We’re so excited to introduce our hosts for the evening Jon Absey and Casey Scott.

Special thanks to both of them for their willingness to join and support the Family Support Center.

Host Jon Absey

Jon Absey, was a person no one knew even though he performed in front of thousands of people regularly and he was in the community helping charities out almost everyday for 25 years. Jon Absey kept his identity secret and to all of was better known as the Utah Jazz Bear.  Dating back to his first season in Utah, he performed at over 900 NBA games, has donated 16,000-plus hours of assistance in the community for more than 300 community organizations, and raised more than one million dollars for charity in the process.  Jon has taken home more than 40 community and national awards, including eight mascot leadership awards, keys to two cities, been honored by three individual governors with his very own “Day in Utah”, been named Mascot of the Year in the NBA five times and Best Mascot out of all sports nationwide twice and, just recently was given an award for the best video by a mascot out of all sports nationwide.  He has been inducted into the YMCA Hall of Fame, the Utah Summer Games Hall of Fame, and the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2006.  “The reason the character grew to be such a big part of the community was because of the help I had from everyone around me.  Without the help from people who cared, it wouldn’t have been as successful.”  Jon is so ever grateful for the understanding of his wife and children and the fact that they let him build this character even though it took him away from home way too much. Without them he would have just been an ordinary bear. 

Co-Host Casey Scott

Casey Scott has been a Utah staple on tv and radio for the past 20 yrs. He was born in Ogden Utah where he graduated from Ogden high school and then went on to Utah state university where he majored in broadcast journalism. He is currently one of the hosts on the project recovery podcast where he shares his own story as well as others who are battling addiction.

Grant Family

Jon and Liz Grant first met in their 8th grade math class. While not quite high school sweethearts, they dated on and off up until Jon left for his 2 year church missionary service to Moscow, Russia. Six months before he came home Liz left for her own 18 month missionary service to Bangkok, Thailand. 4 months after she arrived home they were married and completed their undergraduate studies at the University of Utah. Over the next decade Jon's medical training took them to Los Angeles, California, Houston, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina before returning home to Salt Lake City, where he now practices as a radiation oncologist. Liz stays busy with their 6 children, Sam (12), Elle (10), Ben (8), Dave (6), Tim (4) and Meg (2). Over the years music has been a big part of both Jon and Liz's life. Jon has been a pianist since age 6, Liz has played the piano since age 6 and the harp since age 8. Their oldest three children all study piano, Sam picked up the cello 18 months ago and Elle started violin late last year.

Millennium Dance Complex Salt Lake

Jeffrey Louizia- Choreographer

Born and raised in Boston, MA.  Jeffrey Louizia discovered his love for dance right in the middle of his home. Being a part of a culture where dance is the center of our everyday life. He knew that it was written in the stars that dance was going to be a massive part of his life. Attending a performing art high called Boston Arts Academy. here he became Proficient in many styles of dance, Jeffrey has studied extensively in ballet, tap, modern jazz, modern, hip hop, krump as well as traditional Haitian Folk dance. He has studied with such dance masters as Dianne Walker of "Black & Blue", Mark Morris, Bill T. Jones. and Mandy Moore He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance from Dean College. Mr. Louizia’s performances have taken him all across New England up and down the Eastern US seaboard, West Coast, and internationally.  His strong base in choreography has led him to choreograph for MC Hammer,  the Disney show The Andi Mac show. carnivals in Los Angeles. and choreographing for a national touring band called the salamanders.   Jeffrey is the Director and founder of Lovolution A worldwide movement where love and self-worth are brought to awareness through dance. He also is the hip hop director for the millennium dance complex hip hop boom crew in Salt Lake City.  Since moving to Los Angeles he has been in many music videos and industrials including featured Dancer in the movie dear dumb diary, Sketchers, Black Eyed Peas “Rock Your Body,” Taio Cruz “Dirty Picture,” Ace Hood ft lil Wayne and rick ross "Hustle" and American Idol winner Alexandra Burke’s “Start Without You.” Jeffrey Louizia has also performed with Odyssey dance theater for 5 years performing productions thriller and Romeo and Juliet, in Salt Lake City Utah and touring Europe.  Jeffrey Louizia loves to teach, motivate and inspire as well as being inspired by all who share and do not share his love for dance. He truly believes in using the platform of dance we can practice believing in ourselves and really understand our capabilities to grab a hold on our lives and not only discover but, understand our infinite worth!  unapologetically being ourselves and vibrating to our max. Revealing what I call the realest version of you!!! 

Deondra Brown

Deondra performs as a member of the piano ensemble group, The 5 Browns. She received Bachelor and Master’s degrees from The Juilliard School and has released seven albums, with an eighth releasing this fall. Deondra formed Foundation for Survivors of Abuse to help victims of sexual abuse. She also works with the Utah Children’s Justice Center Program.