Non-Profit Organizations

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Georgia Historical Society Elects New Board Members at 174th Annual Meeting

May 9, 2013 – The Georgia Historical Society held its 174th Annual Meeting at Congregation Mickve Israel in Savannah on May 2, 2013. Robert L. Brown, Jr. of Decatur will remain chairman of the board of curators, Robert S. Jepson, Jr. of Savannah will remain vice chairman, Jackie Montag of Altanta will remain secretary, and John Helmken II of Savannah will remain the treasurer for another year. Dolly Chisholm of Savannah, James H. Blanchard of Columbus and Vince Dooley will serve a one-year term as ex officio curators. Ellen Bolch, Paul Bowers, Sonny Deriso, Leah Ward Sears and Neely Young were elected as new members of the board of curators.

New Board of Curators

Ellen B. Bolch is president and CEO of THA Group, a company that provides Medicare-certified home health care, private home care, non-profit hospice home care, and telehealth. She is a recipient of the Honeywell HomMed Lifetime Achievement Award for her work with telehealth and telemonitoring. She is chair of the South Carolina Home Health Care & Hospice Association's Board of Directors and a member of the Georgia Association of Home Health Agencies. Bolch serves on many local boards, including the Bethesda Union Society, the Chatham Club and the Savannah Country Day School.

Paul Bowers is president and CEO of Georgia Power, the largest subsidiary of the Southern Company. He serves on a number of boards and is chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and vice chair of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Bowers is also a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's energy policy council and a trustee for The Woodruff Arts Center. He holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of West Florida, a master's degree in management from Troy University, and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management.

Walter M. "Sonny" Deriso Jr. is the founding chairman and a director of Atlantic Capital Bank and Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc. Previously, Deriso served as vice chairman of Synovus Financial Corp and as CEO and director of Security Bank & Trust Company of Albany. Currently, Deriso is chairman of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, a Trustee of Emory University, and board member for Post Properties, Inc., Georgia Bankers Association, Foundation for the Methodist Children's Home of South Georgia Conference, and Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

Leah Ward Sears was the first woman and the youngest person ever to serve on the Georgia Supreme Court when she was appointed by Gov. Zell Miller in 1992. In 2005 she became the first African-American female chief justice of any state supreme court in the nation. Sears earned her B.A. from Cornell, her law degree from Emory, and an LLM from the University of Virginia. She serves on many boards and is the founder of the Battered Women's project in Columbus. After retiring from the Georgia Supreme Court in 2009 after 27 years on the bench, Sears became a partner with the law firm of Schiff Hardin LLP and is a Distinguished Fellow in Family Law at the Institute for American Values.

Neely Young is co-owner and publisher of Georgia Trend magazine. He is the former CEO of Morris Newspaper Corporation. The Cedartown native and UGA graduate has served as President of the Georgia Press Association, Associated Press of Georgia, the Clayton County Rotary Club, and chaired the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce. He is the former chairman of the Atlanta Region Salvation Army and serves on several other boards including UGA's Henry W. Grady School of Journalism, Georgia Press, UGA board of Visitors, Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Returning Officers of the Board of Curators
Robert L. Brown, Jr. is president and CEO of R.L. Brown & Associates, one of Georgia's most highly recognized and respected architectural firms. He is a member of the boards of Citizens Trust Bank, Georgia Power, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and has served on the boards of the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority, and the Georgia Board of Corrections. Brown is a magna cum laude graduate of Tuskegee University, and has been recognized by Georgia Trend magazine as one of the state's 100 Most Influential Citizens and Most Respected CEO for 2012.

John C. Helmken II is the president and CEO of The Savannah Bancorp, Inc. and serves on the board of directors for both The Savannah Bancorp and The Savannah Bank. He also serves on the board of the Bryan Bank & Trust, Harbourside Community Bank, and Minis & Co. He is a graduate of Leadership Savannah and Leadership Georgia, and is past president of the Downtown Savannah Rotary Club. He serves on the board of the Savannah Book Festival, Hospice Savannah Foundation, The Savannah Foundation, and the Bethesda Home for Boys. He is a trustee on the Endowment Board of the Telfair Museum of Art and is on the Foundation Board of Armstrong Atlantic State University. He received a BA in finance from the University of Georgia.

Robert S. Jepson, Jr. is chairman and CEO of Jepson Associates, Inc., a private investment firm. Mr. Jepson and his wife, Alice Andrews Jepson, focus much of their philanthropy on higher education. The Georgia Historical Society's Jepson House Education Center, the Society's educational programming facility, is named in honor of the Jepson's for their fundraising efforts to acquire the house. He serves on the Boards of the Georgia Ports Authority and Dominion Resources, is chairman of the Board of Visitors of the Savannah College of Art and Design, and has been recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine as among the 100 Most Influential Georgians and Most Respected CEO for 2013.

Jackie Montag oversees business development at A. Montag & Associates, an Atlanta-based investment firm for endowments, families and foundations. She serves on the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation Board, the Friends of Trinity School Board, the Advisory Board of the Atlanta Girls School and the Board of Anti-Defamation League. She is past President of the Temple, past board chairman of the Atlanta History Center and past vice-chairman of Visiting Nurses Association. She is an active Wellesley College Alumna, a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 1990.

NEWS - Non-Profit Organizations

April 25, 2013 – The Georgia Historical Society is pleased to present awards to three outstanding individuals at the 174th Annual Meeting on May 2. The meeting and keynote address are free and open to the public. 

The John Macpherson Berrien Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a lifetime of achievement in and service to Georgia history, and is presented this year to Kenneth H. Thomas Jr. From his days visiting the Georgia Archives with his grandparents as a teenager, to his 33-year career as historian at the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, to his many years of service on the Georgia Historical Society's Board of Curators and Historical Marker Review Committee, to his current work as co-chair of the Coalition to Preserve the Georgia Archives, Thomas continues to make invaluable contributions to Georgia  history. 

The Sarah Nichols Pinckney Volunteer Award recognizes individuals and groups who have selflessly contributed their time and resources to advance the mission of the Georgia Historical Society, and is presented this year to Ellen B. Bolch for her many years of service and hard work as a member of the Georgia History Festival Committee. 

The History in the Media Award recognizes a journalist or news agency for excellence in reporting on history-related topics and will be presented this year to Tom Barton of the Savannah Morning News for his outstanding coverage of events surrounding the Georgia History Festival, for his portrayal of John C. Frémont as the 2013 Featured Historical Figure, and for his year-round editorial support of the Georgia Historical Society's mission. 

Georgia Historical Society's 174th Annual Meeting and Garden Party
5 p.m. –  Business Meeting (free and open to the public)
5:30 Keynote Address (free and open to the public)
6:30 Garden Party (reservations required; call 912-651-2125 ext. 119 for more information)   

Please visit GHS online to find out more about the Georgia Historical Society's 174th Annual Meeting and associated events.

NEWS - Non-Profit Organizations

April 24, 2013 – As National Child Abuse Prevention Month comes to an end, Savannah/Chatham CASA will host two final events to promote awareness of child abuse and neglect that exists in the local community. The first event, Small Bites for a Big Cause, will occur on Tuesday evening at the Chick-Fil-A of Pooler. Savannah/Chatham CASA has partnered with the local restaurants to hold this fundraiser and share with patrons the mission of CASA. A portion of the transactions from the Small Bites for a Big Cause will support CASA. Face painting will also be available for children.

The month of activities will conclude with the program’s Annual Meeting & Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Friday, April 26, 2013, 8 a.m. at Woodville-Tompkins High School, 151 Coach Joe Turner St. During this breakfast, Savannah/Chatham CASA, Inc. will share program statistics, recognition of program highlights and exciting achievements during 2012 and showcase its CASA volunteers. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the Court Appointed Special Advocates program and inquire about volunteer opportunities with the program. The cost of the breakfast is $10 per person.

CASA is central to fulfilling society’s most fundamental obligation by making sure a qualified, compassionate adult will fight for and protect a child’s right to be safe, to be treated with dignity and respect and to learn and grow in the safe embrace of a loving family. You can lift up a child’s voice, a child’s life. For more information about CASA, visit www.savannahcasa.org or call 912-447-8908 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Savannah/Chatham CASA is a 501(c)3 non-profit agency that recruit, screen, train, and supervise community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children who are under the jurisdiction of the Chatham County Juvenile Court. Savannah/Chatham CASA is proudly supported through funding from Georgia Department of Human Services - Promoting Safe & Stable Families, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council –State of Georgia, United Way of the Coastal Empire, National CASA, Georgia CASA and direct public support.

NEWS - Non-Profit Organizations

NEWS - Non-Profit Organizations

April 12, 2013 – Jersey Mike’s Subs, known for its fresh sliced/fresh grilled East Coast-style subs, once again called on the support of sub sandwich lovers everywhere who made a substantial difference this March during the third annual “Month of Giving” by helping to raise an unprecedented $1.7 million for 86 different charities nationwide.  For the total amount raised in your local market as well as a complete listing of participating restaurants and charities in your area, go to www.jerseymikes.com/mog.

“Our extraordinarily generous customers, franchise owners, team members and charity partners have outdone themselves this year during our third annual Month of Giving,” said Peter Cancro, Jersey Mike’s founder and CEO.  “We are grateful to each and every one of them.  With the passionate participation of our local communities, this year we were able to more than double our Month of Giving contributions to our charity partners as they continue every day to make a difference in their local communities.”

During the month of March, customers were invited to come in to their local Jersey Mike’s restaurant and make a donation to a local designated charity partner. The campaign culminated in Jersey Mike’s “Day of Giving” on Wednesday, March 27, a day-long nationwide event when 100 percent of the day’s sales were donated to each local charity partner. The charity recipients included hospitals, youth organizations, food banks and more.

Last year’s “Month of Giving” raised $858,000 for 74 local charities. Since 2010, including proceeds from this year’s “Month of Giving” campaign, Jersey Mike’s locations throughout the country have raised almost $7 million for worthy local charities and distributed more than 500,000 free sub sandwiches to help numerous causes.

The stories of the charities involved in the nationwide fundraising campaign are diverse and include the following highlights (you can read more about their stories here).

• 19 Jersey Mike’s Subs restaurants in the Dallas/Fort Worth area raised nearly $100,000 for Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer (WOKC).  This market was a key inspiration for the national program and in the last four years the Month of Giving has raised $325,000 for WOKC which has used the financial support to fund research trials investigating new treatment options for childhood cancers and to expand the Buddy Bag program for newly diagnosed families.  “Jersey Mike’s understands the importance of standing together for the future of our children. The funds raised through the Month of Giving will provide funding for critical research projects that give hope to our vision of a day when all children are living cancer free,” said Evelyn Costolo, CEO for Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer.

• 13 Jersey Mike’s locations in the West Palm Beach/Fort Pierce area raised $47,000 for Quantum House, a supportive home that lessens the burden for families whose children are receiving treatment in Palm Beach County for a serious medical condition.  This is the first time Quantum House has participated in the fundraiser. Executive Director Roberta H. Jurney said, “Not only is Jersey Mike’s offering delicious food, Jersey Mike’s is changing lives through Month of Giving.”

• 31 Atlanta area restaurants raised more than $82,000 for Bert’s Big Adventure.  The market ranked fifth nationwide when it came to the largest Month of Giving donations in the Jersey Mike’s system. This is the fourth year Jersey Mike’s has partnered with the charity, started by radio personality Bert Weiss and his wife Stacey.  The organization provides a magical, all-expenses-paid, five-day journey to Walt Disney World® for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families as well as year round support.  "The amount of support that Jersey Mike's showed Bert's Big Adventure, simply put, blew me away,” said Weiss.

• Eight California Inland Empire Jersey Mike’s restaurants raised more than $35,000 to support Steven’s Hope for Children and its mission to help families of seriously ill or injured children.  “People kept saying, ‘Jersey Mike’s is giving 100 percent?’ – no one could fathom it.  I am so blown away by the corporate culture and sense of giving.  This will make a really big impact,” said Tony Cappelli, who founded the organization with his wife Sandy.

Started at the Jersey Shore in 1956, Jersey Mike's continued its steady growth in 2012 opening 92 new restaurants throughout the country, a 33 percent increase in new store growth over 2011. “Giving…making a difference in someone’s life” has been the mission of Jersey Mike’s from the beginning.

Jersey Mike’s, a fast-casual sub sandwich franchise with more than 750 locations open and under development nationwide, has a long history of community involvement and support. Started at the Jersey Shore in 1956, Jersey Mike’s serves authentic East Coast-style subs on fresh baked bread – the same recipe it started with over 50 years ago.  The company’s mission is to bring its customers the highest quality, freshest made sub in the industry and give back to the communities in which it operates. A store locator and franchise information for Jersey Mike’s can be found at www.jerseymikes.com.

NEWS - Non-Profit Organizations

Proceeds will support affordable housing

April 2, 2013 – Thrivent Financial for Lutherans invites Savannah families and Sand Gnat fans to “Pack the Park for Habitat,” at Grayson Stadium on Sat. Apr. 27. The event, which will start at 4 p.m., continues the organization’s effort to support Habitat for Humanity Savannah’s goal of creating safe and affordable housing in partnership with the community’s low-income families. Prior to the baseball game, Thrivent will host a hearty BBQ dinner with proceeds going directly to support Habitat’s homeownership program.

Thrivent Financial is continuing a unique partnership begun in 2012, wherein the organization committed financial, volunteer, and material donations towards the construction of a Habitat home on Archer Avenue.

“Thrivent Financial and Habitat Savannah understand the importance that safe, decent housing plays in building a community,” said Adam Hess, the Financial Associate at Thrivent Financial.  “Our continued commitment to Habitat Savannah reflects our awareness that Habitat Savannah is making the community a better place.

In 30 years of existence, Habitat for Humanity Savannah has established itself as a leading developer of affordable housing.  The non-profit organization partners with corporations, individual volunteers, and applicant families in developing decent and energy efficient homes that a family will purchase one day. Strict guidelines govern the selection of partner families, ensuring that Habitat’s home owners are those in need.  Responding to the expanding need, the organization plans to build 10 individual family homes in 2013, each at a builder’s cost of $98,000, adding to the 120 homes that it has built since established in 1983.

About Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity:
The Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity, located in Savannah, Georgia, and an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is a nonprofit Christian organization dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. Habitat for Humanity brings together people with resources and people in need to build simple, decent, affordable houses. The houses are sold to those in need at no profit, through no-interest loans. Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1983 and has opened the door to home ownership to 120 families throughout Savannah. Anyone interested in volunteering or contributing to Habitat Savannah’s mission is encouraged to call Habitat for Humanity at 912.353.8122 or visit us at www.habitatsavannah.org; www.facebook.com/HabitatSavannah or www.twitter.com/HabitatSavannah.

About Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity:
Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is a multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International.  Thrivent Build is designed to involve Thrivent members and Lutherans in helping provide a “hand up” to people in need of affordable housing, offering them a path to greater economic independence. Excluding government funding, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is Habitat’s largest single source of funding, constructing more than 2,600 homes in the U.S. and around the world since 2005.  For more information, visit www.thriventbuilds.com.

About Thrivent Financial for Lutherans:
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a not-for-profit, Fortune 500 financial services membership organization helping approximately 2.5 million members achieve financial security and give back to their local communities.  Thrivent Financial and its affiliates offer a broad range of financial products and services.  As a not-for-profit organization, Thrivent Financial creates and supports national outreach programs and activities that help congregations, schools, charitable organizations and individuals in need. For more information, visit www.thrivent.com. Also you can find the local office by calling 912-704-6425 or at www.Thrivent.com/fr/adam.hess or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/adam.hess.thrivent.

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April 1, 2013 – The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) announces the Fourth Annual Night of Champions set for Thursday, May 9, 2013 at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa. The public is invited to attend this event that celebrates the excellent contributions made by differently-abled adults who are employed, contributing members of our community. Local businesses that both hire people with intellectual disabilities and encourage other area businesses to do the same will also be recognized.

According to the National Down Syndrome Congress Center, as many as eighty percent of adults with Down syndrome are unemployed. Low expectations and a lack of understanding about the great skills and wonderful work ethic many people with Down syndrome possess have contributed to this sad statistic. LDSS hopes to reverse this trend by encouraging area employers to give workers with intellectual disabilities a chance.

“Dignity and self-respect are borne out of feeling that what we have to offer makes a difference,” said LDSS Night of Champions Chairperson, Allyson Harvin. “When forward thinking businesses give those with Down syndrome, or other differently abled adults, a chance to be productive members of society, society itself benefits. What is truly admirable is the employer who understands that differently abled employees are just that, differently abled, not disabled.”

The 2013 Night of Champions is being held in the Ballroom at Westin Savannah Harbor Hotel and the evening includes the awards ceremony, a silent auction, dinner and cash bar. Doors open at 6 p.m. and business attire is requested. Tickets are $25 per person or reserve a table for 10 for $250. Tickets can be purchased online at nightofchampions.org

About the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society:
The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) is a non-profit support group to benefit people with Down Syndrome and their families through local leadership in support, outreach, education and advocacy. Meetings are held every 4th Tuesday of the month, typically with a guest speaker and social time for families to meet and interact with one another. We encourage people to bring their children. We are an affiliate of the National Down Syndrome Society. http://www.ldssga.org/

NEWS - Non-Profit Organizations

March 29, 2013 – The Coastal Georgia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is pleased to announce that it will be awarding a record-breaking total of $345,000 for community services that will fund everything from educational programs to screening mammograms. This brings the  total investment in our local coastal community to over $1.3 million dollars since our Affiliate’s inception.  Determined to save lives and end breast cancer forever, the Coastal Georgia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® has awarded eight grants to programs providing breast cancer services in the coastal Georgia area:

• Coastal Health District – “Early Detection Saves Lives”
• Community Health Mission – “One Woman at a Time”
• Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care – “CVCPHC Mammogram Screening Program”
• Effingham Hospital – “Comprehensive Education and Screening Program”
• Hearts and Hands – “Hearts & Hands for Mammograms”
• Liberty County Health Department – “BRAVE III Program”
• Memorial Health – “Memorial Mammogram Program 2013”
• Southeast Georgia Health System – “Mammograms in Motion”

“Through our grants program, we are able to provide life-saving services to Coastal Georgia residents that might otherwise fall through the cracks ,” said Beth Desloges, Executive Director  of the Coastal Georgia Affiliate.  “This year we focused our funding on increasing access to care for underinsured women, particularly rural, African American and Latina populations”.

The Komen Coastal Georgia Affiliate is one of 123 Komen Affiliates worldwide – all pledging to relieve suffering from the disease and to end breast cancer forever. Through local events and activities, the Komen Coastal Georgia Affiliate mobilizes and educates thousands of community members while raising funds to support community-based breast cancer programs.

In order to ensure it is funding programs that address the specific unmet breast cancer needs of the Coastal Georgia community, the Komen Coastal Georgia Affiliate works with local health care professionals and community leaders to conduct a comprehensive community needs assessment. This community profile, a standard practice of all Komen Affiliates, is then used to establish a local grant application and review process consistent with the organization’s standards and mission.

Grant funding is generated through a number of Affiliate fundraisers held throughout the year, the largest of which is the Susan G. Komen Savannah Race for the Cure®, which is scheduled for April 13. Up to 75 percent of net proceeds from all funds generated stays in Coastal Georgia and is used to fund programs that address the specific unmet breast cancer needs in Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh counties.

Last year, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Affiliates – working in concert with local organizations – awarded more than $93 million in needs-based community grants. That's in addition to the 25 percent of their income Affiliates contribute toward the many millions the organization invests each year in promising research.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the Komen Coastal Georgia Affiliate:
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever, and in 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The Coastal Georgia Affiliate is part of the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network fighting breast cancer. Through events like the Komen Savannah Race for the Cure, the Coastal Georgia Affiliate has invested more than $750,000 in community breast cancer programs in eight coastal Georgia counties. Up to 75 percent of net proceeds generated by the Affiliate stays in the Coastal Georgia. The remaining 25 percent funds national breast cancer research. For more information, call 232-2535 or visit www.komencoastalgeorgia.org.