JOIN US AT BOB COOKE PARK REOPENING CELEBRATION

SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2021 

Arlington residents are invited to check out new recreational features, including The Otis Brown Court for basketball players and the City’s first Futsal court, at Bob Cooke Park in East Arlington this weekend.

Arlington Parks & Recreation is hosting a grand reopening celebration at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 17 to introduce the community to the new amenities at the park, located 2025 Craig Hanking Dr. Participants are asked to wear a face mask during the event, which will be held outdoors with space to allow for social distancing.

 Special guests will include representatives from the Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation, which generously funded the basketball court renovations and 10 new basketballs for the East Library and Recreation Center at Bob Cooke Park. The renovated basketball court, known as The Otis Brown Court, and the basketballs features affirmations, such as Extraordinary is Perseverance and Extraordinary is Grit, that align with the Arlington nonprofit’s Extraordinary Is movement.

"The Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation is so excited to have partnered with the City of Arlington to make the dream of The Otis Brown Court a reality. Having our namesakes court right in the heart of The American Dream City brings us so much joy," said Shannon Flowers, Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation Executive Director. "We hope this court will bring just as much joy to the community and anyone who steps foot on it! Together we are Extraordinary!"

 Also as part of Bob Cooke Park improvements, Arlington Parks & Recreation also transformed the under-utilized tennis courts into the City’s first Futsal court. Futsal is a variant of soccer. The new lighted court can also be used for other games, such as pickleball. Soccer practice fields will be available at the park at a later date.

 For more information about Bob Cooke Park, the East Library and Recreation Center or other amenities offered by the National Gold Medal award-winning Parks & Recreation Department, please visit www.arlingtontx.gov/parks.    

UNITY

Art & Poetry Contest

What does UNITY look like in your community? We want to know what you think! The Otis & Rosie Brown Foundation is sponsoring an essay contest in partnership with the City of Arlington Public Library.

Choose to represent your idea of UNITY as either an art piece or a poem. 

This contest is open to school aged children, teens and adults. Submit a photo or document by April 30, 2021.  Prizes will be awarded in each age group as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place

To submit your work, please visit https://arlingtonlibrary.org/unity-art-poetry-contest

2021 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS 

ARE OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS

Do you know an extraordinary high school senior who gives back to the community? We would love to hear about them! Nominate a student today for the 2021 ExtraordinaryIS Scholarship Award! The Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation provides scholarships to these unsung heroes in our local area high schools.  We choose 10 students each year and provide them with a one time $2,000.00 award. The 2021 application is open for submissions as of January 18, 2021.  Applications will be accepted until midnight on April 30, 2021. Awardees will be announced by the end May, 2021. Good luck to all that apply!

#ExtraordinaryISScholarships

ORBF DISTRIBUTED $10,000 FOR COVID-19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Otis & Rosie Brown Foundation committed and distributed $10,000 in support of feeding and community programs in the DFW metroplex.

Under the leadership of Co-Founder and Board Chair, Thasunda Brown Duckett and Executive Director, Shannon Flowers, ORBF proudly matched Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams‘ donation of $2,500 to Mission Arlington. Mission Arlington has been serving the Arlington community since 1986 providing food, clothing, shelter, and job opportunities to those in need. 

On May 5, 2020, Cinco de Mayo, ORBF disbursed over 250 meals from the Soul Good Food Truck in the Fairmount Southside Historic District in partnership with Atmos Energy and the City of Fort Worth.  ORBF also partnered with Potter's House Church of Dallas providing $2,500 for the distribution of family meals.

ORBF gave $2,500 to the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Ministry's Turn Around Agenda High School Hero's Program. Their event took place on Friday, July 31, 2020 on Facebook and YouTube Live.  Our donation went towards 25 Senior scholarships who maintained a 3.0 GPA or higher and submitted a reference letter for acceptance into the program.  The students attended the following high schools: Carter; Kimble; Lancaster; and Duncanville. Each student was featured during the live cast, stating where they are graduating from and what college they will be attending.

On Saturday, August 15, 2020, ORBF partnered with Soul Good Food Truck to provide box lunches for the doctors, nurses, and support staff at Cooks Children Medical Center in Fort Worth.  ORBF also handed out $500 in school supplies to the patients.