. The whole of Victory University is looking forward to see this emotional journey and support her music that would motivate her to do more such performances for charity and events.

Do not miss this opportunity; share this musical evening with the graceful singer and spread the joy around. You would be witnessing Alexis’ own compositions, other famous songs, and some Christmas songs. As you may be aware, please bring an unwrapped toy for free admission to the concert or donate $10. Note that tickets for the concert are currently on sale.

Cheers!!!

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Victory University gearing up for Education through Fun

This time not with the books but with the Toys – Join us at the campus to enjoy the evening with some music from none other than the American Idol herself, Alexis Grace.

As announced earlier, Victory University (VU) is organizing a benefit concert called ‘Toys for Tots’ that goes on action on December 6, 2013 at 7 pm at the Virgil L. lles Auditorium located in the Victory University campus.
‘Toys for Tots’, as the name suggests, is about bringing toys for the underprivileged kids and giving them a healthy childhood. This noble cause will be clubbed with some beautiful music by the American Idol, Alexis Grace.

But for kids, toys are not just games and fun as we see them. There’s more to it. Toys make a kid learn and grow. In other words, introduction of toys or any material, which could be enjoyed by a kid as a toy, is the start of the fun school in their world. It is also the start of their education and learning process about the external world that they have come in, to face ultimately. Toys let the kids attempt and explore the world that surrounds them.

Toys vs. other knowledge sources

There is a reason why an educational institution like Victory would concentrate and spend time on bringing toys to the kids and toddlers instead of providing them with heavy books and learning materials like audio and video CDs or a coaching class or summer camps. VU knows it better that it is important to let the kids explore and learn by themselves. They have recognized that it is the only and the best way for the kids to learn and grow. The value and importance of delivering education to the toddlers and the kids in the right mode is recognized and being acted on by this institution.

Greatest Benefit of the Benefit Concert

What could a toy possibly bring in a child’s life apart from valuable education and learning opportunities? The answer is opportunity for valuable and creative time to spend and most importantly – No Television!!!
We know from all the research and statistics report that the US children or adults watch more TV compared to any other country and this leads to obesity and affect the entire generation with various associated diseases of obesity and depression.

Imagine the impact of the concert! Just because the toys are obtained from a special place, kids would obviously get attracted to spend more time with them. Thus, giving them an opportunity to spend their time with toys and get rid of watching TV or spending idle time on a couch.

The activity of playing with the toys is a creative learning process. Stuffing knowledge through outside sources will definitely suffocate a kid and will not let the kid to learn but only to gulp the information. Toys and games are the natural way of learning for a kid that would let them explore their own characteristic learning ways. For sure, the kid would have learned something at the end of the day.
Thus, the concert will definitely prove to be benefit for the kids, the parents, the community, and their future.

A gentle request

We take this opportunity to gently request our kind donators to avoid toys that are toxic, toys with very small parts that could choke a kid, un-inflated balloons, toys with parts containing small magnets or any toys that could be dangerous to a kid to play with.

Few suggestions could be dolls with permitted chemical levels and decibel levels, big size balls, bean bags, creative materials like crayons, play dough, paint boxes, water play toys, cars, wagons, trucks or bikes big enough for the kids to ride on them, etc.

The concert is going to be held in a week’s time. Hope we see you there with a lot of toys for the kids to play with.

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Victory University on Air

Listen to Kenneth Kinney of Victory University on KWAM990 Talk Radio – The Voice of Memphis. Victory University is running a talk show named “An Education That Works” that is going on air for all those education enthusiasts on every Tuesday at KWAM990. You might be aware that Victory University is also hosting a Sunday morning TV show with the same name on Local ABC24.

The radio talk show is fully dedicated to the education and learning community. The subjects that are discussed on the show include education and careers, educationists of our time, and status & news updates from Victory University.

The host, Kenneth talks with some of the present day leaders of education in our community to bring to the listeners the secrets of education and career success. The show targets on any learner who wishes to pursue higher education and enter the higher education world for the first time seeking the opportunities, or a professional who is looking for a boost in his/her career or willing to make a comeback to the education arena in order to update his/her profile.

Last week, Professor Dianne Malone and other guests in the community were invited to the talk show as in-studio guests. The host discussed about English majors with the guest. Professor Dianne explained how English majors are persuasive, engaging, intellectual, and entertaining. She also mentioned that English helps a student to develop deep thinking abilities about any subject, pushes a student to look beyond the word and understand the deeper meaning of the text, and provides the ability to draw conclusions.

When discussing about the job market, the guest pointed out that employers hire candidates who can think and see out of the box and who have the ability to understand beyond the literal meaning of the words. She also analyzed the role of English majors in the marketing sector as how English can be used to market a product, create a brand name for the product, and most importantly how communication skills play a major role in persuading buyers to buy a product.

Professor Malone mentioned that she encourages her students to use comprehensive and simple communication strategies that can be remembered by the target listeners. She said that this method of communication helps great in resonating in the minds of the listeners for longer time.

She also stressed the importance of choosing the points before speaking them and the importance of critical thinking. The professor said these options in education can act as a Plan B if the Plan A does not work out well for people in their lives.
Apart from these useful points, there were also discussions about jobs and some important tips to follow. If you have missed out the show, listen to it at www.kwam990.com.
Do watch out for the next episode of “An Education That Works” this week on November 26, 2013.

Kenneth Kinney of Victory University will be back to reveal more secrets on education and career success.

You can also listen to the live show every Tuesday at www.kwam990.com. For all those app enthusiasts, don’t forget to download the KWAM AM990 app from your app store.

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