Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Dawes to Join the Lions Clubs at the 2009 National Memorial Day Parade

Washington, DC (PRWEB) May 22, 2009 -- Three-time U.S. Olympian and Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Dawes (http://www.dominiquedawes.com/) will appear on the Lions Clubs (http://www.lionsclubs.org) float in the 2009 National Memorial Day Parade (http://www.nationalmemorialdayparade.com/). She is an honorary member of the Washington DC (Special Olympics (http://www.specialolympics.org)) Lions Club.

Dawes is the first African-American to win an individual gymnastics Olympic medal. Graduating with a degree in Communications from the University of Maryland, Dawes is a renowned public speaker on health issues, sports participation, equality for women and African-Americans, and self-esteem. She has also made her mark as an actress on Broadway and in television broadcasting with CBS, CNN and TNT networks, notably as an analyst for the 2008 Beijing Olympics for Yahoo! Sports.

She will be sharing the float with reality TV star and Navy Lieutenant Dr. Andy Baldwin (http://www.andybaldwin.com/), Lions Clubs military veterans and a representation of the 2008 Lions International Peace Poster Contest (http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/our-work/youth-programs/peace-poster-contest/peace-poster-contest-grand-prize-winners.php) grand prize winner.

The Lions will also be collecting unwanted glasses in their Recycle for Sight (http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/member-center/planning-sight-projects/eyeglass-recycling/vision-eyeglass-sight.php) boxes around the float in an attempt to set the largest collection of recycled glasses in one day.

"We are thrilled to have Dominique on the float with the Lions," said Paul Hawkins, District Governor of the Lions Clubs of Washington DC and metro Maryland area. "Her determination and dedication to women's issues, health and fitness, especially her work with Special Olympics, is an inspiration to us all."

Dominique Dawes joins other celebrities, Ernest Borgnine, Gary Sinise, Joe Mantegna and Dr. Andy Baldwin at the National Memorial Day Parade. In its third year, it expects to attract over a quarter of a million spectators and be viewed by over sixteen million homes on WJLA and the Pentagon Channel.

This is the first time the Lions Clubs have appeared in the National Memorial Day Parade. The Parade is on Monday, May 25, 2009, along Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th Streets in Washington DC and free to the public.

Lions Clubs of Washington DC, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia include over 500 clubs and almost 17,000 men and women. Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with nearly 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in 205 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions Clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.

To schedule interviews with Dominique Dawes, please call 301-404-8010.

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