Bay Area Communities Join Together in Support of 10-Year Old Murder Suicide Survivor

Bay Area Communities Join Together in Support of 10-Year Old Murder Suicide Survivor

Fundraising Events Scheduled To Raise Money for Devon Owens and Family

DANVILLE, Calif., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Local Bay Area communities have joined together in support of a local 10-year old Benicia boy, Devon Owens. Devon recently lost his mother and stepfather in a murder suicide inside his home, while his 2-year old sister, Brooklyn, remains in critical condition in a coma. The Benicia Youth Football organization, in which Devon was a player, has established a trust fund to benefit Devon and his family and with the help of local communities hopes to raise money through a variety of upcoming fundraising events.

Among the community groups taking initiative to raise funds for Devon are the San Ramon Valley Thunderbirds Football & Cheer organization, a competitor team of Devon's Benicia Panthers Youth Football team. The Thunderbird's President, John Shepanek, suggested that the organization "step-up" and help this situation and the Board of Directors voted unanimously to get highly involved.

Jeff Rovner, Director of Fundraising for the Thunderbirds, shared his view on the organization's readiness to get involved. "The T-Birds are fortunate to have very generous families and corporations involved in our program," said Rovner. "Given their history of support and sponsorship, asking for their assistance in this situation is a natural extension of our internal fundraising effort. It doesn't surprise me how both individuals and corporations want to be involved to make a positive impact on this family."

Money has been raised by Benicia Youth Football and a variety of donors. The San Ramon Valley Thunderbirds alone have raised more than 15,000 dollars thanks to participants at their annual awards ceremony, a large amount of anonymous donations from participating families and a donation from a Thunderbirds' corporate sponsor, 24 Hour Fitness. Rovner has set a donation goal of 250,000 dollars and hopes to achieve this by mid-January 2008.

Local community businesses that are affiliated with the T-Birds have also stepped in to help by donating a portion of their sales to the Devon Owens Trust Fund. The Dog restaurants located in Alamo, CA and Danville, CA has organized "Devon Day @ The Dog" on Friday, December 14 and Saturday, December 15, 2007. Mark Nichols and Drew Elliott, proprietors of the casual dining restaurants, and members of the Thunderbirds coaching staff will donate 10 percent of gross sales to the trust fund in addition to all additional donations given by customers at each restaurant.

The Thunderbirds have also teamed with Primo's Pizza and Pasta of Danville, CA and its owner John Rhodes for a "T-Birds Fundraiser for Devon Owens." On Monday, December 17 and Tuesday, December 18, 2007, a substantial amount of proceeds from both nights will be donated to the Devon Owens Trust Fund.

"As a T-Birds Coach and a father who has a son in the program I am proud to be affiliated with an organization that cares about what happens within its football family," said John Loar, current T-birds coach and Red Bird Cinema founder/producer. "This is a sad situation and we should all do what we can to make sure that the world never forgets. These types of stories are in and out of the news all too often and the people left to pick up the pieces are children."

John Loar and his partners at Red Bird Cinema, Tony La Russa, Buzz Bissinger and Kevin Pollak, have donated the services of PR firm Rogers & Cowan to help raise awareness of this situation and fundraising effort.

Other contributors and donators include Forbes Mill Steakhouse in Danville, CA, Pat Conrad of Sports Unlimited Photography and the Leadership-Student Government Class of San Ramon Valley High School.

   Here is a list of additional fundraising information:    -- Information about all fundraising activities can be found at      http://www.srvtbirds.com/ and questions can be directed to Jeff Rovner,      via email:  fundraising@srvtbirds.com   -- Collections and deposits for the Devon Owens Trust Fund are being      monitored by Bill Webber, Branch Manager for Bank of the West, located      at 1001 1st Street, Benicia, California 94510. Ph. 707-745-4900   -- Check donations can also be made out PAYABLE to "Benicia Youth Football      for benefit of Devon Owens" can be sent to Jeff Rovner, c/o San Ramon      Valley Thunderbirds, P.O. Box 490, San Ramon, CA 94583 The T-Birds will      continue collecting private and corporate donations in an effort to      reach the stated goal. There is a PayPal donation link established on      the T-Birds website at http://www.srvtbirds.com/   -- "Devon Day @ The Dog" -- Mark Nichols and Drew Elliott, owners of this      casual dining restaurant, and members of the T-Bird's coaching staff,      will donate 10% of gross sales on Friday, December 14 and Saturday,      December 15, 2007 at their two locations in Alamo and Danville,      California. In addition, they will take collections of cash and check      at their restaurants. Hours are 8am-10pm. Located at 110 Hartz Avenue,      Danville, CA 94526 and 3227 Danville Blvd., Alamo, CA 94507.   -- "T-Birds Fundraiser for Devon Owens" -- On Monday, December 17 and      Tuesday, December 18, 2007 the T-Birds have teamed up with owner John      Rhodes of Primo's Pizza and Pasta to raise money for Devon. A      substantial amount of proceeds from the two nights will be donated.      Primo's is located at 298 Hartz Ave., Danville, CA 94526. Primo's is      open from 11:30am-10:00pm. 925-838-8214 Customers can eat-in or      carry-out and Primo's will take pre-orders for half-baked pizzas for      this event. Visit http://www.primosdanville.com/ for more information.   -- Darin Devincenzi, co-owner of Forbes Mill Steakhouse, located at 200      Sycamore Valley Road West in Danville, CA has offered an incentive gift      card in the amount of $25 to all T-Bird Families that make a      contribution in the amount of $100 or more.      http://www.forbesmillsteakhouse.com/   -- The T-Birds have arranged for Pat Conrad, of Sports Unlimited      Photography, to donate 10% of photo sales to The Devon Owens Fund. This      offer is for the month of December, and, extended to the 16      organizations that make up the Diablo Valley Youth Football Conference      (DVYFC). Visit http://www.sportsunlimitedphotography.com/ or call      925-457-4660. For information on the DVYFC, visit http://www.dvyfc.net/   -- The Leadership-Student Government Class from San Ramon Valley High      School http://www.srvhs.org/, located in Danville, CA is spearheading a      campaign to collect cash/check donations, as well as holiday gift      donations from a "wish list" supplied by Devon Owens. The Leadership      Class, under the guidance of Janet Willford and the Class Officers,      will assist the T-Birds in promoting the local fundraising events,      through direct efforts and though email announcements that will be      distributed to the families of all school attendees. Contact: Janet      Willford: 925-552-3062 or jwillford@srvhs.org  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Red Bird Cinema

CONTACT: Diane Shader Smith, +1-310-386-6803, or Megan MacLeod,
+1-310-854-8315, both of Rogers & Cowan, for Red Bird Cinema

Web site: http://www.srvtbirds.com/
http://www.primosdanville.com/
http://www.forbesmillsteakhouse.com/
http://www.sportsunlimitedphotography.com/
http://www.dvyfc.net/
http://www.srvhs.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment