Greetings Potential Sponsors:

My name is Leon Benson, a Michigan resident and native,  who happens to be an Exoneree from the state of Indiana as of March 9th, 2023, after 25 years of wrongful incarceration.  I’m reaching out to you for your TAX DEDUCTIBLE SPONSORSHIP for an event we’re putting together entitled “COMMON UNITY: The Re-Birth-Day of Leon Benson” hosted in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 8th-9th, 2024.

ABOUT EVENT

The event is to celebrate my exoneration with the world as the date symbolizes my re-birth-day on March 9th, 2023 is the day I was exonerated. In presenting this event I will bring major awareness of not only wrongful convictions, but also what restorative justice looks like through two events:

A) Panel Discussion on March 8th, 2024, where we will talk with all the key players involved in my exoneration (Marion County Conviction Integrity Unit, San Francisco School of Law, advocates, etc). The mayor of Indianapolis, the Indiana Governor, Indy District Attorney, many other officials, and major advocates of justice will be present. The venue holds 70-100 guests specially selected.

Then we will have a Gratitude ceremony to honor 4 organizations and 10 advocates and justice-impacted victims. I will present each honorary with a book of “gratitude letters” from me to each of them and a gift package.

After that, there will be a meet and greet section where food and refreshments would be served and pictures taken. 

B) Concert on March 9th, 2024, will headline music by me, aka EL BENTLY 448 and THE KING TRILL; and feature 4 local performers as opening acts. Tickets sales will be on Eventbrite and there will be merch and food vendors available as well. The concert venue holds 300-500 community members.

SPONSORSHIP DIRECTIVES

For sponsorship donations please click THE COMMON UNITY EVENT. Once there, if you have any questions about the sponsorship benefits click onto the Sponsorship Levels sign while on the website.

In addition, here are 10 more Sponsorship benefits of aligning with Exoneree Leon Benson and our COMMON UNITY EVENT:

1. 
   The event aims to celebrate the March 9, 2024 exoneration of Leon Benson after 25 years of wrongful imprisonment in Indiana with the community of Indianapolis. Sponsors will align their brand with innocence, exoneree, and justice reform communities.
2. The event aims to honor organizations that directly and indirectly contributed to Leon’s exoneration like the Marion County Conviction Integrity Unit; the San Francisco School of Law; and Focus Initiative. Sponsors can align their brands with competent organizations and public servants.
3. The event aims to honor local individuals who contributed directly or indirectly to Leon’s exoneration, but who were victims of this tragic situation as well; like Valerie Buford (Leon’s sister), Koby Bluitt (Leon’s daughter), Shannon Coleman (advocate), Chaplain Ruth Crosby (spiritual advocate), Kwame Shakur (advocate), Adam Scoute (advocate), Kasey Schoen (murder victim), Kolleen Bunch-Schoen (victim’s sister), the late Judge Shatrese Flowers, and Judge Flowers’ surviving family. Sponsors can align their brand with the recognition and reconciliation of justice-impacted advocates and victims.
4. The event aims to bring together Indiana political officials (such as Governor Eric Holcomb, Indy Mayor Joe Hogsett, and Indy District Attorney Ryan Mears) with local citizens and a coalition of progressive grassroots organizations and foundations. All provide sponsors with the opportunity to align with official political and social change agents and initiatives.
5. The event aims for racial harmony through the UNITY that’s being shown between Kolleen Bunch-Schoen (the victim’s sister) and Leon Benson (exoneree) to break down racial tensions perpetuated by bad official actors. Sponsors can align their brand with the spirit of forgiveness, love, and racial & LGBTQIA+ harmony (i.e., the victim, Kasey Schoen was killed due to his sexual preference).
6. Sponsors can support the event to enhance their brand's credibility with the people inside and outside the criminal justice system, by showcasing their commitment to social impact and community support.
7. The event aims to attract local, state-wide, and national media attention, providing sponsors with the opportunity to gain visibility and association with a significant social cause.
8. The event aims to highlight Exoneree Leon Benson as an authentic voice in the Innocence, Justice Impacted, and Creatives Communities. Sponsors can showcase their brand’s commitment to impact-driven-returning citizens, employment, career development, and diversity-inclusion-equity initiatives.
9. Community Building: Sponsors can align to create and continue the momentum of a movement dedicated to rebuilding and changing communities, showcasing their commitment to community development and empowerment.
10. Sponsors can support the event’s concert and artists to empower creative communities, showcasing their support for creativity, art, and cultural expression as a means of positive change.
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Thank you for your time and I look forward to meeting you soon. Blessings to you.

Sincerely,

Leon Benson

Exoneree | Freedom Coach

Hosted by The Everly Collective (Fiscally sponsored by Fiscal Sponsorship Allies)

email: info@theeverlycollective.org