Community Leaders to Host the 30th Annual Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy Prayer Breakfast Virtually on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

ORLANDO, Fla. – (January 18, 2020)

Civic leaders, pastors, and Central Floridians will gather together virtually to pray in unity for our community and to celebrate the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy at the 30th Annual Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy Virtual Prayer Event. Arthur Kennedy holds an important place in Orlando’s history as the first African American to serve on the city’s council starting in 1972. 

Traditionally an in-person prayer breakfast attended by hundreds, this year’s event will be held virtually as a necessary health and safety precaution. Messages from Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy family members, and other community figures will be shared together in a pre-recorded video available for viewing on demand. 

Dr. Collin Outerbridge, lead pastor at Nona Church and board member at the Lake Nona YMCA, will be the keynote speaker. The son of Caribbean immigrants and an Orlando native, Dr. Outerbridge speaks about his passion for creating churches that are multicultural and multi-generational to reflect the diversity of our community.  

The Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award winner will be announced at the event by the Southwest Orlando Jaycees, and the application for the Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy Scholarship will be published for high school students.

  • WHEN: Video will be available starting January 18.
  • WHO: The YMCA of Central Florida is hosting the virtual event in partnership with the City of Orlando’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission and the Southwest Orlando Jaycees. Dignitaries making remarks include Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. 
  • WHERE: YMCA of Central Florida website, Arthur "Pappy" Kennedy Prayer Event
  • COST: Free and open to everyone in the community.

About the YMCA of Central Florida

The YMCA of Central Florida is one of the area’s largest nonprofits, serving hundreds of thousands of Central Floridians per year through a focus on Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility. With a Christian-based mission to improve lives and communities, it operates YMCA locations across six counties. This mission is expanded beyond the four walls of the Y through community-based programs to combat chronic disease, boost children’s after-school safety and learning, and strengthen neighborhoods. To learn more, visit ymcacf.org and follow on Facebook or Instagram.