(BLACK PR WIRE)( May 7, 2009) (Miami, FL.)- NFL player Duane Starks has planned an extravagant weekend to celebrate his retirement from the National Football League. The Miami born athlete has commissioned friends actors Jamie Foxx, Morris Chestnut, Allen Payne, Meagan Good, NFL colleagues Warren Sapp, Dante Culpepper, Edgerrin James; Agent Drew Rosenhaus and a host of other athletes, celebrities and entertainers to help him go out in high-class Miami style. With an elite guest list, the Duane Starks NFL Retirement & Charitable Weekend, Friday, May 15th – 17th, has already created a massive buzz.

The star-studded weekend will include a Welcome Party, Celebrity Roast, and Beach Bash. All of the proceeds raised during the weekend will help to fund the Starks Charitable Foundation, a non-profit organization designed to ignite hope and opportunity to economically challenged youth and families; and research for Hyperglycemia.

WHO:
DUANE STARKS
NFL RETIREMENT & CHARITABLE WEEKEND

WHAT TO EXPECT:


Friday, May 15th
Welcome Party
The Bentley Hotel
101 Ocean Drive Miami Beach
9:00pm-2:00am
Hosted by TBA
Music by DJ Free Style Steve

Saturday, May 16th
Youth Fun Day
Gibson Park, 401 NW 12th Ave Miami, Fl
10:00am-3:00pm
*A free event for the children of Overtown.
Food, fun, games, celebrity appearances
and entertainment.

Saturday, May 16th
Retirement Reception & Celebrity Roast
Karu & Y, 71 NW 14th Street Miami, Fl
5:00pm-10:00pm
Hosted by Actor/Comedian Katt Williams
*Invitation only event
*After party immediately following
(Open to public)
Sunday, May 17th
Beach, Ballers & Bikini Bash
Presented by G3 Jewelry
Royal Palm Hotel, 1545 Collins Avenue
1:00pm-6:00pm
* Pool party, jet skis and music by DJ Free
Style Steve (Timbaland’s Official DJ)


INTERVIEW PLEASE REPLY FOR MEDIA CREDENTIALS
OPPS: AND TO SCHEDULE A ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW WITH DUANE STARKS AND CELEBRITY GUESTS.
ABOUT DUANE STARKS
Duane L. Starks, a native Floridian, started his football career with a local Miami optimist football team at the early age of 8.
Throughout his formative years he continued to excel at the game of football. By the time he entered high school at Miami Beach Senior High, he held the quarterback position. To become a professional and recognizing the importance of education, Duane knew that college would be the next level. Little did he know the challenge he would be facing consisted of financial and educational difficulties. As a result, Duane was forced to attend an out-of-state junior college (Holmes Community College of Mississippi), later to return to Miami, only to find that some of the courses taken were not accredited for the University of his choice (University of Miami).
Duane's only recourse now, was to attend the local Miami-Dade Community College, where he successfully earned the proper credits to attend the University of Miami; ultimately becoming an outstanding defensive football player which has led to his professional career as NFL's Super Bowl XXXV Cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens.
Later Duane signed with the Arizona Cardinals which in 2005 landed him a starting position with the New England Patriots, Super Bowl XXXIX Champions. Continuing in his career, March 2006, Duane signed with the Oakland Raiders landing him a starting position as cornerback there as well.
Personal Testimony
After experiencing his young daughter being airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), with the infant onset of hyper insulin, Duane Starks found yet another passion in the support of CHOP, who treated and nurtured his infant daughter to health.

Since its start in 1885, as the nation’s first hospital devoted exclusively to caring for children, CHOP has been the birthplace for many dramatic first in pediatric medicine. The hospital has fostered medical discoveries and innovations that have improved pediatric health care and save countless lives. Today, CHOP is one of the leading pediatric hospitals and research facilities in the world. In addition to the Starks Charitable Foundation, a portion of the funds raised during the MIH Weekend will be donated to continue research of Hyperglycemia.