ENGLEWOOD — Tamar Manasseh, founder of Mothers Against Senseless Killings, or the “Army of Moms," will be honored for her leadership work in the community by a girls empowerment group Thursday.
"I'm honored," Manasseh said.
Girls in the Game, a Chicago-based nonprofit that offers year-round programs to encourage physical and emotional health, is honoring Manasseh at its 22nd Anniversary Gala, “Field of Dreams,” from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, 505 N. Michigan Ave. Guests will be able to enjoy cocktails, participate in a silent auction and watch the awards be presented.
There are different levels of sponsorships available, which can be viewed at www.girlsinthegame.org.
Girls in the Game offers multi-sport and wellness programs for girls and teens 7-17 and has reached more than 40,000 girls over the last 22 years.
Manasseh will be joined by other honorees who include Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer (10th); Jen Welter, the first female NFL coach; Tamika Catchings, four-time Olympic gold medalist and former WNBA star; and Jas Boothe, an Army veteran and the founder of Final Salute Inc., an organization that helps homeless women veterans and their children.
The honorees will join current Girls in the Game participants and share what they believe makes the “heart of a champion” and the effect that both sports and teamwork has had in their lives. They will also be honored for the impact they’ve made in the organization’s four key areas of its mission statement: sports, health, leadership and life.
Manasseh formed her group in 2015 after the murder of Lucille Barnes on the 7500 block of South Eggleston Avenue. She pulled together a group of mothers to help patrol the neighborhood. The volunteers sit outside in folding chairs usually beginning at 4 p.m. to keep a watchful eye on the block. Manasseh has said in previous interviews with DNAinfo that the simple method of just being present has been enough to deter violence from happening.
Over time, her group grew and included men and women. Over the past two years, whenever they’ve been called, they have expanded beyond the initial block where it all began. Last year the group even set up a chapter in New York City.
Wednesday’s ceremony is expected to attract more than 500 people and raise more than $300,000 to help support Girls in the Game’s year-round sports, health and leadership programming.
