of all ethnic and religious groups across Sri Lanka, is a grassroots movement meeting that
challenge head on. The 5K Race for Sri Lanka, which raised over $9,000.00, is a terrific start.
Mark King and Ernest Jones, representing the Florida Flight, an upstart minor league
basketball team in the Central Florida area, went above and beyond the call by garnering
sponsorships from other businesses to raise more than the regular registration price for their
participation in the run. One of those businesses was the Premier Basketball League (PBL).
PBL Chairman of the Board, Dr. Sev Hrywnak remarked, "The PBL likes to get involved with
worthy causes that our players or owners have involvement in."
The PBL is a professional basketball league designed to be one in which fans come first, players
are accessible, pricing is affordable and international and domestic players can be followed
enthusiastically from anywhere in the world, all from television and online broadcasts.
Although currently based in the United States, the league has a vision to make a global impact
with the game of basketball.
King, Co-Founder and President of the Florida Flight, is actively seeking membership for the
Flight to represent the PBL in Central Florida. For King, compelling the PBL to sponsor the
participation in the 5K Run for Reconciliation for Sri Lanka is a step in the right direction.
"I've been a supporter of the PBL before the league ever played a game," King admitted. "I
believe in the vision and mission, I believe in the leadership, and I'm convinced the league is on
the way towards becoming the premier basketball league their title suggests."
King ran proudly with a PBL shirt on his back, and a replica flag of
Sri Lanka pinned to his left shoulder. His wife, Florence King, and
family, all natives of Sri Lanka, watched proudly as hundreds of
Americans came out to show their appreciation and support for the
little island country located off the coast of India known as The
Pearl of the Indian Ocean.
Kings wife, Florence, had much to say about her appreciation for the event. "I lost my best
friend in a bomb blast before I came to the United States for college," she said. "This race for
peace and all the support shown her today means so very much to me, my family and my
country. I'm especially appreciative of the PBL for sending such a generous sponsorship
donation to support my husband in this event."
King has been successfully networking and canvassing the Central Florida area to obtain
support for a PBL-based professional basketball team. He hopes to launch the Florida Flight in
January of 2011.
Dr. Jonathan Mitchell, the other Co-Founder of the Flight, championed the event as the perfect
first event for the Flight to begin executing the mission of the team.
"There's a lot to be done, and the economy has not been friendly...to anyone!" said Mitchell. "I
think when you put actions to the words of your mission statement and help raise awareness
for something as noble as peace, it's a great way to create a value that transcends the everyday
definition of a basketball team."
Although the event is over, there is still an opportunity to be involved and contribute towards
the peace and reconciliation of Sri Lanka. Visit www.srilankaunites.org for more information.
challenge head on. The 5K Race for Sri Lanka, which raised over $9,000.00, is a terrific start.
Mark King and Ernest Jones, representing the Florida Flight, an upstart minor league
basketball team in the Central Florida area, went above and beyond the call by garnering
sponsorships from other businesses to raise more than the regular registration price for their
participation in the run. One of those businesses was the Premier Basketball League (PBL).
PBL Chairman of the Board, Dr. Sev Hrywnak remarked, "The PBL likes to get involved with
worthy causes that our players or owners have involvement in."
The PBL is a professional basketball league designed to be one in which fans come first, players
are accessible, pricing is affordable and international and domestic players can be followed
enthusiastically from anywhere in the world, all from television and online broadcasts.
Although currently based in the United States, the league has a vision to make a global impact
with the game of basketball.
King, Co-Founder and President of the Florida Flight, is actively seeking membership for the
Flight to represent the PBL in Central Florida. For King, compelling the PBL to sponsor the
participation in the 5K Run for Reconciliation for Sri Lanka is a step in the right direction.
"I've been a supporter of the PBL before the league ever played a game," King admitted. "I
believe in the vision and mission, I believe in the leadership, and I'm convinced the league is on
the way towards becoming the premier basketball league their title suggests."
King ran proudly with a PBL shirt on his back, and a replica flag of
Sri Lanka pinned to his left shoulder. His wife, Florence King, and
family, all natives of Sri Lanka, watched proudly as hundreds of
Americans came out to show their appreciation and support for the
little island country located off the coast of India known as The
Pearl of the Indian Ocean.
Kings wife, Florence, had much to say about her appreciation for the event. "I lost my best
friend in a bomb blast before I came to the United States for college," she said. "This race for
peace and all the support shown her today means so very much to me, my family and my
country. I'm especially appreciative of the PBL for sending such a generous sponsorship
donation to support my husband in this event."
King has been successfully networking and canvassing the Central Florida area to obtain
support for a PBL-based professional basketball team. He hopes to launch the Florida Flight in
January of 2011.
Dr. Jonathan Mitchell, the other Co-Founder of the Flight, championed the event as the perfect
first event for the Flight to begin executing the mission of the team.
"There's a lot to be done, and the economy has not been friendly...to anyone!" said Mitchell. "I
think when you put actions to the words of your mission statement and help raise awareness
for something as noble as peace, it's a great way to create a value that transcends the everyday
definition of a basketball team."
Although the event is over, there is still an opportunity to be involved and contribute towards
the peace and reconciliation of Sri Lanka. Visit www.srilankaunites.org for more information.
5K Run for Peace a Runaway Success
Longwood, FL - June 15, 2009
Over 350 runners and hundreds of spectators turned out to
raise awareness and support for peace in Sri Lanka at
Northland Church on June 13, 2009.
The event, hosted by Northland Church and Sri Lanka
Unites, comes on the heals of the recently declared
end of a Civil War that has plagued the country for nearly
three-decades.
The war garnered renewed national attention in the United States after President Barack
Obama issued a May 13th call to end what he thought could become a full blown catastrophe.
Longwood, FL - June 15, 2009
Over 350 runners and hundreds of spectators turned out to
raise awareness and support for peace in Sri Lanka at
Northland Church on June 13, 2009.
The event, hosted by Northland Church and Sri Lanka
Unites, comes on the heals of the recently declared
end of a Civil War that has plagued the country for nearly
three-decades.
The war garnered renewed national attention in the United States after President Barack
Obama issued a May 13th call to end what he thought could become a full blown catastrophe.
"Now's the time, I believe, to put aside some of the political that are
involved and to put the lives of the men and women children who are
innocently caught the crossfire, to put them first," Obama said.
On May 18, 2009, just five days after Obama's address, Sri Lanka
officials declared victory over the rebel Tamil group, leaving the
transition of peace between the majority Sinhalese and the dissenting
Tamils at the forefront of challenges to come. Sri Lanka Unites, a
non-profit with a vision to unite the youth
involved and to put the lives of the men and women children who are
innocently caught the crossfire, to put them first," Obama said.
On May 18, 2009, just five days after Obama's address, Sri Lanka
officials declared victory over the rebel Tamil group, leaving the
transition of peace between the majority Sinhalese and the dissenting
Tamils at the forefront of challenges to come. Sri Lanka Unites, a
non-profit with a vision to unite the youth
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