An All-Star Team: The Miami Marlins & Julie Kicklighter Kick–Start Vision & Values
Well gang, the metaphorical half-way point of the baseball season is upon us. Terrific time to reflect upon all of the actions & emotions of our National Pastime. What a season! Derek Jeter’s farewell tour, two no-hitters by bitter rivals out West, and couple of Florida’s Miami Marlins making The All-Star Game. Congratulations to Henderson Alverez and Giancarlo Stanton. I am sure you’ll make all of us South Floridians proud!
Speaking of being proud; I had the privilege to be the special guest of the Miami Marlins where I participated in their Family Sunday pre-game event. Wow, just so much fun. I had the chance to be with other like-minded partners as we collectively supported the advancement of children through sports & education.
On this special Sunday I was at the park hosting a meet & greet for parents, and kids alike. We showed our books, gifted official Kick-Lighter bracelets, signed and gave away specially produced Baseball in the Bedroom & Miami Marlins posters. It was a massive success.
This venue served as the perfect setting for sharing my story as to why I had written this book. It is the celebration of the love my family & I have always cherished with sports, and the values from which my life has been blessed as a result of competing across the landscape of sporting activity. My family & I have always had reverential respect for the game, as did my brother for whom my book Baseball in the Bedroom was written. It is a story, a dream, hope and homage that could only be set among the perfect geometry of the baseball diamond, and in the bright imagination of a young boy in love with the game. My brother delighted in the fantastical & practical swings of this great game. And this is why I have honored him with this book
I am ever forever grateful to my friend and Hall of Fame Baseball Columnist, Mr. Peter Gammons, to have written the foreword to Baseball in the Bedroom.
And thanks again to the Miami Marlins. They could not have been more supportive as they believe my values align perfectly with their own community minded service & efforts to help local Miami kids.
Check out the photos of the event, the kids, and of course, Billy Marlin!
See ya at the next one!
Julie Kicklighter Scores a Touchdown with “TD” & the AquaNuts at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa
The first-day of spring 2014 was welcomed with laughter & learning as Julie Kicklighter and Miami Dolphins mascot “TD” gracefully ran through the alphabet like Mark Duper crossing the end-zone after cradling a pass from Dan Marino. 6-points. And the extra-point was Kicked.
Working with Carolina G. Griffith, Activities Manager at Eau Palm Beach Resort, Julie Kicklighter read to a group of kids at the AquaNuts youth hangout on the site of the Eau Palm property. Julie signed autographs, and posed for pictures after she, TD & the delighted kids read in unison from her book F is For Football. Based on the response from the kids, T is for Touchdown.
Julie Kicklighter, as a young Southern girl, followed into her family’s tradition of athletics & sports. Kick – as she is know to her friends, family & colleagues – kicked butt as a cheerleader at Georgian Southern. Julie later went on to become a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader, and was awarded with the honor of being named the 2005 Rookie of the Year.
Clearly, Julie has a knack for getting people pumped-up. This is why the transition from Dolphins Cheerleader to child author took no kick in the pants. She said, watching the response in the crowd to what was happening on the field during my time as a cheerleader was inspiration to becoming a children’s author. I thought that if we could capture the same energy for learning, translate it into the classroom; well that would just be quite special. According to Ms. Kicklighter a profound number of similarities are shared between cheering and writing. As she states, inspiration and passion would have to be on top of the list. The desire to succeed based on real-effort, personal commitment, and teamwork; that is football. That is winning. That is learning how to read.
About Julie Kicklighter
Julie Kicklighter, known as Kick by her friends and colleagues, grew up in the South with two older brothers in a family of athletes and sports enthusiasts. She followed the family tradition in her own way by becoming a cheerleader at Georgia Southern University where she was the cheerleader captain for the six time NCAA 1-AA football national champions. She went on to become a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader (MDC) and was awarded 2005 Rookie of the Year by the organization for a stand out season that included performing stand-up comedy at NFL Draft Day, Miami Dolphins Fan Fest, and for the U.S. Military while on tour overseas with the Armed Forces Entertainment Group.
About Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa / AquaNuts
EAU PALM BEACH Resort & Spa, situated on seven acres of oceanfront, welcomes guests with breathtaking ocean views and lush tropical gardens.
Welcome to Palm Beach re-imagined, a wonderland of the unexpected, playful and indulgent. A world apart where happiness reigns and coveted moments brim with surprises that will leave you breathless. Little wonder, you were always meant for something extraordinary. So, away you go. Here, now, wow.
EAU PALM BEACH Resort & Spa, situated on seven acres of oceanfront, welcomes guests with breathtaking ocean views and lush tropical gardens.
AquaNuts is an underwater place imagined for kids to have fun, make new friends, go on adventures, pool and beach games, arts and crafts, movie nights, tie-dye shirts, air brush tattoos, and much more.
Julie Kicklighter and Barnes & Noble KICK IT at the Manuel Barrero Elementary Book Fair
A rainy night in North Miami was brightened for the young students at Manuel Barrero Elementary by joyous laughter; the enthusiasm of former-Miami Dolphins star, Sean Hill and the eponymous charm of featured guest reader Ms. Julie Kicklighter at the West Kendall Barnes & Noble.
Working with Eric Sans, Community Relations Manage at Barnes & Noble, Julie Kicklighter delighted an audience of some 50-children & their parents as she read from her book F is For Football. Julie imparted valuable learning; Sean lead the cheers, and the kids joined in on the fun as they strolled through the journey of A through Z.
This is what it is all about; why I write these books … for the children. To see the happiness in the kids’ face, and that of their folks, just makes me smile. If I can share the power of Strong Mind, Strong Body & Strong Heart with just one child, just one family, then I have done what makes me happy; using the allegorical powers of sports to teach, said Ms. Kicklighter.
Ms. Kicklighter and Mr. Hill read & entertained the children at Manuel Barrero Elementary for close to an hour. As Julie shared her story of being a former Miami Dolphins Cheerleader with the bright & young faces of future cheerleaders and touch-down scorers hope soared, dreams were forged. Julie & Sean signed autographs, took pictures & told the stories of being a part of the Miami Dolphins organization for all in attendance.
10 Afterschool Activities to Combat Childhood Obesity
Obesity is a big problem in this country and, all too often, children are experiencing the nasty side effects of it before they are old enough to know better. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that kids are healthy, which can seem like a big job, but really, staying healthy can be as simple as kids just having fun. Encourage afterschool activities that keep them moving and, suddenly, the excess weight will begin to fall away.
Jump Ropes and Hula Hoops Kids have loved these traditional toys for many, many decades. The same is still true today. Lay a few hula hoops and a couple of jump ropes in front of your kids and watch what amazing games they create with the use of their imagination.
Trampoline Though they can be dangerous if not properly respected, backyard trampolines can also be a great way to stay fit. All of that jumping burns calories faster than you might think and kids can bounce around on them for hours without getting bored.
Pick-Up Games Have a ball? Is there an old bat in the shed or a can of spray paint? If you can, mark off a goal or use pieces of cardboard for bases and kids can play sports. Remember, the majority of sports started long before there were sporting stores. It doesn’t take much to start a pick-up game of baseball, touch football, or kickball.
Bicycle Rides Kids love bikes and bikes are great for kids! Fortunately, kids’ bicycles today are much more affordable than they once were, and they can often be found used at an even smaller price tag, which means that your kid can be speeding around the driveway, backyard, or cul-de-sac in no time.
Yoga Though not as traditional as some kid activities, parents across the country are starting to recognize just how thoroughly youngsters enjoy the stretches and movements that are involved in yoga. Its health advantages have been making headlines for years!
Swimming Whether you take them to the local YMCA or you let them loose in the backyard pool, swimming is a great way for kids to have fun and stay fit. Though, parents should always monitor pool activities to ensure there are no accidents.
Organized Sports Today, there are millions of programs around the country that offer kids as young as ages 3 or 4 the opportunity to partake in organized sports. Whether your child in interested in cheerleading or basketball, baseball or lacrosse, chances are that, with a little research, you will find that there is a program not too far from home. Often those activities take place afterschool and may even count as a daycare write-off on your taxes (ask your accountant).
Scavenger Hunts The exercise element is not as immediately obvious as it is with organized sports, but scavenger hunts can take place indoors or outside and ensure that kids don’t stop moving.
Obstacle Course As with pick-up games, obstacle courses can be created with objects found around the house. What can your kids climb over? When can they crawl under? What can they straddle? Use your imagination and you can undoubtedly create an obstacle course that will keep your kids moving for hours.
Dance, Aerobics, or Gymnastics Classes As with organized sports teams, there are many classes offered to young children today. Dance, aerobics, gymnastics, and martial arts facilities are opening their doors to kids as young as ages 2 or 3, and many of the classes are scheduled for afterschool hours. Again, it is possible that this could be taken as a daycare deduction on your taxes, but consult your attorney if you are curious.
