The inaugural Celebrity Paintball Tournament was a fun and exciting day for all in attendance. From novice to experienced paintball players, everyone left with looking forward to participating again. We are back with the 2nd Annual Celebrity Paintball Tournament at Paintball Adventures Park in Taneytown, MD on Saturday May 31, 2008. Event host Ravens Tight End Daniel Wilcox will once again be joined by many of his Ravens teammates. In 2007, Ravens players in attendance included Ed Reed, Bart Scott, Mark Clayton, Corey Ivy and Quinn Sypniewski along with Redskins Leigh Torrance. We are excited to invite you to this day of fun with friends and professional athletes.

There is a crisis with our children, in our schools and communities; we are in a state of mediocrity and underachievement. Our children are failing to meet the education standards and we refuse to sit back and allow this to continue; we will fight for more. Empowerment M.I.N.D.S. provides students with additional educational and recreational resources to meet and exceed the standards set forth. We will promote a desire for achievement and excellence; raising the bar in our communities. We want to let our children know that there is hope and a better future for them.

Empowerment M.I.N.D.S.’ (Empowerment MINDS - “Motivating and Inspiring Neighborhoods Determined to Succeed”) mission is to open up the horizons of disadvantaged youth in the inner city. Daniel Wilcox founded Empowerment M.I.N.D.S. because he is passionate about providing young people with growth and learning opportunities that inspire them to set higher goals and expectations for themselves. The Foundation partners with schools and community based organizations to set up programs to increase youth access to reading materials, technology, and cultural opportunities. The Empowerment M.I.N.D.S. Foundation is also the co-sponsor of the Baltimore Bee, an annual citywide spelling bee for middle school students in Baltimore City, www.baltimorebee.com.

Proceeds from the event will be earmarked to provide students with educational resources. Students will also participate in activities they may not have the opportunity to otherwise such as visiting training camps, meeting professional athletes and learning about careers in sports and other fields.

Daniel Wilcox, #83, Tight End

The mission of the Empowerment M.I.N.D.S. Foundation (Motivating and Inspiring Neighborhoods Determined to Succeed) is to open up the horizons of disadvantaged youth in the inner city. The foundation partners with schools and community based organizations to set up programs to increase youth access to reading materials, technology, and cultural opportunities. Empowerment M.I.N.D.S is a component fund of the Baltimore Community Foundation.