Good Works: Falcons honor volunteers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
January 14, 2004
By: Betty Parham
The Atlanta Falcons announced Barbara Gibson of Decatur as the winner of the Parade/Atlanta Falcons Community Quarterback Award, a national volunteer recognition program that will donate nearly $1 million to community organizations served by volunteers.
Gibson received a grant of $10,000 donated in her name to Hospice Atlanta, where she has volunteered for 5 1/2 years, providing companionship to terminally ill patients. She is also eligible to become the national winner, which will be announced Feb. 1, Super Bowl Sunday, in Parade magazine. If she should win, NFL Charities will donate an additional $25,000 to Hospice Atlanta.
Local runners-up include Jennie Glasgow of Atlanta (Bee a Buckler Safety Program); Peggy Gunning of Atlanta (Atlanta Children’s Shelter); Dr. Tracy Land of Cumming (Project Spay/Neuter Inc.); John C. Mayoue of Atlanta (Compeer Atlanta) and Jessica Rowland of Stone Mountain (Cool Girls Inc.). The charitable organizations of the runners-up each will receive a $2,000 grant.
— Betty Parham
FOLLOW-UPS: Home tour takes in big bucks
Members of the Women’s Club of Sugarloaf Country Club were amazed when they added up the profits from their recent home tour. The take was a whopping $174,000. “It was a surprise to everyone,” said Kim Hardcastle, who did PR for the event. The Boys and Girls Club, Spectrum Autism and Gwinnett Children’s Shelter each received $58,000 from the three-day event held in November, which included six homes. Tickets were $25. The group also donated $8,000 to the Gwinnett chapter of the Boys and Girls Club, since that is their local chapter.
Eagles ready to fly
Remember the Clayton Eagles, the wheelchair soccer team trying to raise money to fly to the Wheelchair Soccer National Championships in San Diego? Well, they made it. Team members and chaperones are to fly out Thursday to compete this weekend. Individual donations into jars left at store counters plus help from Eagle Mortgage, Phillips and Son’s Custom Homes, Chuck Vrono, Crown Chase Subdivision, Costco, Ryan’s Steakhouse, RiverForest Golf and Equestrian Community, World Changers Ministries and the Clayton County School System helped the team reach its goal.
HELP WANTED
Happy Tails Pet Therapy Inc. wants you and your dog or cat to volunteer. The nonprofit organization, whose members and their pets brighten patients’ days at local health care facilities, social agencies and special needs programs, urgently needs critters and their owners to fill all their visitation requests. 770-740-8211, www.happytailspets.org.
The ALS Association of Georgia needs volunteers to help support patients living with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Volunteers may help with administrative tasks in the office, help train patients to use various communication devices, provide support through special projects and help with fund-raising events. Call Brianne NaLampoon at 404-870-4424.
Interfaith Outreach Home is a transitional housing program for couples with children who are in an economic crisis. If you are a public relations or marketing professional, the home needs your help with press releases and media kits. Call LaTonya Reed, 770-457-3727.
OF NOTE
* Teen volunteers increasing. Twenty-nine percent of Americans were involved in volunteer service in 2003 — up from 27 percent in 2002 — according to figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor. Although 35- to 44-year-olds are still the most likely to volunteer (34.7 percent), the increase was highest among teens. Teenage volunteerism rose 2.6 percentage points in 2003, to 29.5 percent. For more details, see www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/volun.pdf.
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Copyright 2004 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution