Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2008 > August > 10 > Entry
8/9: Hot’s Rashan Ali starts nonprofit to get girls in sports
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hot 107.9 morning host Rashan Ali got a full scholarship at Florida A&M in swimming, a fairly uncommon sport for African American women.
So she has created a nonprofit called Sporty Girls where she nurtures minority girls in sports such as soccer, tennis, golf and her sport swimming.
On Saturday, she held a charity swim meet to raise funds for her group. She joins other jocks with nonprofit groups, including Bert Weiss of Q100, Ryan Cameron of V-103 (Ali served on his organization’s board) and Frank Ski.
“I really want to encourage girls to try sports they may not think could help them later,” Ali said after the meet, which was held at the natatorium at Washington Park not far from Morehouse College. Still dripping from water, she had just finished winning her own 50-yard freestyle.
She just held a camp for 18 girls, ages 9 to 14. She’d love to raise enough cash one day to build her own sports academy instead of renting or borrowing space. “I like to think big,” she said.
Her morning team helped her out, including Griff, Akini and Emperor Searcy. (I got there a bit late and caught Beyonce Alowishus going to another Hot event.). Ali’s former morning mate and Sporty Girls board member C.J. Simpson came by, too. C.J. is now on the morning show at rival 95.5/The Beat.
*Above: Rashan Ali with fellow Hot 107.9er DJ Trauma.
Griff’s swim team (l-r) “Team Real Trill:” Tony Glover, Quincy Eagle, Jalen Robinson, Marcus Griffin, Griff, Beth Williams, Jullian Blanding, Branden Griffin.
Emperor Searcy with Griff’s assistant Michele Hale.
Griff with his daughter Jamisen, who was 445 days old.
C.J., with Thaddeus McAdams, head of www.exclusiveaccess.net., which provides entertainment/party news.
Morgan Robinson, 12, races during the meet Saturday. She was part of the Sporty Girls summer camp.
Comments
By Over 30 White Male
August 10, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
I thought black peoples were afraid to swim???
By westside4life
August 10, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
DJ Trauma = gay
By K.
August 10, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
Over 30 white male - Black people should be afraid to swim since your ancestors made us endure that long cruise, but I’m sure you have encountered several people of color who have not only exceeded your minimal intelligence, but made you feel like to dummy you are.
This is a great idea and I hope the fundraising goes well.
K.
By Cassie
August 10, 2008 11:01 PM | Link to this
Hello, I am very excited about this program. It is good for blacks to learn to swim because during the summer months so many die from not learning to swim. A educated young black woman. Don’t be afraid to learn, you never know what you have learned will take you.
By Cassie
August 10, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
Hello, I am very excited about this program. It is good for blacks to learn to swim because during the summer months so many die from not learning to swim. A educated young black woman. Don’t be afraid to learn, you never know what you have learned will take you.
By Chassydi Butts, MPA
August 10, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this
I would like to become involved with this program. Sounds like a good way to reduce one of the major health disparities amongst children: Obesity
By Get real
August 11, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this
I guess you didn’t see the brother win a gold medal last night in the 4X100 relay Over 30. Typical southern, good ol boy comment.
By 2 live stus
August 11, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
dj trauma is a homosexual.. so what
By stop hatin
August 11, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
Trauma ain’t gay. Far from it. But I will say that that is not the best hairdo in the pic.
By Sick & tired
August 11, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this
Now it’s official …. EVERY media celebrity and semi-famous athlete has their own “foundation” or “charity.”
Usually these “foundations” exist simply to give the famous folks an outlet to employ their mamas, sisters, cousins and various members of the “posse” and get a bogus tax deductions.
“So many black kids die from not knowing how to swim?????”
WRONG! … most children die from drowning because parents aren’t supervising them (read the story about the 5-year-old at Sun Valley Beach over the weekend).
Why a charity just to get BLACK kids involved in non-traditional minority sports? Where are the charities for EDUCATIONAL help for kids of ALL races????
For every dollar I have available for charity, I have 3,000 “pseudo-charities” willing to take it!
Sheesh … sick of this!
By someone
August 11, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
Who cares if he’s gay or not?
I think its wonderful that Rashan Ali has started this nonprofit organization to encourage young girls to seek scholarships in sports!
I am discouraged to see so many comments/jokes regarding “blacks”. I suppose the comments section is the best place to find the most ignorance. And with that realization - I’m OUT! :)
By someones
August 12, 2008 7:34 AM | Link to this
DJ Trauma needs to inflict some trauma on whoever came up with that hairstyle..
By Who cares?
August 12, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this
I think it is illegal to exclude everyone. Why only a scholarship for the brothas ans sista’s? If they had a white’s only there would be protests. Separate but equal is coming back. this is racist and wrong. I want to file a federal complaint as this is racially motivated. And black people don’t swim!
By Choo
August 13, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
This is so sad! What is wrong with encouraging black people to swim and try and get scholarships for it. Is it limited to whites only ? NOT !!!! Everytime we get involved in something, black & white get upset. This is a great thing that Rashan and the rest are doing. So all of you with these negative comments - SHUT UP !! Look at it as a positive it could help one person. Also if DJ is gay what the heck has that got to do with this program and his hair looks fine. Get a life !!!! Annoyed !
By Lett
August 13, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
I’m like “Get Real” - who was on the Olympic Team that just won a gold? I’m black and I swim (learn at age 11 years old - now over 50). What does his hair and being guy have to do with the price of “THESE” eggs? “Who Cares”, if you don’t care why file a complaint? “Sick and Tired” start your own Educational foundation and put whomever you want to in it!
By legal doc
August 13, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Lett, I find the foundation racially insensitive and non inclusionary. I find it unacceptable that if there was a fund for only whites, that Jackson would lead marches and boycotts, yet a blacks only is ok. How separate but equal is that?
By Lett
August 13, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
Legal doc, the color of their skin does not matter to me. The key words used “a fairly uncommon sport for African American women” which she is. To each their own! This is what Ali chose to do and how she chose to set her foundation up. Did she say that her funds come from blacks only? May you know and read something I didn’t.
By sick of black people
August 16, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
dj trauma is on the down low, no doubt. no st8 man would EVER be seen in public with dat hairdo.
By ShaNeyNey
August 19, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
It can only be good when the churn learn to swim. Word.
By Tray Jones
August 19, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
If I hear one more bra “axe” me a question, I am going to screwdriver them an answer!
By Jackie
August 19, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this
Oh and DJ your hair is not Shear Genius.