Columns

Weekend spotlights mentors' mission

By ERNEST HOOPER
Published July 13, 2007

They call themselves the Millennium Mentors, but they just as easily could be described as the Bold Mentors or the Ambitious Mentors.

Less than a year after officially forming, this nonprofit band of young professionals put together a celebrity-filled weekend of events that kicks off tonight with "Millennium Magic," a dinner and concert featuring national R&B recording star Carl Thomas at the Cuban Club.

The weekend continues Saturday with the "White Party" at the Italian Club. Scheduled to appear are a number of current and former sports pros including Memphis Grizzlies guard Chucky Atkins, New York Knicks guard Jared Jeffries, New England Patriots receiver Reche Caldwell, San Francisco 49ers receiver Darrell Jackson and Oakland Raiders receiver Mike Williams. The weekend wraps up Sunday with a celebrity softball game at Tampa Prep and a family picnic at Riverfront Park.

"Tampa really doesn't have a signature event in the summertime," explained president Anddrikk Frazier. "In February we have all the Gasparilla events, and in October we have Guavaween. We thought it would be nice to have something in the summertime.

"Our vision is to start something and have it grow."

See what I mean about bold and ambitious?

Yet the whole mission of the mentors has been bold from the beginning. The group, founded in August by Frazier, Grant and Jordan Vreeland, Joe Philon and Kevin Perry, looks to help high school and college students by creating "professionals for life." The mentoring efforts begin in the fall, and the guys have been staging various events to raise funds. This, however, is by far their largest undertaking.

"We just want to make sure we set goals that are attainable and realistic, and we honestly thought these goals were attainable and realistic," Frazier said. "It's not like we were trying to bring in a Jay-Z or a Mary J. Blige, but we feel like with Carl Thomas we have a talent that can draw a crowd."

Getting Thomas, best known for hits Emotional and I Wish, should help fundraising efforts and boost a secondary goal for the group. Frazier said the mentors also want to shine a positive spotlight on Ybor City.

"I've worked closely with a lot of the people in Ybor City in other capacities, and they've been dear friends to us," said Frazier, a TECO regional manager. "A lot of professionals don't mind going down there for their entertainment. Ybor is not just this megaparty that attracts only a young crowd. Sophisticated people also can have a good time there."

I'm just happy we have a place for the Millennium Mentors. Their goal of leading teens is admirable, but I think they also may end up setting an example for us older folks.

That's all I'm saying.

IF YOU GO

Millennium Magic Weekend

Tonight: Carl Thomas Concert & Dinner, Cuban Club. Tickets: $30 for concert; $100 preconcert dinner.

Saturday: The White Party, Italian Club, 10 p.m. Tickets: $35 (includes premium spirits).

Sunday: Celebrity Softball game, Tampa Prep, 11 a.m. (brunch), 2 p.m. (game).

For details, go to mmenoftampabay.com.

[Last modified July 13, 2007, 00:29:10]