Each year Hoffmann Hospice Voices of Inspiration brings together the community for an evening of inspiration, wisdom and hope.  Many celebrities and sports superstars have graced their stage including Mark Wahlberg, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Derek Jeter just to name a few.  What is unique about the experience is that these special guests sit down with one of our own local public figures for an intimate interview in front of the crowd that almost seems like an in person 20/20 but in a live setting. This year’s host was longtime local sports anchor Greg Kerr.  Over the years so much has been shared with the audiences and is one of Bakersfield’s most memorable events.  It also supports Kern County's first and only non-profit hospice, Hoffmann Hospice. 

 

This year we were honored to share in the insight, passion and wisdom of NFL and MLB Player and now college football coach Deion "Prime Time" Sanders.  During his career, he played 14 seasons in the National Football League and 9 seasons in the Major Leagues. Currently he is the head coach at the University of Colorado, Boulder and acts as not only head coach but mentor to his players.  He is also the one and only athlete to have competed in both the Super Bowl and the World Series.  

 

Deion talked about the challenges and influences on his life from an early age and his mother's influence and being his anchor growing up and that she wasn't even able to watch him play any of his games until he had reached college. He talked about growing up where drug dealers were idolized and it was an easy path to take to get caught up in drugs and crime.  He attributed his ability to steer clear of trouble due to his passion an ability for sports at a young age and his faith in God. 

 

Although many of us remember the eccentric and outspoken athlete on the football and baseball field of the late 80's and early 90's and his charisma is just a part of his personality.  He is a fountain of positivity, confidence, inspiration and faithfulness to this day and each and every day tries to do the best he can to glorify God and honor him each day with his actions. 

 

This year’s Voices of Inspiration with Deion Sanders was not only inspiring but was filled with a ton of laughs and fun and Deion definitely brought his "Prime Time" energy to the evening. 

"My mom never saw me play... football, baseball, or basketball in high school. She was working at night, so I had to develop an understanding of a pity party for others. So that's where I came up with the nickname Prime. I dropped 36 points one night and one of my teammates said, 'man, you Prime Time.' That's how the nickname came. That became my alter ego, because I needed something, and someone with me and we all have two people inside of us." 

 

"If you don't believe in you, ain't nobody else will. How can you doubt you? God gave each and every last one of us a tremendous gift. You've got the maturity, you got to perfect it, and you got to make it profound in anything you do."  

 

"You didn't build me so you can't kill me. You didn't invent me, so you can't prevent me. You didn't make me so you can't break me" 

 

"The reason you're going through these tribulations is because God is trying to build and mold you. So, be bold, why would you be thinking about giving up especially if you so close?" 

 

"I'm humbled to God. My creator, my everything." - Dieon Sanders