All About the Kids

Dear Editor,
    I am writing to you concerning an article you recently published about the Ricky Williams Foundation [“Ricky Williams 'Accesses Consciousness' at AISD,” News, Aug. 3].
    Mr. Alex Dunlap was invited to come to the school and interview us in his role as a journalist representing a large and respected newspaper in the area.
    We did not expect an article where facts are misrepresented and where Mr. Dunlap seems to be more of a gossip columnist than a newspaper journalist. This seems like National Enquirer sensationalism, rather than actual unbiased reporting.
    Our whole priority was to help the kids, and the slant that Mr. Dunlap chose to take was deeply disappointing. Why is it more important to vilify Ricky than to help these kids?
    Access Consciousness is not collaborating with the Ricky Williams Foundation or joining forces with them. Access Consciousness was simply filling a gap where a major company who had offered $32 million to support these kids pulled the plug because Ricky Williams was no longer playing football.
    Access Consciousness organized a fundraiser, which was self-funded, and has now raised close to $50,000 for the foundation.
    Every staff member of Access volunteered their time, paid for their own ticket, paid for their own accommodation, paid for their own food – all in an effort to contribute to these kids.
    This was all about the kids and contributing to the Ricky Williams Foundation, which is doing an amazing job of helping these kids who have few other resources to change their lives.
    In my point of view, it is a shame that you would vilify Ricky and destroy these children's chances. How is that supporting them and your own city?
    In publishing this article, without checking the facts, you have chosen to kill off the possibilities for these at-risk children from low social-economic communities – just to sell more newspapers?
    For me, that is a very strange choice.
    Alex Dunlap seems to assume that Access Consciousness is a cult. I am wondering if he knows what being a cult means? Perhaps you could recommend him to read The True Believer by Eric Hoffer?
    You'll find a quick synopsis right here.
    And if you would like to know what the Ricky Williams Foundation or Access Consciousness really are about, both Ricky and I would be happy to talk to you.