Alonzo & Tracy Mourning To Celebrate It’s All Overtown “One Night…One World” at Rusty Pelican, Benefiting The Overtown Youth Center
Thursday, July 19th, 2012, 6:30-10:00PM
Rusty Pelican
3201 Rickenbacker Causeway
Key Biscayne, FL 33149
To purchase tickets, starting at $125, and for more information, visit www.overtownyouth.org or call (305) 349-1204.
Limited self-parking. $6 valet service also available.

NBA Champion, Alonzo Mourning, and wife Tracy, will host It’s All Overtown, “One Night…One World,” a premier annual fundraiser to benefit the Overtown Youth Center. The recently redesigned Rusty Pelican, an iconic restaurant offering spectacular waterfront views of downtown Miami, will present the event, which raises much-needed funds to support the Center. Guests, alongside the Mistress of Ceremonies, Belkys Nerey, WSVN-TV News Anchor, will be transported around the world with entertainment, food, and specialty cocktails, all embracing the evening’s theme of multicultural inclusion. There will also be an auction and multiple opportunities to support the program founded by Mourning in 2003.

The Overtown Youth Center’s annual fundraising event, It’s All Overtown, raises much-needed funds to support various year-round programming initiatives and enrichment services offered to families and children confronted with a community overflowing with insurmountable socio-economic challenges. For a population of over 13,000 people with a majority minority population (62% Black, 28% Hispanic), an astonishing 49% failed to obtain a high school diploma versus 80% nationally. With a median income of only $15,363 and 36% reporting less than $10,000 in annual income, more than 41% of families, with children, and 46% of individuals lived below the poverty level. Not surprisingly, the public schools serving Overtown’s youth are amongst the poorest performing schools statewide.

Rigorous research has demonstrated that after-school and summer programs can reduce violence and dropout rates while improving the likelihood of education after high school. Every$1.00 invested in after-school programs yields $9.00 in public benefit due to the reduction in crime and juvenile incarceration and due to increased tax revenue from more productive communities. By reducing the current number of dropouts by half would yield almost 700,000 new graduates a year.

Dedicated to ushering in a new group of positive contributing citizens and future leaders, the Overtown Youth Center focuses on inspiring, and empowering youth and families through enrichment services. The Center engages in the constant provision of services (24-hour case management, in-school and after-school and summer services). Overall the program uses a developmentally age-appropriate approach to social, emotional and intellectual development.

The mission of the Overtown Youth Center (OYC) is to inspire and empower youth and families by fostering hope through enrichment services. Co-founded by real-estate developer Martin Z. Marguiles and Alonzo Mourning, the Overtown Youth Center is an academic and recreational state-of-the-art facility located in the heart of Miami’s inner city. Since 2003, OYC has provided services to youth from in grades 2nd through 12th and has offered in-school, after-school, weekend, and summer programs that include academic support, arts and culture, health and wellness, prevention, and character-building activities, including parent enrichment activities. For more information, visit www.overtownyouth.org.

Key Biscayne’s iconic waterfront dining destination, the Rusty Pelican, reopened in December 2011 after an extensive $9 million renovation. Executive chef Michael Gilligan, formerly of the W Hotel on South Beach, has created a fresh modern American menu that mirrors the cool, clean look and vibe of the new Rusty Pelican. Diners can expect a large selection of tasty small plates, perfect for sharing and plenty of freshly caught seafood on Gilligan’s versatile menu. The restaurant boasts breathtaking waterfront views and a vibrant energy that draws diners in, making it a perfect hotspot for dinner, drinks and special events, from a casual cocktail party to a formal wedding for 500. Catering menu options are flexible so that guests may customize them to fit any event or budget. The newly reconfigured restaurant seats 214 in the main dining room, 100 in the bar/lounge area and another 100 on the patio. The second floor features a separate entry for guests, an outdoor terrace and a ballroom, accommodating 60 to 500. Topping it all off is a beautiful new bar and lounge, offering a variety of signature cocktails, microbrews, wines by the glass and bottle service. A wine cellar showcases 1,500 carefully selected bottles. The Rusty Pelican is located at 3021 Rickenbacker Causeway in Key Biscayne. Telephone: (305) 361-3818. www.therustypelican.com