Life Lessons from the Ocean's Water: Davon Green Franklin Foundation

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

For more information contact: Davon Green Franklin Foundation

P.O. Box 47223

Baltimore, Maryland 21244

Phone: 443.847.8061

Email: dgffoundation@gmail.com

The Davon Green Franklin Foundation: Legacy Gala

The DGF Legacy Gala will be held at the Grey Rock Mansion in Pikesville, Maryland on July 14, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.-11 p.m. The cost for this event is $100.00 and a portion of the ticket is tax-deductible. Sponsorships are available.

The annual DGF Legacy Celebration honors outstanding high school students, individuals for their work with the foundation, and community leaders. Funds raised for this year’s gala will support the continued work of the DGF Foundation. The DGF Foundation will use funds raised from this year’s gala to award scholarships to high school graduates entering college and undergraduate college students.

Mission: The Davon Green Franklin Foundation’s 501 (c) (3) driving goal is to help ensure that United States citizens understand the hidden dangers associated with international travel. The mission of the foundation is to promote safety and wellness to individuals that desire to travel abroad.

Vision: The Davon Green Franklin Foundation’s vision is to create travel safety awareness in the community and throughout the United States, by providing individuals with information that will help to prevent international deaths, injuries, and incidents of violence.

What we do:

The Davon Green Franklin Foundation recognizes students from Western School of Technology and Environmental Science for academic excellence. The student is presented the Davon Green Franklin Legacy Award & Scholarship. The Davon Green Franklin Foundation partners with Howard University each year to promote public awareness through “Surviving Spring Break – 101”, a program designed to reduce the incidents of Spring Break tragedies. The parents of Davon Green Franklin have shared their son’s story, “Turning Tragedy into Triumph” while navigating through the cycle of grief. This workshop offers ways to help families remember their loved one, promote healing, and to never forget that their loved one’s life still has value.

To find out more information about the Davon Green Franklin Foundation, visit www.dgffoundation.org.

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Monday, August 14, 2017

Join us for the 8th

Davon Green Franklin

Legacy Bowling Night

You are invited to join us for an evening of food, fun, and bowling for only $25! We are also looking for individuals to sponsor each lane for a cost of $250 per lane. Since November 2010, family, friends, and community partners have helped the Davon Green Franklin Foundation to raise funds for the DGF Legacy Award & Scholarship and the Surviving Spring Break 101 program. The DGF Foundation is committed to helping individuals to understand the hidden dangers and vulnerabilities associated with international travel.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/davon-green-franklin-2017-legacy-bowling-night-tickets-36735212008?aff=erelexpmlt

Mission: The Davon Green Franklin Foundation’s driving goal is to help ensure that United States citizens understand the hidden dangers associated with international travel. The mission of the foundation is to promote safety and wellness to individuals that desire to travel abroad.

What we do:

The Davon Green Franklin Foundation partners with Howard University each year to promote public awareness through “Surviving Spring Break – 101”, a program designed to reduce the incidents of Spring Break tragedies. This program has actively engaged students at Howard University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, Tulane University, Dillard University Towson University, Stevenson University, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Maryland Institutes of College of Art and the Community College of Baltimore County-Catonsville. Students are also given the opportunity to take the Surviving Spring Break pledge. “I pledge to refuse, reduce, and remove all risks associated with Spring Break.”

The parents of Davon Green Franklin have shared their son’s story, “Turning Tragedy into Triumph” while navigating through the cycle of grief. This workshop offers ways to help families remember their loved one, promote healing, and to never forget that their loved one’s life still has value.

The Davon Green Franklin Foundation is working with community leaders, community organizers, churches, and civic organizations to help warn individuals about the key problems areas of international travel.

For more information or to donate visit: www.dgffoundation.org

Thursday, July 27, 2017

All Inclusive may Include Death!

A Wisconsin family has reached out to the U. S. State Department to get answers about the death of their daughter Abbey Conner. The family had checked into The Iberostar Paraiso in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The family was supposed to have met for dinner, but concerns began to grow when Abbey and her brother Austin did not arrive to meet their mother and step-father. A healthy Abbey was found unconscious in waist-deep water with a broken collar bone. Austin was found unconscious in the pool with a golf-ball size injury to his head. One of Austin's last memories was that he and his sister were at the bar having drinks. The family had major concerns of foul play after learning that both children were taken to a Mexican hospital some 14 miles away. The family of Abbey would later make the decision to donate her organs.

Many media outlets have reported that an alarming percentage of alcohol in Mexico is "bad" and has been mixed with grain alcohol or methanol, which is a cheaper alternative to producing ethanol. In 2015, a report from Mexico’s Tax Administration Service found that 43 percent of the alcohol consumed in the nation is illegal and produced under unregulated circumstances resulting in potentially dangerous concoctions. In 2017, the country's Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risk reported that the national health authority in Mexico has seized more than 1.4 million gallons of adulterated (poor-quality) alcohol. Since 2010, this alcohol was not only from small local establishments, but from hotels and other entertainment areas.

While many tourists are often aware of the dangers of drinking water in Mexico, there is a new danger that tourists need to look out for and avoid. U.S. travelers should avoid drinking any alcoholic beverages while traveling to Mexico or any foreign destination

If you are interested in learning more about the Davon Green Franklin Foundation or to donate visit: www.dgffoundation.org

Facebook: Davon Green Franklin Foundation

Twitter: dgffoundation

Upcoming Events:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/davon-green-franklin-foundation-2018-legacy-gala-tickets-41892279937?aff=eac2

Date and Time

Sat, July 14, 2018

7:00 PM – 11:00 PM EDT

Location

Grey Rock Mansion

400 Grey Rock Road

Pikesville, MD 21208

View Map

Refund Policy

No Refunds

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/davon-green-franklin-foundation-2018-legacy-gala-tickets-41892279937?aff=eac2

Sunday, June 18, 2017

It's my Passport and I am Keeping it Safe!

How to protect your passport while travelling internationally

If you are travelling outside the United States, it is highly recommended that you have a passport. The purpose of a passport is to confirm that you are a United States citizen. Since 2011, U.S. State Department has had an increase in passport applications. In 2016, some 18,676,547 passports were issued to U.S. citizens. While travelling abroad you should always take special care in safely securing your passport at all times!

Here are F-I-V-E helpful tips to help you secure or replace your passport while traveling internationally.

1. Purchase a traveler's body safe to keep your travel documents safe. This handy contraption is an inconspicuous way to keep your cash and credit cards out of the hands of pick-pockets. Invest in a protective cover for your passport. Do not let your passport get wet or damaged.

2. Make multiple copies of your passport. Place one in your carry on luggage and one in your wallet or purse. Always leave a copy of your passport with a trusted friend or relative.

3. Always sleep with your passport on you. While at the hotel do not leave your passport laying around in your room. Just to be on the safe-side, never allow your passport to leave your sight. Remember, the hotel staff may enter your room while you are away, so always keep your passport on you.

4. If you lose your passport contact the U.S. Embassy and Consular immediately. In most cases, you will need a police report and any costs associated with replacing your passport.

5. Once you return to the United States make sure to keep a watchful eye on your credit card accounts and credit reports. Remember, criminals only need a small piece of your identification in order to assume your American identity.

If you are interested in learning more about the Davon Green Franklin Foundation or to donate visit: www.dgffoundation.org

Facebook: Davon Green Franklin Foundation

Twitter: dgffoundation

You are invited to join us for an evening of food, fun, and bowling for only $25! All lanes will open at 7:00 p.m. We are also looking for individuals to sponsor each lane for a cost of $250 per lane. Since November 2010, family, friends, and community partners have helped the Davon Green Franklin Foundation to raise funds for the DGF Legacy Award & Scholarship and the Surviving Spring Break 101 program. The DGF Foundation is committed to helping individuals to understand the hidden dangers and vulnerabilities associated with international travel.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/davon-green-franklin-2017-legacy-bowling-night-tickets-36735212008?aff=erelexpmlt

Donations can be mailed to:

Davon Green Franklin Foundation (501c3)

P.O. Box 47223

Baltimore, Md. 21244

Travelers Beware and Know Your Legal Rights!

How many of us remember Michael Fay? While traveling in Singapore, Fay was charge with vandalism. In 1994, he was sentenced to flogging, which meant that he would be repeatedly hit on the buttocks with a rattan cane. At the time, President Bill Clinton viewed the punishment too extreme and inhumane. Fay's sentence was later reduce to four strikes, four months in jail, and a $3500 fine in Singapore dollars ($2214 in U.S. currency).

In March 2016, Otto Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years hard labor in North Korea. Warmbier's crime was attempting to steal a propaganda poster. His parents have maintained that their son was tortured, terrorized, and brutalized. In fact, they were unaware that Warmbier was in a coma for over a year. North Korea stated that the cause of coma was due to a sleeping pill or botulism. Doctors in the United States would later reveal that Warmbier was in a vegetative state. It was announced that Warmbier died on today.

It is crucial for Americans to learn and understand the laws of the country that they plan to visit. Our United States Bill of Rights are not UNIVERSAL! What does that mean? The laws in the United States are for Americans residing in the U.S. In some countries, you can be searched at will and even held prisoner because a police officer may feel that you are behaving suspiciously. It behooves any traveler to research the laws and customs of the country that they plan to visit before he or she leaves the United States.

Here are a few tips if you are arrested:

1. Politely ask the authorities to contact the U.S. Embassy and Consular.

2. Remain calm and friendly.

3. If you are allowed to use the phone, you may want to call the U.S. Embassy and Consular.

4. Contact family and friends and let them know where you are and give them an exact location of where you are being held.

5. The assistance that you receive from the U.S. Embassy and Consular is very limited. They can not:

Get you out of jail
Pay legal fees or act as an attorney on your behalf
Be responsible for legal, medical, or other fees incurred
State that you are guilty or innocent of any criminal charges

Your trip abroad can become dangerous or even deadly. American should always respect the laws and customs of the country that they decide to visit. Stay vigilant, stay informed, and stay safe! For more information visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/emergencies/arrest.html

If you are interested in learning more about the Davon Green Franklin Foundation or to donate visit: www.dgffoundation.org

Facebook: Davon Green Franklin Foundation

Twitter: dgffoundation

Donations can be mailed to:

DGF Foundation (501c3)

P.O. Box 47223

Baltimore, Maryland 21244

Friday, June 2, 2017

A Promise that Begins with a Program

The Davon Green Franklin Foundation's

Surviving Spring Break(101) Program

It would take about two weeks after Davon's passing for the parents of Davon Green Franklin to spring into action. Davon's parents promised their son that they would continue to share his story in an effort to the save lives of other travelers who may put themselves at risk while traveling internationally. The shock of losing Davon to a preventable spring break tragedy was the driving force to launch the Surviving Spring Break 101 program (SSB101). The (SSB101) program was designed to help individuals understand the hidden dangers of international travel. Over the last seven years, thousands of students have taken the Surviving Spring Break 101 safety pledge.

For the Franklin's, spring break is always just around the corner, so they are always looking for ways to share Davon's message. Many college students consider the Surviving Spring Break 101 program a tradition on their campuses. After hearing and participating in the (SSB101) program, some students have declared that they come back each year for a refresher. Some individual's that attend (SSB101) for the first time are usually reflecting on some of their past travel mistakes; while others gently wipe tears from their faces.

The Davon Green Franklin Foundation partners with Howard University each year to promote spring break travel safety awareness through “Surviving Spring Break – 101”, a program designed to reduce the incidence of Spring Break tragedies. This program has actively engaged students at Howard University, Morgan State University, Copping State College, Tulane University, Dillard University, Towson University, Stevenson University, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Maryland Institutes of College of Art, and the Community College of Baltimore County-Catonsville. Students are given the opportunity to take the Surviving Spring Break pledge: “I pledge to refuse, reduce, and remove all risks associated with Spring Break."

The Davon Green Franklin Foundation needs your help in assuring that Surviving Spring Break 101 is able to continue saving lives. The Davon Green Franklin Foundation believes: Spring Break is no longer a respite from the rigors of academics; it is potentially dangerous and even deadly. Davon's parents never expected that he would not return from his spring break travel alive, but one thing is for certain, his story has helped to save countless lives and his legacy lives on.

Don't Just Live A Life; Leave A Legacy.

~Davon Green Franklin

If you are interested in learning more about the Davon Green Franklin Foundation or to donate visit: www.dgffoundation.org

Facebook: Davon Green Franklin Foundation

Twitter: dgffoundation

Donations can be mailed to:

DGF Foundation (501c3)

P.O. Box 47223

Baltimore, Maryland 21244

Friday, May 26, 2017

The Importance of the Davon Green Franklin Legacy Scholarship Fundraiser

The

Davon Green Franklin Foundation

Legacy Scholarship

Don't Just Live A Life; Leave A Legacy.

~Davon Green Franklin

It was in the tenth grade, while attending Western School of Technology and Environmental Science, Baltimore, County - a profound thought entered Davon's mind to start a foundation. Davon rushed home to share his brilliant idea with his parents. He stated that when he finished college; he would start the Davon Green Franklin Foundation in order to help more students attend college. It was at the family's sacred desk that he coined the phrase: "Don't Just Live a Life; Leave a Legacy." Even as a high school student, Davon understood the importance of earning a college degree was not only important for himself, but for others as well.

Davon was a graduate of Western School of Technology and Environmental Science and class president for the class of 2005. Davon was a participant in the Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville-Upward Bound Program from 2001-2005. At the time of his passing, he was a candidate for a Bachelor of Science Degree from Howard University in May 2010. While attending Howard University in Washington, D.C., Davon became a Howard University Campus Pal and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. Davon was a beloved student at Howard University and at Western School of Environmental Science in Catonsville, Maryland.

The Davon Green Franklin Foundation awarded its first scholarship within months of Davon's passing. Many of Davon's friends, family members, and individuals from the community have helped to champion this great cause. The Davon Green Franklin Foundation is committed honoring Davon's legacy by awarding scholarships in Davon's memory. Let's face it, college costs a lot more than what it did just seven years ago and by supporting the Davon Green Franklin Legacy Scholarship, you are helping a student with tuition, housing, books, supplies, and even helping to subsidize their meals. The Davon Green Franklin Legacy Scholarship is crucial for our recipients and it helps to secure a promising future.

If you are interested in learning more about the Davon Green Franklin Foundation or to donate visit: www.dgffoundation.org

Facebook: Davon Green Franklin Foundation

Twitter: dgffoundation

Join us for the Davon Green Franklin Foundation's Legacy Gala on Saturday, July 14, 2018 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Grey Rock Mansion, 400 Grey Rock Road, Pikesville, Maryland.

Ticket cost: $100 and includes gourmet dining, live entertainment, D.J., auctions, vendors, and much more. Please note: We are a 501 (c) (3) and a portion of your ticket will be tax-deductible. Please help us to continue to save lives and award more scholarships in Davon's memory.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/davon-green-franklin-foundation-2018-legacy-gala-tickets-418922https://www.eventbrite.com/e/davon-green-franklin-foundation-2018-legacy-gala-tickets-41892279937?aff=eac279937?aff=eac2