Eastern Michigan Athletics
Two-Sport Star Tyler Jones in Fashion Show Fundraiser
5/11/2009 4:43:23 PM | General
Program to help raise money for Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan Council
YPSILANTI, Mich. — Eastern Michigan University two-sport standout Tyler Jones (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville) will be participating in the Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan Council annual Fashionistas' 2009 Dinner and Fashion Show fundraiser. The annual fundraiser is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. May 14 at Kensington Court Hotel in Ann Arbor.
Alicia Smith, a morning news anchor for WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) will serve as the celebrity emcee for Fashionist 2009 event.
"Fashionistas helps girls in our communities become leaders and good citzens," said Kathleen Gripman, who along with Natalie Jeffries are the co-chairs of the event. "It especially assists those girls who benefit from Girl Scouting the most.
"All of the evening's proceeds will go to help girls whose family situations make it difficult for them to become Girl Scouts," Jeffries added, "whether by homelessness, low income, or involvement in the juvenile justice system."
Organizers hope to raise $25,000 to bring the benefits of Girl Scouting to girls in under-served communities throughout the 34 counties in Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan. The council's goal for 200-10 is to serve 3,200 girls in outreach troops. Currently, the council serves 1,500 such girls in non-traditional settings.
More then 40 gift-filled baskets and packages will be raffled off during the fashion show. EMU athletics will be providing tickets for the 2009 football home opener, Sept. 5, against Army as well as a certificate to participate in the Football 101 Skills Clinic for Women, set for July 25 in Rynearson Stadium.
A portion of the procees will benefit the EMU volleybal team's annual Dig Pink breast cancer awareness fundraiser as well as a complimentary certificate to attend any EMU women's basketball game in 2009-10.
Jones, a 6-foot-2 wide receiver in football and guard in basketball, just completed an outstanding athletic career for the Eagles. He not only earned four letters as a football player, but he also joined the men's basketball team as a junior and senior after football season was completed, and became an integral part of that program as well, earning two varsity letters.
Joining Jones as models for the event are professional football player T.J. Duckett, Alfred Gardner-the manager of Bachrach's Clothing Store in Briarwood Mall, Daphne Adams-General Motors, Gretchen Drisell-Mayor of Saline, Kristen Holt-Senior Vice President for Food Safety for NSF International, and Anitra Barry-a Girl Scout leader at the Huron Valley Boys and Girls Club .
In the 2008 football season, Jones finished second on the team in receptions with 75 for 760 yards and six touchdowns. He tied a national Football Bowl Subdivision record for single-game receptions with 23 for 170 yards in a 56-52 win over Central Michigan University in the season finale, Nov. 28, in Rynearson Stadium. Jones was singled out by the coaching staff as the recipient of the team's Most Valuable Player Award for 2008.
On the basketball court, Jones played in 25 games, earning 11 starts, while averaging 5.0 points and 2.4 rebounds. He was named the winner of the Jack Brusewitz Hustle and Spirit Award by the coaching staff for the 2008-09 season.
