Community Directory

William Hicks III
Office: (847) 571-3022
Fax: (847) 328-3975

Black Diamond Entertainment, Sneakaboy Entertainment Entertaiment, Evanston 's Stop the Violence Group,The Deion Branch Fundation & The BAAM Youth Foundation Brings Streetball Legends to Evanston Township High School.

On Saturday, February 13, 2010, @ 5 p.m. at Evanston Township High School, (1600 Dodge ave, Evanston IL), Evanston's Finest will play basketball against Streetball Legends from around the world, which include, Hot Sauce,Pat Da Roc, Go Get It, Werm, Paul McPherson, D.O., Snake and Playstaion.

William Hicks III of Sneakaboy Entertainment is 25 years old, and a Active Member in the United States Army Reserve 100th Engineer Battalion, a Cadet at the University of Illinois at Chicago Army Rotc Program(Fire Battallion), Majoring in Political Science at NEIU. Also working at a local Bank in the Evanston Community named First Bank and Trust. He is also a Board Member of the Evanston Community Development Corporation & also The VP / Director of BAAM Youth Foundation which he and his father started in 2008. Williams Hicks III recently returned home from Afghanistan where he was fighting in the war on terrorism. While in Afghanistan, William had time to think about life and how good we have it in America and how much is taken for granted. He took the money he made and started a promotional company named Sneakaboy Entertainment which helped open the doors for him to start his own youth foundation. Fully aware of the violence in the community, William believes that if the community does more structured events, the youth will have something to look forward to, which may bring change in the community. He’s looking at the bigger picture, the “Kids” and he is giving the kids a number of tickets so the kids can attend this event. While also giving away free giveaways to the crowd.

William Hicks III and Deion Branch have teamed up to help come up with a resolution to the problem. Black Diamond Entertainment was started by Deion Branch and his partner Olawale Kadiri who is also an Evanston Native, to provide entertainment for adults and to keep kids off the street. It gives adults and kids an alternative instead of hanging in the streets to come and have fun at our events in a positive environment. Hopefully with the support of the community this will be one of many events that will take place in Evanston .
Deion Branch (born, July 18, 1979, in Albany, Georgia) (Resides in Carmel, Indiana) is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. He is 5'9" and 193 pounds and was picked by New England in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft out of the University of Louisville. Branch was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXIX on February 6, 2005, after tying former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice and former Cincinnati Bengals tight end Dan Ross for the Super Bowl reception record with 11 catches for 133 yards. He was the first receiver to win the award since 1989.

In middle school, high school and college, Branch was often told he was too short at just 5'9" to be an NFL receiver, and due to this, he dropped from a sure first-round pick to the second round. Deion was selected with the final pick of the Second round of the 2002 NFL Draft, after New England used its first-round pick on tight end Daniel Graham. Branch eventually became quarterback Tom Brady's go-to receiver and helped lead the team to two straight Super Bowls sparking an offense built primarily on the passing game prior to 2005. In addition to his 11 catch, 133-yard performance in Super Bowl XXXIX, he also caught 10 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXVIII. His 21 receptions in those 2 games is an NFL record for reception in consecutive Super Bowls and the third highest total of career Super Bowl receptions by a single player. Only Jerry Rice and Andre Reed, who each played in 4 Super Bowls, recorded more.Deion Branch was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 2006 where he is curently playing.

HISTORY:

The Deion Branch Charitable Foundation was established to help ease the struggles of those children struggling with health related issues, including those with meningitis. The foundation is close to Deion’s heart as his 4 year old son, Deiondre was born afflicted with meningitis.
MISSION :

The Deion Branch Charitable Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to offer support to children's mental, physical and emotional well-being by assisting programs and initiatives aimed at improving their quality of life.

The Deion Branch Foundation is a foundation that actively supports organizations committed to assisting meningitis victims, particularly infected children. Previous benefactors have been The Meningitis Foundation of America, and The Home of the Innocents. In addition, the Deion Branch Foundation is dedicated to promoting the emotional well being of disenfranchised children by supporting Treehouse for Kids and Zion Preparatory Academy during annual toy and Thanksgiving drives during the holiday season.

Deion Branch Foundation
551 N. 170th Place
Shoreline , WA , 98133
(206) 227-9387 (Phone)

For ticket information to the Streetball Legends vs Evanstons Finest please contact William Hicks at 847-571-3022 or Executive Studio Hair Salon & Spa 801 Main st, Evanston , IL 60202 .

Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV) is one of only a few comprehensive AIDS service organizations in the Chicago area and the only comprehensive provider for the North Shore. Founded in 1989 by community volunteers, BEHIV provides case management, housing, prevention, testing, mental health counseling, massage therapy and art therapy services in Chicago communities that include some of the highest rates of AIDS in Illinois.

BEHIV's mission is to improve the lives of people with HIV and AIDS in the communities it serves through a comprehensive range of quality services. BEHIV serves through a comprehensive range of quality public services, to inform the public about the virus and risk reduction behavior, and to increase understanding and compassion for people with HIV and AIDS.

www.BEHIV.org

Chicago a cappella is one of the area’s most accomplished and innovative vocal ensembles. Spanning a repertoire from Gregorian chant to the Beatles and beyond, the group has performed over 100 concerts in the Chicago area as well as tour appearances in 11 states and in Mexico since its founding in 1993 by Artistic Director Jonathan Miller. The ensemble performs regularly at Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston. In 2008, Miller received the Louis Botto Award from Chorus America for his innovative action and entrepreneurial zeal in developing a professional choral ensemble. With musical preparation by Music Director Patrick Sinozich, Chicago a cappella has been lauded for its “appealing charisma and seamless blend” (Chicago Tribune). The ensemble has received rave reviews nationally for its seven CDs, and has been hailed as “a jewel in the crown of Chicago’s musical life” (The American Organist).

Childcare Network of Evanston is committed to fostering a community where children of all abilities, from birth to age five, and families of all income levels, have access to high quality care and early education and arrive at school ready to succeed. To achieve this mission CNE provides:

*Resource and referral information *Scholarships *Comprehensive Early Head Start services *Pre-Kindergarten services in early childhood centers and family child care homes *On-site services for children with special needs and their families in inclusive settings *Family education about early literacy* Trainings for early childhood professionals *Collaborations and partnerships with community and early childhood programs *Advocacy for young children, locally, statewide and nationally *Social work services and early childhood mental health consultation *Education and self empowerment programs which enhances the skills of male role models and strenthgthens relatinships with their children

We are a Community Housing Development Organization, recognized by the City of Evanston and authorized to receive federal and other funds to purchase, improve and sell affordable housing. We are a not for profit organization. We want to serve those of moderate income who would otherwise find it difficult to purchase a home in Evanston.

The Citizens' Lighthouse Community Land Trust (CLCLT) is a 501 (c)(3) organization with a mission of providing opportunities for families of modest income to buy homes at an affordable price. This is done through ownership of the land beneath a home by the land trust, so that only the home is sold to the homebuyer, at a mortgage the homebuyer can afford. At time of sale, the home must be sold to the land trust or to another low-income homebuyer. The Citizens' Lighthouse CLT is a Community Housing Development Organization approved by the City of Evanston and eligible for HUD funds for projects that benefit low-income buyers (no more than 80% of the area median income). The CLT is working on selling its first property (November, 2008).

Connections provides housing, employment and supportive services to move individuals and families out of the shadow of homeless. We are the leading provider of homeless services in north suburban Cook County, serving over 1,000 individuals and families annually.

Our core programs include:

EntryPoint, providing outreach and drop-in services to people living on the streets

Hilda's Place, providing transitional shelter with supportive services for single adults

Family Housing Services, providing transitional housing with supportive services for families

Prevention Services, effectively preventing homelessness with rent and utility assistance for those at-risk

Permanent Supportive Housing, providing permanent housing and support services for people with special needs

District 69 PTA is the parent-teacher association for Madison School, Edison School and Lincoln Jr. High.