Live! Casino and Hotel Maryland to donate $25,000 to the event
Annapolis, MD (February 14, 2024) - This morning, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and Kyle Williams of Chase Your Dreams Initiative announced Live! Casino and Hotel Maryland as the Title Sponsor for the County’s Youth Gun Violence Prevention Weekend - a local community-driven gun violence prevention effort aimed at engaging youth to reduce gun violence in Anne Arundel County.
In addition to a $25,000 contribution from Live! Casino and Hotel Maryland, the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, the City of Annapolis, Shore United Bank, DTLR, and Anne Arundel County Public Schools have also committed to sponsoring the event.
“I’ve seen firsthand the work Chase Your Dreams Initiative is doing, and they’re saving lives in Anne Arundel County,” said County Executive Steuart Pittman. “I’m thrilled to partner with Chase Your Dreams Initiative and Live! Casino and Hotel Maryland for the Youth Gun Violence Prevention Celebrity Weekend so we can continue to raise awareness on gun violence, create dialogue around conflict resolution, and reduce crime in our communities.”
The Youth Gun Violence Prevention Weekend will take place on March 9 and 10, 2024. It will feature music performances, vendors, and discussions led by celebrity guests like American football wide receiver Terrell Owens, Grammy-nominated country singer Jimmie Allen, Kevin Levrone, Gillie Wallo from “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast, and WWE wrestler AJ Francis, music performances and a basketball game.
A Teen Summit will take place on March 9 at the Severn Center. During the Summit, teens and parents will participate in panel discussions and workshops led by influencers, mental health professionals, and other experts. Area youth will learn about conflict resolution, de-escalation strategies, the impact of social media on teen mental health, and understanding the root causes of gun violence. Discussions about empowering youth voices, art against violence, and building safe communities will also take place.
“I want to commend County Executive Steuart Pittman for making this initiative a top priority as we work together to combat gun violence as a health crisis in our communities,” said Kyle Williams, CEO of the Chase Your Dreams Initiative. “I would like to thank our partners who stepped up to show our community that they stand with us and join us in making Anne Arundel County a better space for the development and growth of our future leaders. We must continue to listen with the intent to learn and create community initiatives that align with what our youth and young adults are saying that they need.”
On March 10, AACPS teens will participate in a celebrity basketball game against the Anne Arundel County Police and Fire Departments at Meade High School. The proceeds raised from the celebrity game will be donated to support local organizations and charities combating gun violence.
“It's so important that we, together with our Anne Arundel County partners, work to find solutions to keep our youth safe and improve the neighborhoods in which many of our guests and Team Members live and work,” shared Ryan Eller, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland. “The Anne Arundel County Youth Gun Violence Prevention weekend is taking matters into its own hands to actively raise awareness and we are proud to be the title sponsor of this potentially life-saving event.”
Teens and parents can visit www.chaseyourdreamsinc.org/GunViolencePrevention to learn more and to register for the event.