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Friday, August 24, 2018

Founder of Powerful Black Nonprofit For At-Risk Youth Invited to the 2018 Tom Joyner Family Reunion

Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson, founder of Be Someone, will be interviewed on The Tom Joyner Morning Show at 7:50am EST on Tuesday, August 28th, and has been invited to make an appearance at the annual Tom Joyner Family Reunion in Orlando, Florida.

Hudson will also be interviewed by several local television networks including Fox News 35 Good Day Orlando on Thursday, August 30th, and CBS News 6 on Friday, August 31st.

Orrin Hudson featured on the Tom Joyner Morning Show

Orrin C. Hudson at the Tom Joyner Morning Show studio

Nationwide — When Black America’s favorite radio personality Tom Joyner opens his All State Family Reunion Labor Day weekend event in Kissimmee, FL from August 30 to September 3, 2018, he will be joined by a long list of celebrities and entertainers. One guest will have a special message to convey to the open-to-the-public-audience visiting the event. Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson, founder and CEO of Be Someone Inc., will be using his life-sized chessboard to teach young people and their family members that success is accomplished “one move at a time.”

“I can’t be more excited and pleased to be asked by Tom Joyner and his organization to participate in this uniquely exciting event,” explains Hudson. “This will allow me to reach a new audience with my messages of ‘thinking ahead,’ ‘every move whether it be on the chess board or in life, has a consequence,’ ‘brains before bullets,’ and ‘heads up, pants up, grades up, never give up.’”

Hudson was previously interviewed by Joyner in October 2016 on his syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show. That on-air discussion is alive and well in the two-time world chess champion’s memory.

There to discuss how he served as a chess consultant for the Disney movie, Queen of Katwe, Hudson recalls, “Appearing on Joyner’s program was one of the most rewarding interviews in my career. Tom Joyner is an all-time legend in radio broadcasting, so to be able to talk to him about my background, Be Someone, and my organization’s goal was the best day of my life.” Hudson stresses, “To be a part of his exciting Family Reunion is a dream come true.”

The event, billed as “the largest party for African American families,” will feature four days — August 31 to September 3 — of star-studded entertainment, celebrity appearances, and an array of presenters offering products and programs of special interest to this community. It will be held at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, near Orlando, and is free. Details are available at the Family Reunion web site.

The Expo will be divided into nine separate zones including College and Community; Health and Beauty; Retail; Arts and Culture; Entertainment; and Kids and Teens. Hudson and his chessboard will be found in the Kids and Teen zone. “I will be engaging all-comers who wish to challenge me to a life-sized game,” says the chess master. “While I’m competing, I’m teaching.”

Hudson has spent the last 17 years never missing an opportunity to teach how young people – many of them at risk youngsters – can control their own destinies by thinking ahead, understanding the consequences for actions and being givers, not takers in life. Hudson explains he learned the hard way as a high school student growing up in inner city Birmingham.

“I was lost but saved by a teacher who taught me how to play chess. I truly believe this teacher and this game not only changed but saved my life,” he stresses. “Now, it’s my turn to teach and save others.”

Since Hudson opened Be Someone’s doors in 2001 he has taught more than 60,000 students, not only in his hometown of Stone Mountain but across the nation, that they own the ability to be productive, successful members of society by developing their “God-given” unique talents. “I focus my instruction on a simple concept: Follow champions, become a champion. Follow chumps, become a…,” Hudson says without finishing his sentence.

Speaking about the upcoming All State Tom Joyner Family Reunion, Hudson says enthusiastically, “What an incredible opportunity to reach and touch more young people with my messages of personal responsibility, self-determination and accomplishment. I’m so excited, it’s hard to sleep at night!”

More information about Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson and his Be Someone organization can be found at www.BeSomeone.org.

 

PRESS CONTACT:
Be Someone
info@besomeone.org
770-465-6445