To emphasize our commitment to make people aware that breast cancer can affect young women, we moved the date of our annual event to October, "Breast Cancer Awareness" month. It was held on Saturday, October 25, 2003 at the Overlea Event Centre. It featured the music of the Bobby Rucks Group, a local jazz group, a buffet dinner and a silent auction.

Proceeds from the event were used to make donations to: the Young Survival Coalition (YSC); the scholarship committee at St. Stephen A.M.E. in Essex, MD; the Martha Fisher Scholarship at Price Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Atlantic City, NJ and to fund the "Spirit of Allison Award" for a graduating senior in the class of 2004 at Perry Hall High School in Perry Hall, MD. In addition, proceeds were used to host the recipient of the 2003 Allison E. Fisher scholarship, which is administered by National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). This scholarship was endowed with $20,000 from past fund-raising activities.

The fourth recipient of the Allison E. Fisher Scholarship, Durrell Dawson, was in attendance. He is pictured with Allison's parents, Ron and Pat Fisher and his father, Nathan Dawson.

Durrell is a native of Rantoul, ILL. He is currently attending the University of Illinois-Chicago where he is a candidate for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with a minor in English. He will graduate in May 2004. He plans to attend graduate school to major in Broadcast management. You can read Durrell's autobiographical essay to learn more about him.

During the brief program, the scholarship recipient, Durrell Dawson, told the audience a little about himself and checks were presented to: Rev. William A. Gray, III, pastor, and Golden Watters, scholarship chair, from St. Stephen A.M.E. church; Mrs. Millicent Muschette for the Martha Fisher scholarship and Young Survival Coalition (YSC) members: Dana Robinson, Lisa Collins and Ruth Gans. In accepting the check, Pastor Gray said, "the church encourages all graduating

seniors to pursue additional education beyond high school and this donation to our scholarship committee will help further that cause. I've known Allison since she was in grade school and it is so in keeping with her memory to encourage and enable others to strive for higher learning." The organizing committee for the event is a small group of family members and friends. They are: Ronald Fisher, Sr., Pat Fisher, Ronald Fisher, Jr., Gail Robinson-Brown, Steven Fisher, Elaine Lynch, Gerilyn Gordon Gaskill, Willie J. Nichols, David Boozer, Jr., Carolyn Boozer, Lisa Boozer and David Boozer, Sr. Many of Allison's family and friends and those who have come to know her through the efforts of the Allison E. Fisher Memorial Fund were in attendance. All enjoyed the food, the fellowship, the silent auction, and the music.

To view more photos from the event, please visit our Photo Gallery page.

View last year's information and photos.

For three years, Allison's friends in the Los Angeles area gathered to celebrate her life, raise awareness about breast cancer and raise money to give to students in her name.  Allison lost her battle with breast cancer in 1998.

The last Evening with an Angel on a Jazz Note, was held Friday, April 5, 2002 at the Penthouse Suite and Rooftop Patio of the Luxe Hotel on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California. It featured a silent auction, host bar, complimentary hors d'oveuvres and dancing with DJ Cyrus. 

The event organizers, who met through Allison, called themselves, "Team Allison." They got this name because they were Allison's support system as she fought to remain independent in California, while she was going through radiation after cancer reoccurred. The team has since dispersed, as career paths have taken them to different cities.

Picture of Team Allison, from left to right, they are: JoLena Johnson. Jim Valdes, Daryle Brown and Karen Lewis.

Among those in attendance at the event were:  

To the left, Allison's parents, Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Fisher, Sr., with Kevin Whittington (middle).

Pictured to the right is Rolly Kent who is affectionately referred to as Allison's LA father. He is seen here in the middle of the room talking to Daryle Brown, while Allison's mother (in white) talks to Am Rosen.

Many others who knew Allison from Channel One, the Anderson School at UCLA or through mutual friends were there to enjoy the evening.

To view more photos from the event, please visit our Photo Gallery page.