Founded by Mary Terry Wiley and Sheryl Holland in 2001, Tamar Entertainment was birthed out of the vision of Mary and Sheryl’s desire to have a company that could be used as a vehicle to nurture, train, and catapult the gifts and talents of kids with performing arts abilities to the ultimate level of success. Tamar Entertainment Inc. is a non-profit company dedicated to promoting personal growth and professional development of young people, and they provide education, a mentorship program, vocational training, fine arts and recreation (i.e. Music, Dance, Theatrical Productions, and Literary and Printed Media), support of amateur athletics, and personal and empowerment workshops and seminars to financially challenged children.

Mary Terry Wiley has been a Psychiatric Nurse of 18 years, and Mary is also a Playwright.  Mary wrote the play “For Your Soul’s Sake” more than 20 years ago, but never did anything with it.  Then the onset of HMO’s and new medical limitations relating to psychiatric services triggered Mary’s desire to share some of life’s truths via the play.  A national tour of the play is in the works.

In comes Crystal Stone, as she sought to be a part of the play.  Crystal, being a graduate of Prairie View A&M where she studied Theatre Arts, she was able to secure a total of 5 characters in the play.  Like, Crystal, the other members of the Tamar Entertainment group originally came looking for parts in the play, then after receiving skillful tutelage on how to run a business from the ground up from Mary and Sheryl, everyone was able to branch out and open their own individual business, while remaining an active part of Tamar Entertainment Inc.

Ms. Crystal Stone owns Krisstylz Dance Company where she teaches ballet, jazz, tap and praise dance.   Crystal offers her dance classes for free because she does not want the opportunity for a child to be missed simply because their parents could not afford it.  Crystal not only teaches the kids how to dance, but she also makes sure to teach them affirmations; affirmations of how the power lies within you, self-esteem building, and other issues.   Further, Crystal is starting to work with schools on an Anti-Bullying Program because she does not want to be at fault for just talking about it, but for actually being a part of the change.  Now I am not sure what that says to anyone else, but to me that says that Crystal’s passion has a heartbeat.  Crystal also owns C. Stone Management where she secures the best jobs for Models, Actors, Music, and Dance Artist, as well as providing Models/Pageant Manager and Consultant services, press kits, and website services.

Ms. Laquita Thompson owns Xtreme Heat Sports Management where she serves as a Sports Agent.  She teaches the kids to treat their talents like a business, and then she shows them how to conduct business, along with how to carry themselves with their talents.  Laquita played semi-pro basketball for the WUBA’s Houston Blaze until a recurring knee injury ended her career as a player.  Laquita is now a certified Science Teacher with the Board of Education in Texas, and she taught Integrated Physics and Chemistry for six years.  Laquita participates in summer AAU Basketball where she is a certified summer Coach with the NCAA Coaches Association.  She is also a certified Personal Fitness Trainer, WNBA Sports Agent, and the “First” female coach in the Fort Bend ISD in the state of Texas to coach High School basketball at Hightower High School where she lead them to the District Championship  in the 2002-2003 season. 

Mr. Troy Barnett branched out to create Phat Barz Records & Multimedia L.L.C.  A musician from the age of 10, Troy’s first instrument was a trumpet.  Through his high school years, Troy expanded his talents and skills to the entire brass family of instruments.  At the age of 16 Troy formed his own five member jazz band, and they performed in jazz clubs throughout the city of Houston, TX.  Troy later taught himself to play the organ and the piano before attending Texas Southern and Sam Houston State Universities.  Troy is now a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and the Writers Guild of America.  Troy has played for national recording artist such as Kim Burrell, and he has shared the stage with legends such as Wynton Marsalis and Dr. Shirley Caesar.

Now although Tamar Entertainment is self-sufficient with a graphic artist, their own recording studio, and their own marketing team, they are still in need of corporate sponsorships to fund their Community Arts Center, Phoenix Rising.  The arts center is located in a low-income area in Houston, TX., but it is a beautiful old church building waiting to bear good fruits. 

As soon as they can obtain enough money from sponsorships, they plan to make great things come out of the Community Arts Center.  Phoenix Rising will be used for annual summer camps, among a host of other needed activities for the kids.  Crystal informed me that Tamar Entertainment Inc. wants to be able to promote new talent (actors, writers, etc.) and display the work for the community.  “We love kids and we love camps.  All of our companies service the community.  We have worked throughout the community for years, and it will be nice to have our own place to service the community from”, says Crystal.  Crystal added that they have kids that attended their camps in the past that still contact them to talk when they have had a bad day. 

All members of Tamar Entertainment Inc. are focused on what they are really here to do, and they need resources and funding so they can continue to do these things and get bigger and better to serve more people effectively and successfully.  It is not only the play, but it is a part of all that they do that is “For Your Soul’s Sake”!!!

You can learn more about everyone at Tamar Entertainment Inc. and their individual companies and sponsorship opportunities when you visit them at www.tamarentertainment.com or call  281-761-5460; help them make the dreams of financially challenged children come true for generations to come.