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2nd Annual Usos Foundation Banquet - Continued Success

August 9, 2010

Gataivasa- Afa "The Wild Samoan" and his wife Lynn Anoa'i once again welcomed family, friends, and supporters to the Second Annual Usos Foundation Fundraising Banquet in Celebration, Florida on Friday, August 6. The Masquerade ball-themed banquet was a fun night for all.

The guests mingled and shared stories and enjoyed each others' creative masks. Our celebrity guests included Ata Maivia-Johnson, Lloyd "LA Smooth" Anoa'i, Afa Jr a.k.a. Manu, Afa "the Wild Samoan" Anoa`i, Haku, Ricky Santana, and Mayor David Yeager.

Afa's daughter Vale Anoa`i introduced Reverend Puni to the podium to say a prayer before dinner. This year's delicious food included salad, chicken Marcel over pasta, mixed veg, delicious seasoned rolls, and a slice of cheesecake for dessert.

The highlight of the evening was the video footage which included a piece from the Travel Channel about the foundation. Also, a display of pictures that was created by Vale Anoa`i to the theme song Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson. This video shared pictures of the past several years' fundraising events.

Following in last year's tradition, the speeches were very heartfelt and emotional (everyone laughed, cheered and cried at some point in the evening). Usos Foundation president Lynn Anoai explained that the choice to host a masquade theme ball was for two reasons, the first because Aunty Lia Maivia loved to dance, and second because while under a mask kings and commonors are alike and in Usos Foundation everyone is equal!

Executive director of the foundation Andy Salgado's speech compared Usos and the people in whose names the scholarships were created as members of The Wizard of Oz cast. His speech left the message of heart, courage, brains, and more in everyone's mind

Usos founder Afa Anoa`i touched on the recent Tsunami fundraiser that Usos hosted and how so many supporters came out to help. He spoke about what the kids in the Usos program mean to him and he completed his speech with a video from his nephew Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who congratulated Afa and Lynn on their foundation work and spoke to the guests in attendance.

Aaron Landis was the reciepent of the second scholarship in the memory of Adam Brandon Carreras. Aaron's speech was very touching and full of emotion.

Christopher Russo followed with receiving the second Lia Maivia scholarship and Rex Tiumalu receivied the first Eki "Umaga" Fatu scholarship.

The silent auction was beautifully displayed, there were nearly 30 wonderful items up for bid, including legend wrestling memorabilia.

Smooth Entertainment's Mike Madawi got everyone up on the dance floor as

our guests danced under the stars. Once again the highlight of the night was the dynamic and exciting Polynesian portion of the Show! Everyone cheered for Rex Tiumalu, the world champion fire knife dancer who you've seen perform at last year's banquet.

The party once again continued after the banquet as family and friends gathered at the Mona Lisa Suites.

Usos Foundation would like to again thank all of you who attended the banquet and for the love, support and donations to our scholarship programs.