Fox Sports Net to Air the Farmers Insurance Group(R) Angel City Classic

GFP Note: Be sure to tune in on September 27th to see Morehouse College!

PRNewswire/ -- Mark your calendars and get ready for a fantastic football game to be nationally televised on the Fox Sports Network September 27, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. from the Los Angeles Coliseum. Farmers Insurance Group of Companies is proud to bring to Southern California, the unique exposure to the excitement and thrill of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) by sponsoring a football game between two powerhouses, Prairie View A & M University from Prairie View, Texas and Morehouse College, from Atlanta, Georgia.

"We are honored to be the title sponsor of the Farmers Insurance Group Angel City Classic and welcome the Fox Sports Network to the Classic," noted Farmers Insurance Group CEO Paul Hopkins. "Everyone is invited to enjoy the game which includes the highly anticipated half-time battle-of-the-bands and after the game, a special tribute by Stax Records to world famous musician Isaac Hayes who died this week."

"This is absolutely fantastic," said Black Educational Events CEO John T. Fleming. "Fox Sports Net coverage will allow the entire country to see firsthand the game, high school Band Clinic, Greek tailgate party, and the enthusiasm that these Historically Black Colleges and Universities elicit. We're thrilled that Fox, along with Farmers Insurance Group, share our goal of promoting educational opportunities for minority students through athletic competition and unbelievable musical exhibition."

"Farmers will also announce three recipients of the Farmers Insurance Group UNCF National Scholarship Awards for college students who are in their 2nd, 3rd or 4th year attending an HBCU or United Negro College Fund (UNCF) school during the September 26-27 weekend at a special Gala," explained Faye W. McClure, Farmers Vice President of Strategic Marketing. "It is Farmers way of saying we care about young people who could use a helping hand as they pursue a college education. We couldn't be more proud about helping these students achieve their dreams in life."

Stax Records VP of Artist & Repertoire, Collin Stanback, expects to see an outpouring of artists joining what will inevitably be a huge celebration for Hayes. "This is of course tragic news about the loss of such a giant in the music business. Stax Records was in many ways the house that Isaac built as a prolific songwriter and performer and I can't think of a more fitting way to show our gratitude for everything he gave us than to fill the L.A. Coliseum with all of his fans," said Stanback.

For more information, or to participate as a sponsor or a vendor, call the Farmers Insurance Group Angel City Classic office at 323-293-0940 or visit http://www.angelcityclassic.com/

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Georgia Front Page
Fayette Front Page

History Workshop Brings Teachers from Across the U.S. to Georgia State

“The Problem of the Color Line: Atlanta Landmarks and Civil Rights History,” a workshop for elementary through high school teachers
July 13-19 and July 20-26

Atlanta’s historic sites may not be able to speak, but thanks to Georgia State history professor Timothy Crimmins, they have a voice.

Crimmins and fellow Georgia State faculty members Glenn Eskew and Akinyele Umoja are leading “The Problem of the Color Line: Atlanta Landmarks and Civil Rights History,” a workshop for elementary through high school teachers.

Participants in the workshop, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, will visit several sites in Atlanta key to the civil rights movement, attend lectures by faculty from Georgia State and other area schools, and meet with those who participated in the demonstrations that characterized the struggle for equality. At the Fox Theatre, one of the sites on the landmarks tour, participants will enter the venue twice — through the main entrance, once reserved for white patrons, and through the back entrance previously used for black theatergoers. As time moves away from the days of segregation, it’s a rare chance to better understand the social and political climate of the past.

“The understanding of how the color line functioned and what the civil rights movement was protesting against begins to fade,” Crimmins says. “Going through the Fox Theatre and seeing it from the standpoint of the white patrons who have come to the theatre and then to go and see what it was like for African-Americans who would have gone there is a great revelatory experience for many of the teachers.”

Throughout the course of the weeklong workshop, now in its second year, participating teachers put together lesson plans using Atlanta’s historic landmarks to teach their students about the civil rights movement. The teachers also share project ideas with each other long after the workshop is over through a special Web site.

“For me, the purpose of preservation is so the history that the sites represent can be told,” Crimmins says. “We have just an incredible number of sites here in Atlanta that tell a very important chapter of American history, and so having been involved in the preservation of these sites, now is a chance to use these sites to teach history.”

Atlanta Ballet Announces 2008-2009 Season

As one of the premier ballet companies in the nation, Atlanta Ballet is known as much for its innovative programming as for the artistry of its dancers. In keeping with this tradition of offering diverse, exhilarating performances, Atlanta Ballet is excited to announce the 2008-2009 season. Performances in this 79th season will be held in the beautiful new Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, except for Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker, which will remain a holiday tradition at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.

The curtain will open with Swan Lake in October. Swan Lake is the embodiment of classical perfection and a cornerstone of dance for more than a century. Don’t miss the ballet event that has wooed dance lovers for generations.

Magic can be hard to come by these days, but it is alive and well at the Fox Theater this December. Presenting more than 250 of Atlanta’s young dancers, Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker ushers in the season with an extravagant performance full of wonder and surprises.
In February, Atlanta Ballet audiences will experience the ultimate spine-tingling ballet experience - Bram Stoker’s Dracula. We enjoyed a huge success the last time we performed Dracula and we are looking forward to bringing this tale of seduction and surrender to the stage of the Cobb Energy Centre.

In March, audiences will lose themselves in a world of immortal wizards, lovely maidens, and heroic princes when Atlanta Ballet presents The Firebird. This spectacular evening of mixed repertoire will also feature a world premiere from Darrell Grand Moultrie, an award-winning choreographer who has created works for companies across the United States.

Our season will close in May with two thrilling performances – Don Quixote and Snow White. In Don Quixote, we’ll travel to sunny Spain for an evening filled with excitement, comedy, and true love, based on Cervantes’ classic novel. It’s a ballet treat that’s poignant, passionate, and sizzling with spice! And what would an Atlanta Ballet season be without something for our youngest patrons? A bewitching blend of music and dance, Snow White is brimming with characters we’ve known and loved all our lives. Enjoy this magical fantasy – a one-hour performance of this beloved classic, created just for the family.

2008-2009 season ticket packages start as low as $64.00 and are on sale now. The Premiere Series subscription package includes Swan Lake, Dracula, The Firebird, and Don Quixote. Season subscribers receive up to a 25% discount on regular tickets prices, flexible exchange, and lost ticket insurance. Also available is the Family Series which includes Swan Lake, Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker, and Snow White. The three-performance package starts as low as $44.00.
For ticket information, call the Atlanta Ballet Box Office at 404-892-3303, visit www.atlantaballet.com or buy in person at 1400 West Peachtree Street (enter at back of building on Spring Street) 10:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday.

Founded in 1929, Atlanta Ballet is the longest continuously-operating ballet company in the United States. Atlanta Ballet's eclectic repertoire spans ballet history, highlighted by beloved classics and inventive originals.

Among Atlanta Ballet’s proud and unique 78-year history are its three Artistic Directors, Miss Dorothy Alexander, whose vision brought dance to the South; Robert Barnett, who turned Atlanta Ballet into a professional company; and currently, John McFall. Under McFall’s leadership Atlanta Ballet continues its commitment to share and educate audiences on the empowering joy of dance.

Atlanta Ballet opened the Centre for Dance Education in 1996 and is dedicated to nurturing young dancers while providing an outlet for adults to express their creativity. With diverse class offerings and student population, the Centre serves over 150,000 people in metro Atlanta each year. Atlanta Ballet's roots remain firmly grounded in the Atlanta community and continue to play a vital role in the city's cultural growth and revitalization.