The Tyson Foundation
A couple weeks ago, I was asked to photograph The Tyson Foundation Auction and Golf Tournament in Statesboro, Georgia. I was more than happy to photograph this event because it is so close to my heart! DeAngelo "De" Tyson played high school football with my brother, Brennan Palmer, and later on went to play college football at University of Georgia and professional football with the Baltimore Ravens. His wife, ShaBrae Tyson worked at my dad, Dr. Palmer's, office when she was in high school. Their family is very close to my families heart.
Pictured above DeAngelo Tyson and his family.
De grew up in Joseph's Home For Boys in Statesboro which led to his desire to open a boys home in Statesboro. The Tyson Foundation is here to serve youth, young athletes, and teenage mothers. You can learn more about De, the Foundation Board, and what the Tyson Foundation is doing to help the community at http://www.thetysonfoundation.org
Pictured above is DeAngelo Tyson, some of his friends that have played at Georgia or with the Baltimore Ravens, and the Foundation Board.
On March 24, 2016 The Tyson Foundation held a luau themed auction at the Forrest Heights Country Club. Some of the people of Statesboro came out to this beautiful event. Everyone who walked in the front doors were greeted with the huge ALOHA sign and volunteers selling lei's that would be used in a game later on in the evening. Everyone chatted it up over a couple drinks and the bidding items until the dinner started.
Pictured above is Debbie Palmer, a member of the Foundation Board, selling a lei to Michael Muldrew.
Picture above are people waiting to get drinks before heading in to eat dinner.
Pictured above are people looking at a Seattle Seahawks helmet.
Pictured above are some football players hanging out.
They brought out the dinner for people to start eating soon after this. After everyone was about through eating they brought out some of the speakers. Dal Cannady welcomed everyone to the dinner and auction. Jonny Owens prayed over our meal and night. DeAngelo Tyson gave his speech about the Foundation's updates and remarks. David Cobb gave an update on the Broken Shackles Statesboro Campus. Shortly after that they invited Jeff Raines to the floor to begin the auction. He definitely gave life to the room and got some money out of some poor fellas. (for a good cause of course :) ) I remember hearing a lot of "It's for the children." Haha. All jokes aside, it was amazing night and successful auction.
The Board and Country Club waiters and waitresses helped set up the tables before the event.
Pictured above is Dale Cannady welcoming everyone.
Pictured above is DeAngelo Tyson updating everyone about the Foundation and cracking a few jokes. :)
Pictured above is David Cobb updating everyone about the Broken Shackles Campus.
Chris Yaughn speaking about how we raised part of the money to purchase the land.
Pictured above is Jeff Raines who led the auction.
Raines held the game that involved the leis. The prize was 500 dollars. This little boy won and when Raines asked him how he was gonna spend it, he said to win more stuff in the auction. How sweet :)
Pictured above is one of the football players signing the NFL sign.
Jason Robichhau is the artist pictured above. His painting is the one in the background. He has been able to combine his two passions: sports and art. You can check out some of his other work at http://www.jasonrobichau.com
Two of the auction winners with football player Brandon Williams.
Everyone enjoyed trying on De's NFL ring after the dinner.
The next day the Tyson Foundation held a Golf Tournament. The teams came out to for a good day of golf and to drink a couple beers. The football players stood at certain holes to chat up some of the teams. They would ask for a certain amount of money and they would hit their ball for them. All the money is for the children of course. :)
Practicing before they take off.
Football player Brandon Williams joking around with a golf team.
Coach Kenny Tucker needs to keep his eyes on the golf course instead of the camera :)
DeAngelo, Adrian Peterson, Shaquita, and others hung out around one the golf course holes to meet different teams throughout the day. Tyson and another Georgia football player asked teams to pay 100 dollars for the team to say they hit a hole in one and get to take pictures wearing De's super bowl ring, a Georgia ring from the 2008 Sugar Bowl, and a Georgia ring from 2011 SEC East Championship. All the teams had a lot of fun with that.
Adrian Peterson talking to a Statesboro local. I overheard him thanking him for everything he does in the Statesboro community. As a Statesboro local, I completely agree. Adrian Peterson is a great man for young women and men to look up to.
The Sumners and Brennan Palmer posing with Tyson. Michael Sumner (Pink shirt) played high school football and won his State Championship in 2001. DeAngelo Tyson played high school football with Brennan and they went on to win the State Championship in 2005. Michael said, "Caption this 2001 was better than 2005." :)
Tyson is surrounded by people watching a video on one of his friends phone.
One of my favorite pictures from the weekend. This is a woman that De was very close with when he was a kid. I am happy I was able to capture this sweet moment.
The winners!!!!
Some of the Sigma Chi volunteers took a picture with De and the other football players.
The Board with De and some of the football players.
Thank you to DeAngelo Tyson and his family, the Foundation Board, the UGA and NFL Football Players, Shaquita, volunteers, Forrest Heights Country Club, everyone who attended the auction and golf tournament!!
I am so happy I was asked to photograph this event. Thank you to the Board for asking me to photograph this. It was a very great opportunity for me. I am pursuing more non-profit organizations to work with so I can capture moments like these!
