Musicians, Actors, and Athletes Come Out For High Hopes

Joshua with Jonathan Moffett (drummer)

This past weekend the non-profit organization, High Hopes Head Injury Program, held their First Annual Celebrity Bowling Tournament and I had the chance to go and help support the cause. My cousin Joshua attends High Hopes in order to rehabilitate his daily functions of walking and talking. In 2001 he survived a bad accident after making a, not-so-good, decision. But he had shown great improvement since my aunt and uncle found High Hopes, which led to their relocation from Florida out here to California.

What is High Hopes Head Injury Program? It was started in 1975 and was dedicated to the rehabilitation and retraining of individuals that have been set back by traumatic, unexpected head injuries. Through their physical programs like conditioning classes, physical therapy, weight training at a local gym, and a therapeutic swimming pool High Hopes works with these individuals to strengthen and retrain their motor skills. For their social and psychological challenges they have music classes, independent living classes, occupational and speech therapy, and more. At High Hopes, skills thought lost forever are regained. High Hopes' goal is to provide the best and lowest cost program to as many families, who need help, as they can. If you would like to know how to get involved with High Hopes Head Injury Program or donate to the non-profit organization click here.

"High Hopes is the first nonprofit brain injury program in the country which was formed to serve the needs of the brain injured and their families. In the United States there are over 1.5 million traumatic brain injuries annually.  Many who survive need "High Hopes." As a one of a kind program, High Hopes does not give up on anyone; but rather, finds solutions to help each brain injured person recover abilities once thought lost forever. High Hopes is a local charity, yet is recognized nationally for its success. The support of entertainers, sponsors, patrons, and yourself, make it possible to many to overcome great obstacles," says Director of High Hopes Brain Injury Program, Mark Desmond.

High Hopes reached out to multiple celebrities to help with the first annual bowling tournament fund raiser. It was great to see so many celebrities take the time out of their crazy schedules to come support the organization.  The event was held at Irvine Lanes on Sunday, November 21, 2010. With 40 Lanes there were 46 celebrities! Each celebrity was paired up with a lane and there were 3 games that were played during the event.  Between each game the celebrities rotated lanes. The cool part was, even though they were paired up with lanes/teams, they still made an effort to mingle with everyone. Among them were actors, athletes, and musicians. Here are some photos and the list of the celebrities that attended.

Chrystee Pharris, Josh, Wesley Jonathan

Dave Shelton doing his thing!

Jose Solano & I (DesireeRose)

Josh & Nicholas Purcell

Jonathan Moffett & I

Jose Solano Breaks 200!

Me with Matt Desmond

Josh & Matt Desmond LOL

Me with Dave Shelton

Josh with Dave Shelton

  

Me (DesireeRose) with Wesley Jonathan

Me meeting Mike

Thumbs Up Mike!

Jose Solano with Joshua

Milauna Jemai & Josh

Host Pat Boone making his rounds

1. Pat Boone - The Host (Film "Journey To The Center Of The Earth, Author "Twixt Twelve and Twenty," and musician)
2. Danny Arroyo (Actor for TV's The Resistance and General Hospital)
3. Bob Bergen (Voice Over King, Porky Pig for The WB, Movies - UP, Toy Story 2, Iron Giant, and more)
4. Patricia Bethune (Actress for TV's Mad Men, True Blood, Cold Case, Grey's Anatomy, Desperte Housewives, and more)
5. Melissa Biggs (Actress for TV's Baywatch and Films like Luckytown and Rush Hour 2)
6. Blanca Blanco (fastest rising young Hispanic actress)
7. Angelique Cooper ("Miss High Hopes" and discovered by David Mirisch, who also discovered Farrah Fawcett in 1978)
8. Amanda Gist (Actress, appeared on Desperate Housewives, How I Met Your Mother, and The Mentalist)
9. Lydia Cornell (Actress from TV's Too Close For Comfort and has her own show, "Kelsey Grammer Presents Lydia Cornell Live)
10. Patrika Darbo (Actress, recently filmed "In Search For Santa Paws" due out this Christmas, from TV Soap Opera "Days Of Our Lives"
11. Diego Diego (Latin artist, knows as "Mayan God of Pop")
12. Ann Meyers Drysdale (Athlete, the first 4 time Kodak All-American Basketball Player, played in both World Championship Games and the Olympic Games)
13. Kelly Edge (Nationally recognized designer who is featured weekly on HGTV's "Decorating Cents)
14. Kiko Ellsworth (Actor, Soap Star "General Hospital," Series "Port Charles" "Dexter" "Heroes" and more)
15. Daniel Goddard (Actor, currently stars on "The Young and The Restless")
16. Brenda Epperson (Actress/Singer, Soap Star "The Young and The Restless" and opened for Lionel Richie on his TIME tour)
17. Millena Gay (Actress, Soap Star "General Hospital" & "One Life To Live" and guest starred on Jamie Foxx's "Nighttales")
18. Felix Giles (Athlete for Offroad Desert Racing and starred on shows like "Quantum Leap" & "Chicago Hope"
19. Melissa "Mojo" Hunter (Reality Star)
20. Venice Glenn (Athlete, former Defense player of the San Diego Chargers)
21. Devon Graye (Actor, TV's "Dexter" and just finished shooting the movie "The Discoverers")
22. Stoney Jackson (Actor, "Angels In The Outfield" and TV Series "Room 227" and more)
23. Howard Hewett (R&B Gospel Singer)
24. Wesley Jonathan (Actor, TV's "What I Like About You" and NBC's "City Guys")
25. Milauna Jemai (Actress, ABC's "Lincoln Heights" and appeared on "Without A Trace" "Dexter" and more)
26. Jacee Jule (Actress, "3rd Rock From The Sun" "Days Of Our Lives" "Miss Behave")
27. Peter Kwong (Actor & Choreographer, "Boston Legal" "General Hospital" "JAG" and more)
28. Kate Linder (Actress, "The Young and The Restless")
29. Chase Masterson (Actress, "Star Trek Deep Space Nine")
30. Heather Michaels (TV Personality for MTV, Nickelodeon, Inside Edison and CBS)
31. Marisa Petroro (Model on "Deal or No Deal")
32. Jonathan Moffett (Musician, Drummer for Madonna and Michael Jackson on tour)
33. Anthony Montgomery (Actor, "Star Trek: Enterprise" "House M.D." and "NCIS" film "Why Am I Doing This?" and more)
34. Robert Patteri (Broadway Performer, "Phantom" "South Pacific" "Beauty and the Beast")
35. Chrystee Pharris (Actress, played Simone Russell on PASSIONS)
36. Dave Shelton (Writer and Cartoonist, Creator of Cartoon Groupies and Snuggy Bear Children's Products and a Writer for the hit sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond)
37. Nicholas Purcell (Actor, "The Troop" "As The World Turns", Films "Surrogates" "Dangerous Crosswinds")
38. Ann Sidney (Former Miss World)
39. Cephus Weatherspoon (Former NFL Player for New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos)
40. Bruce Sievers (Nominated by Congress to be the Poet Laureate of the United States)
41. Lance Zeno (Former NFL Player for St. Louis Rams, Green Bay Packers, and the Browns)
42. Jim Weatherly (Former NFL Player for the Raiders, Redskins and Falcons)
43. Jose Solano (Actor, TV Series "Baywatch" and Films "Resurrection Boulevard" "On Edge" "Rubberneckers" and more)
44. Sterling Weatherly (Athlete, Pro-Surfer)
45. Al Joyner (Olympic Gold Medal Winner for the triple jump)
46. Paul Gonzalez (Olympic Gold Medal Winner in light-flyweight boxing division)