For Immediate Release
July 05, 2006
Contact Information
Edelman
Tai Foster
212-704-8210
tai.foster@edelman.com
KRAFT FOODS AND GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING DUO MARY MARY ANNOUNCE FINALISTS FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL KRAFT GOSPEL TALENT SEARCH
-- During MegaFest 2006, 10 Finalists Vie for $25K and an Opportunity to be the Opening Act for Mary Mary at a Major Concert --
July 5, 2006 - (Northfield, IL) Kraft Foods announces the selection of 10 finalists who will compete in the Third Annual Kraft Gospel Talent Search during MegaFest 2006 in Atlanta. In recent years, the Kraft Gospel Talent Search competition has emerged as a leading talent showcase of the nation’s greatest undiscovered voices of praise and worship. The grand prize winner will receive a $25,000 cash prize and an opportunity to be the opening act for Grammy Award-winning gospel recording artists Mary Mary at a major concert.
Mary Mary will judge and perform at the Kraft Gospel Talent Search finals, which will be held at the Sydney J. Marcus Auditorium of the Georgia World Conference Center on Friday, July 21st , and the grand prize winner will perform at the closing concert at the Georgia Dome on Saturday, July 22nd. In addition to Mary Mary, judges for this year’s final competition include Dr.Teresa Hairston, Founder and CEO of Gospel Today Magazine; Tara Griggs-Magee, Executive Vice President of Sony Music Entertainment; and Kim Drayton, Project Director for Metroplex Economic Development Corporation, the non-profit organization established by T.D. Jakes to bridge the economic gap that exists in urban America.
“For more than a century now, Kraft Foods has provided African-American families with quality food products and recipes for healthier living,” said Yolanda Angulo, Director of Multicultural Marketing, Kraft Foods. “The Kraft Gospel Talent Search builds upon our commitment to not only nourish the bodies, but also the minds and spirits, of the African-American community. We look forward to showcasing this year’s talent during MegaFest and are confident it will be an inspirational and memorable event.”
This year’s Kraft Gospel Talent Search finalists include: Tawanna Campbell of Little Rock, Arkansas; Charlotte Embry of Raytown, Missouri; Latrece Gooree of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Latisha Lynn Haynes of St. Louis, Missouri; Patricia Mathison of Louisville, Kentucky; Douglas McHenry of Cleveland Heights, Ohio; Marva Mortley of Brooklyn, New York; Sonya Newson of Arlington, Texas; Raychell Richard of Gretna, Louisiana; and Angela Wells of Dickinson, Texas.
“The Kraft Gospel Talent Search provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for aspiring gospel singers to showcase their talents amongst the biggest names in music,” said Mary Mary."We are honored and excited to join Kraft in this celebration of gospel music and helping these participants achieve their dreams.”
The grand prize winner will have the opportunity to share the MegaFest stage with Aretha Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Shirley Ceasar, Kelly Price, Fred Hammond and many other gospel greats. Fans can vote for their favorite finalist’s performance for the Kraft Gospel Talent Search by visiting Kraft’s website – www.kraftfoods.com/gospel - during the final voting period through July 6th, 2006.
Contestants entered the competition by mailing in a video performance, which was judged by an independent judging organization to determine the 10 finalists. For more information, please visit www.kraftfoods.com/gospel.
About Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods is the world’s second-largest food and beverage company. For more than 100 years, we’ve been dedicated to helping people around the world eat and live better. Hundreds of millions of times a day, in more than 155 countries, consumers reach for their favorite Kraft brands including Kraft cheeses and dinners, Jacobs, Gevalia and Maxwell House coffees, Oscar Mayer meats, DiGiorno pizzas, Oreo cookies, Ritz and Wheat Thins crackers and chips, Philadelphia cream cheese, Milka and Côte d’Or chocolates, Honey Bunches of Oats cereals, Good Seasons salad dressings and Tang and Capri Sun refreshment beverages.They’ve also started adding our Tassimo hot beverage system,South Beach Diet line and a growing range of better-for-you Sensible Solution products to their shopping baskets, continually expanding their list of Kraft favorites.
About MegaFest
MegaFest 2006, July 19 – 22, it’s more than you think! Bishop T.D. Jakes combines his popular ManPower and Woman, Thou Art Loosed with the Mega Youth Experience, MegaKidz, and star-studded entertainment at Atlanta’s top venues — the Georgia Dome, the Georgia World Congress Center, the Philips Arena and the International Plaza. MegaFest 2006 general admission conference seating in the Georgia Dome is free in the evening. Registration for preferred seating and workshops is available by calling 877-TDJ-MEGA or visiting www.mega-fest.com. Admission for special events may be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Mary Mary will judge and perform at the Kraft Gospel Talent Search finals, which will be held at the Sydney J. Marcus Auditorium of the Georgia World Conference Center on Friday, July 21st , and the grand prize winner will perform at the closing concert at the Georgia Dome on Saturday, July 22nd. In addition to Mary Mary, judges for this year’s final competition include Dr.Teresa Hairston, Founder and CEO of Gospel Today Magazine; Tara Griggs-Magee, Executive Vice President of Sony Music Entertainment; and Kim Drayton, Project Director for Metroplex Economic Development Corporation, the non-profit organization established by T.D. Jakes to bridge the economic gap that exists in urban America.
“For more than a century now, Kraft Foods has provided African-American families with quality food products and recipes for healthier living,” said Yolanda Angulo, Director of Multicultural Marketing, Kraft Foods. “The Kraft Gospel Talent Search builds upon our commitment to not only nourish the bodies, but also the minds and spirits, of the African-American community. We look forward to showcasing this year’s talent during MegaFest and are confident it will be an inspirational and memorable event.”
This year’s Kraft Gospel Talent Search finalists include: Tawanna Campbell of Little Rock, Arkansas; Charlotte Embry of Raytown, Missouri; Latrece Gooree of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Latisha Lynn Haynes of St. Louis, Missouri; Patricia Mathison of Louisville, Kentucky; Douglas McHenry of Cleveland Heights, Ohio; Marva Mortley of Brooklyn, New York; Sonya Newson of Arlington, Texas; Raychell Richard of Gretna, Louisiana; and Angela Wells of Dickinson, Texas.
“The Kraft Gospel Talent Search provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for aspiring gospel singers to showcase their talents amongst the biggest names in music,” said Mary Mary."We are honored and excited to join Kraft in this celebration of gospel music and helping these participants achieve their dreams.”
The grand prize winner will have the opportunity to share the MegaFest stage with Aretha Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Shirley Ceasar, Kelly Price, Fred Hammond and many other gospel greats. Fans can vote for their favorite finalist’s performance for the Kraft Gospel Talent Search by visiting Kraft’s website – www.kraftfoods.com/gospel - during the final voting period through July 6th, 2006.
Contestants entered the competition by mailing in a video performance, which was judged by an independent judging organization to determine the 10 finalists. For more information, please visit www.kraftfoods.com/gospel.
About Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods is the world’s second-largest food and beverage company. For more than 100 years, we’ve been dedicated to helping people around the world eat and live better. Hundreds of millions of times a day, in more than 155 countries, consumers reach for their favorite Kraft brands including Kraft cheeses and dinners, Jacobs, Gevalia and Maxwell House coffees, Oscar Mayer meats, DiGiorno pizzas, Oreo cookies, Ritz and Wheat Thins crackers and chips, Philadelphia cream cheese, Milka and Côte d’Or chocolates, Honey Bunches of Oats cereals, Good Seasons salad dressings and Tang and Capri Sun refreshment beverages.They’ve also started adding our Tassimo hot beverage system,South Beach Diet line and a growing range of better-for-you Sensible Solution products to their shopping baskets, continually expanding their list of Kraft favorites.
About MegaFest
MegaFest 2006, July 19 – 22, it’s more than you think! Bishop T.D. Jakes combines his popular ManPower and Woman, Thou Art Loosed with the Mega Youth Experience, MegaKidz, and star-studded entertainment at Atlanta’s top venues — the Georgia Dome, the Georgia World Congress Center, the Philips Arena and the International Plaza. MegaFest 2006 general admission conference seating in the Georgia Dome is free in the evening. Registration for preferred seating and workshops is available by calling 877-TDJ-MEGA or visiting www.mega-fest.com. Admission for special events may be purchased through Ticketmaster.
The content and opinions expressed within this press release are those of the author(s) and/or represented companies, and are not necessarily shared by Black PR Wire. The author(s) and/or represented companies are solely responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the content of this Press release. Black PR Wire reserves the right to reject a press release if, in the view of Black PR Wire, the content of the release is unsuitable for distribution.
