8th Annual Onegoal Family Picnic in Columbus Ohio

With the theme “Prevailing Togetherness”, this year’s Onegoal Family Picnic in Columbus (OH) comes off on Saturday, August 8, 2008 at the Maloney Park (1701 Joyce Avenue) in Columbus Ohio. Under the auspices of the Council of Ghanaian Churches, the Onegoal Annual Family Picnic is the largest event in the Ghanaian community and brings together people from in and around Central Ohio for a day of fun and fellowship interspersed with education and awareness for the entire family.

This year’s line-up of sports, educational, and entertainment activities will include a soccer gala, volleyball, ampe, oware, dame and ludo competitions; sack racing, musical chairs, lemon and spoon races, and a tug of war. Also available will be non-competitive basketball, lawn tennis and martial arts display by Oriental Martial Arts College. Live music will be provided by various church praise teams, as well as by Ivy and the Trumpets of Christ – a 60-strong children’s choir from the Church of Pentecost. DJs Casty and Alonzo of Gye Nyame Soundz will perform throughout the day.

One of the highlights of this year’s picnic will be the Free Mobile Health Clinic Fair sponsored by Ramseyer Presbyterian Church in collaboration with the Synod of the Covenant, Presbyterian Church (USA). This health screening service will make available volunteer health professionals who will check heights, weights, vision, hearing, and blood pressure, as well as screen for skin cancer, asthma, and dental health. Two family practitioners, Dr. Benjamin Nti-Hagan and Dr. Ayesu Offei, have also volunteered to provide follow-up advice and referrals. In addition, a motivational minister (a cancer survivor) will share his inspiring story. There will be valuable information on disease prevention and living healthy as well as various actuarial and insurance awareness booklets distributed by the International Association of Black Actuaries-Ohio Affiliate (IABA).

Adepa Radio (www.adeparadio.com) will provide a live broadcast from the venue.

The 2009 participating churches are The Apostolic Church International, Jesus Power Assembly of God, All Nations Baptist Church, Church of Pentecost, Ghanaian Catholic Community, Ebenezer United Methodist Church, House of Faith Ministries, Calvary Presbyterian Church, and Ramseyer Presbyterian Church. The Onegoal Family Picnic is held in Columbus (OH) on the second Saturday in August of every year. For additional information, contact e-mail: onegoalfamilypicnic@yahoo.com