LOWCOUNTRY DOWN SYNDROME ANNOUNCES 5 CHAMPIONS

(SAVANNAH, GA) — The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society hosted its 15th annual Night of Champions & Hiring Expo on Friday, May 3rd, 2024, at the Savannah Convention Center on Hutchinson Island.The Night of Champions event honored local businesses that employ differently-abled adults, including those with Down syndrome, and celebrated the invaluable contributions made by these remarkable individuals.

This year’s champions gather for a photo with their awards at the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society’s 15th annual Night of Champions & Hiring Expo, from left to right: Shelby VanArsdale, Carey Moss, Darren Fuller, Brian Walker and Lainey Bogardus.

This year’s Champions are:

Lainey Bogardus:
Michael’s Craft Store
A Champion is someone who takes on challenges and conquers obstacles. You will see that Lainey Bogardus does just that at Michael’s Craft Store where she has been working for over a
year. She has mastered every task she has been asked to do. She comes to work on time and has a ready to get to work attitude. She has learned the inventory processes on the computer and the team relies on her accuracy to keep the inventory up to date. Lainey has also learned where all of the products are located in the store and can take customers right where they need to go. Lainey is the true definition of a Champion and is a very valuable asset to the store

Darren Fuller
Butler Elementary School
Darren has been working at Butler Elementary School since 1991 and has definitely made his mark in the Cafeteria as a Food Service Worker. He will proudly tell you that he has not missed
a day of work in all 20+ years of his employment. Darren helps to stock items, cleans after each dining time, and helps to serve healthy meals to the children. Darren’s lovely smile and superior
customer service have created a wonderful environment at the school. His enthusiasm has established him as a true Champion and as a favorite with teachers, staff, and students alike!

Shelby Vanarsdale
Effingham Commissioner’s Office
A true Champion leads the way and makes a difference. Shelby exemplifies this spirit. Since July 2018, she has been a vital part of the Effingham County Board of Commissioners Office.
While she began in the mail room, Shelby’s ambition and drive quickly outgrew that role. Recognizing her potential, she advocated for herself, leading to significant benefits for the Commissioner’s Office. Today, Shelby is the welcoming face of the Developmental Service Department. Beyond her professional duties, she dedicates her time to serving on the Board of the Effingham County Navigator’s Team and volunteering at Ship It, a pack-and-ship mailing service in Springfield.

Carey Moss
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
For a decade, Carey has been an employee at Gulfstream. He began his career on the production floor and now serves in the Customer Support Distribution Center. Known for his unwavering positivity and dedication, Carey uplifts his team with every task he undertakes. His ability to forge lasting connections and meaningful relationships among coworkers is commendable. With a constant positive attitude, Carey approaches each day with enthusiasm,
ready to excel in his role and enhance the efficiency of the distribution center. Recognized for his style and charm, Carey’s deliveries are always accompanied by a radiant smile, solidifying
his status as a highly esteemed member of the team and a true Champion.

Brian Walker
Publix Whitemarsh Island
Brian has been affectionately called “Buddy” by the customers and employees at Publix Whitemarsh Island for over 10 years! He loves his job and does exceptionally great work. You will always be greeted with a smile from Brian. He started as a courtesy clerk, but has worked hard to move into positions of cashier, bakery assistant and produce assistant when the opportunities arise. He never complains and is always willing and ready to help out in any way
he can. Brian is definitely our Champion at Publix!

Bill Grainger
Owner, Grainger family of dealerships
In the realm of faith, the principles of time, talent, and treasure hold significant meaning. It’s a rarity to find an individual who embodies all three with such profound impact, but Bill Grainger is one such exceptional person. He dedicates time to personally connect with each of his employees, regardless of their abilities. His talent shines through his mastery of the car sales process, evident in his inclusive approach towards individuals with special needs. Bill’s generosity extends beyond words, as seen in his substantial financial contributions, including the remarkable donation of a brand-new 2024 automobile. Through his unwavering commitment, Bill exemplifies a vision of creating a better world for all people embodying the true spirit of community leadership.

“Our mission at LDSS extends far beyond a mere awards ceremony; it’s a platform for recognizing the incredible potential inherent in every individual,” stated LDSS President Joe Marchese.

The Hiring Expo featured companies offering job opportunities tailored to adults with diverse abilities. Night of Champions serves as a testament to the profound impact of embracing diversity in the workplace. Beyond showcasing success stories from esteemed businesses, attendees gain firsthand insight into the myriad benefits of inclusive hiring practices and the chance to connect with prospective employees.

ABOUT THE LOWCOUNTRY DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY
The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) supports people with Down syndrome and their families through local leadership, support, outreach, education and advocacy. Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month, typically with a guest speaker and social time for families to meet and interact. LDSS encourages the whole family to attend; children of all ages are welcome. LDSS is an affiliate of the National Down Syndrome Society.

For more information about LDSS, visit http://www.ldssga.org/CONTACT

Lindsey Barron
Construction Administrator
Joe Marchese
Marchese Construction, Inc
lindsey@marchese.construction
229-457-7974CONTACT

Joe Marchese
Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society
jmarchese@ldssga.org
912-213-9999

MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912-844-9990
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

LOWCOUNTRY DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY ANNOUNCES MAY FAMILY SUPPORT MEETING: CELEBRATING THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND WELCOMING SUMMER

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society is thrilled to invite the public to its upcoming May Family Support Meeting on Thursday, May 16, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at 1525 Dean Forest Rd., Savannah, GA 31408, with attendees asked to use the side entrance labeled “100A” for access.

As the school year draws to a close and the warmth of summer approaches, LDSS is preparing to celebrate and welcome the opportunities that summer brings. The May meeting promises to be an engaging and informative event for families and caregivers in the community.

Attendees can anticipate an exciting lineup of guest speakers who will share valuable insights and information about summer programs and activities tailored for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. From recreational opportunities to educational programs, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about a variety of resources available to make the most out of the upcoming summer months.

The LDSS May Family Support Meeting offers a supportive environment for families to connect, share experiences, and access valuable resources. Whether attendees are seasoned members of the LDSS community or newcomers seeking support and information, all are welcome to participate in this enriching event.

ABOUT THE LOWCOUNTRY DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY
The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) supports people with Down syndrome and their families through local leadership, support, outreach, education and advocacy. Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month, typically with a guest speaker and social time for families to meet and interact. LDSS encourages the whole family to attend; children of all ages are welcome. LDSS is an affiliate of the National Down Syndrome Society. For more information about LDSS, visit http://www.ldssga.org/

CONTACT
Joe Marchese
Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society
jmarchese@ldssga.org
912-213-9999

MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912-844-9990
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

Differently-Abled Dance Team, Dance Savannah Honey Dippers Clinch World Dance Championship Title

(Orlando, Florida / Savannah, GA) The dance world witnessed history in the making as the remarkable Honey Dippers of Dance Savannah Elite emerged victorious at the prestigious Dance Worlds 2024, held in Orlando, Florida, from April 26th to 29th, 2024.

Comprising six exceptionally talented athletes, the Honey Dippers of Dance Savannah Elite stood out amidst 1,650 dancers from the United States All-Star Federation (USASF). Their journey, rooted in inclusivity, empowerment, and sheer artistic brilliance, has been nothing short of inspiring.

The Team (left to right)
Coach Mercedes Green
Jesse Johnson
Catherine Solferino
Shaina Pachter
Sean Hussey
Emily Kenkel
Ethan Shreck
Coach Lucy Jordan
Coach Tysheena Jordan-Gordon

Since their inception in the fall of 2023, the Honey Dippers have captivated audiences with their unparalleled performances in Savannah and Pigeon Forge. Their selection to perform at Disney’s Dance Worlds was a testament to their exceptional talent and dedication to their craft.

“We are thrilled and honored to represent our community on the global stage of Dance Worlds 2024 and come in First Place,” expressed Tysheena Jordan-Gordon, the visionary behind Dance Savannah Elite. “For us, dance is more than just movement; it’s a form of self-expression, empowerment, and unity. We hope to inspire others to pursue their dreams fearlessly, regardless of any obstacles they may face.”

The Honey Dippers’ triumph at Dance Worlds 2024 not only highlights their extraordinary talent but also emphasizes the significance of inclusion and diversity in the dance world. Through their performances, they have shattered stereotypes, redefined boundaries, and touched the hearts of countless individuals worldwide.

As they bask in the glory of their well-deserved victory, the Honey Dippers of Dance Savannah Elite extend their heartfelt gratitude to their supporters, mentors, and the entire dance community for believing in their dreams.

For media inquiries, interviews, or additional information, please contact:

Tysheena Jordan-Gordon
Dance Savannah Elite
Phone: (912) 275-3764
Email: dancesavannahelite@gmail.com

Follow Dance Savannah Elite’s journey on social media:
Instagram: @dancesavannahelite
Facebook: Dance Savannah Elite
Twitter: @dancesavannahelite

Official Website: www.dancesavannah912.com

Healthy Savannah Awarded $150,000 Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Equity Initiative Grant to Prevent Certain Cancers

(SAVANNAH, Ga.) Cervical cancer rates in Georgia average about 8 per 100,000 women, slightly higher than the national average. But cervical cancer incidence rates in some Georgia counties are even higher, and among Black women, mortality rates are almost 1.5x as high as White women.

Georgia additionally ranks 30th in the nation for its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage rate of 61.5%. Research suggests if the coverage rate rose to 90%, HPV-related cervical cancer could be drastically reduced, especially among communities that may have experienced institutional and structural racism, leading to mistrust in health systems.

In February 2024, CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, a Virginia organization committed to better health and well-being and addressing the barriers to equity, recognized that Healthy Savannah was well equipped to lead the way to promote vaccine equity in preventing certain HPV-related cancers in the Savannah area. The 70-year-old organization awarded the local non-profit a one-year $150,000 HPV Vaccination Equity Initiative grant to foster new and expanded community-driven solutions addressing factors that negatively impact access to HPV-related cancer prevention interventions for disproportionately affected local populations.

Since 2018, Healthy Savannah has been at the forefront of health equity initiatives as co-administrator of two five-year collaborative Racial & Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grants totaling $8.5 million. During the first grant period (2018-2023), Healthy Savannah and co-administrator YMCA of Coastal Georgia worked toward improving access to nutritious food, systemic change to create safe places for physical activity, and easy access to local resources through the website HeroHelpMe.com. The work expanded with a supplemental grant issued in 2021 for COVID-19 and flu vaccine awareness. In the second five-year REACH grant awarded in 2023, the work expanded again to include breastfeeding and adult immunizations and continues emphasizing the importance of policy, systems, and environmental change toward health equity.

Healthy Savannah is one of only three organizations across the state of Georgia to be awarded the CHC’s HPV Vaccination Equity Initiative grant. Established in 2007 by (then) Mayor Dr. Otis Johnson, the local non-profit is now adapting the methodologies it developed under the REACH grants – promoting access, awareness, and acceptance of adult vaccines – to encompass prevention interventions for certain cancers, especially in Black and Hispanic populations that may have a mistrust of vaccines and the healthcare system.

Healthy Savannah hired Patricia Merritt on April 1 to coordinate its new HPV Vaccination Equity Initiative program. She has worked in the community for the past 30 years with children and families with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. Merritt served as Court Administrator with the Chatham County Juvenile Court until November 2022. She also worked as director of Behavioral Health for the Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council. Merritt earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Science from Nova Southeastern University. She is currently working on a Ph.D. in public safety, criminal justice, at Capella University.

“I was aware of the HPV vaccine before, but I didn’t focus on its ability to prevent or greatly reduce certain cancers,” said Merritt. “Now that I am learning about its many benefits, I’m excited to be one of the messengers to share this message of hope with Black and Hispanic Savannahians. Our goal, which has proven to be achievable, is to decrease Cervical cancer deaths to nearly zero.”

In 2007, Australia was one of the first countries to introduce a national HPV vaccination program, and it has since achieved high vaccination coverage across both sexes. Cervical cancer mortality is estimated to decrease to less than an age-standardized annual rate of one death per 100,000 women by 2034.
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30291040/]

“Healthy Savannah is further expanding its award-winning Community Health Advocate (CHA) program, established during the first REACH grant in 2021, to include the benefits of HPV vaccination,” said Elsie Smalls, Adult Immunization Operations manager. “We have since trained more than 80 Community Health Advocates who share masks, hand sanitizer, and science-based information with people in their neighborhoods, jobs, schools, and at sporting events.”

The CHAs are also currently promoting the CDC’s Bridge Access Program, which offers no-cost COVID-19 vaccines across Chatham County at the Coastal Health District’s Eisenhower Clinic, J. C. Lewis Primary Health Care and several CVS and Walgreens branches through the end of this year. The Bridge Access Program is available to uninsured or underinsured individuals through December 31, 2024.

Under the new HPV Vaccination Equity Initiative grant, the CHAs will help connect community members, as well as the uninsured and underinsured to free or low-cost programs offering HPV vaccines, which help protect individuals ages 9 to 45 against certain cancers including cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal and oral.

Healthy Savannah recently invited current, former and prospective CHAs to a listening session on April 18 to introduce the new HPV Vaccination Equity Initiative program, and plans to hold an initial training session on May 2.

“Our CHA methodology aligns with Healthy Savannah’s vision of utilizing an ‘upstream’ approach to foster sustainable health equity among racial and ethnic minority populations in low-wealth neighborhoods,” said Paula Kreissler, executive director. “We have developed successful methods to employ this approach in areas of nutrition, physical activity and the reduction of chronic diseases.”

Smalls says those chosen to become Community Health Advocates after the training will receive a $600 incentive for performing community outreach activities to share information about the benefits of the HPV vaccine and increase access and awareness.

For more information about the CHA program and to attend a future listening session, visit https://healthysavannah.org/2021/07/09/community-advocate-program/.

ABOUT THE HEALTHY SAVANNAH HPV VACCINATION EQUITY INITIATIVE
In February 2024, the CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, awarded a one-year $150,000 grant to Healthy Savannah to promote vaccine equity to prevent cancer and support new and expanded community-driven solutions to address social and other factors that negatively impact access to cancer prevention interventions for disproportionately affected populations in the Savannah area. Specifically, the grant will support Healthy Savannah’s initiatives in developing, implementing, and bringing resources and policy attention to solutions that break down barriers of mistrust in the healthcare system, skepticism of vaccine effectiveness and lack of awareness about vaccine access and the availability of prevention interventions for certain cancers. Healthy Savannah is one of only three organizations across the state of Georgia to be awarded this grant and is adapting its award-winning Community Health Advocate (CHA) program and working with more than 200 community partners and organizations to foster sustainable health equity in this space. Healthy Savannah developed the CHA program during the first of two five-year CDC Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grants it currently administers with the YMCA of Coastal Georgia. The methodology uses an “upstream” approach to foster sustainable health equity among racial and ethnic minority populations in low-wealth neighborhoods in areas of nutrition, physical activity and the reduction of chronic diseases. In July 2022, Healthy Savannah received the CDC’s 2022 REACH Lark Galloway-Gilliam Award for Advancing Health Equity Challenge. The award recognizes extraordinary individuals and entities whose work has contributed to advancing health equity.
healthysavannah.org

MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912.844.9990
www.carriagetradepr.com
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

Enmarket Celebrates Grand Opening of 131st Store with Community Event and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

(SAVANNAH, Ga) Enmarket celebrated the grand opening of its latest store, marking a significant milestone as the 131st Enmarket convenience store to serve the Southeast community. Located at the intersection of White Bluff Road and Eisenhower Drive, this newly constructed store brings an array of offerings to the area.

Many members of the community and vendor partners came to join the celebration. Guests enjoyed a diverse array of product samplings from The Eatery @Enmarket, including pizza, chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese and Mooz Yogurt. Multiple esteemed vendors like Coke, Pepsi, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, Red Bull, Prime Hydration, and Alani Nu joined the festivities and shared free products. Customers had the opportunity to spin the Enjoy Rewards wheel for chances to win fuel discounts, food discounts, free car washes and extra entries for door prizes.

The Enmarket ribbon cutting took place at 11:00 a.m. and grand opening was from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on April 18 at 10 Eisenhower Dr. in Savannah, Ga.

“We were thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of our newest store, enriching our ability to serve our valued customers, especially those in proximity to the Hunter Army Airfield,” remarked Matt Clements, President of Enmarket, a division of the Savannah-based Colonial Group. “As we commemorate our 60th year Anniversary, this milestone holds special significance for us, reflecting our longstanding commitment to providing exceptional service and convenience to the communities we serve.”

Featuring food service from the renowned Eatery and Mooz frozen yogurt, the new store promises a delightful experience for visitors. Additionally, customers can avail themselves of the convenience of an in-bay Marketwash car wash.

Employing 25 individuals on-site, the store stands on the grounds of a former Fiat dealership, now transformed into a state-of-the-art retail space. Boasting a 12-pump canopy offering multiple fuel grades including unleaded, mid-grade, premium, non-ethanol, and diesel, Enmarket ensures a comprehensive service experience for patrons. Moreover, the addition of Marketwash, Enmarket’s in-bay carwash brand, provides customers with an array of car wash package options, accessible through the Marketwash mobile app.

Enmarket remains committed to environmental stewardship, exemplified by the preservation of a 300-year-old live oak tree on the property. Collaborating with Bartlett Tree Services, Enmarket implemented various conservation techniques to safeguard this natural treasure. The majestic Savannah Live Oak now serves as a focal point, offering outdoor seating beneath its sprawling canopy.

Spanning 6,098 square feet, the convenience store boasts the acclaimed Enmarket Eatery. Recognized as the Convenience Foodservice Innovator to Watch by Convenience Store News in 2020, the Eatery offers a Southern-inspired menu featuring an array of fresh, healthy, and on-the-go options. From breakfast burritos and platters to lunch specials and made-fresh fried chicken, the Eatery caters to diverse tastes. Moreover, customers can indulge in Mooz frozen yogurt, complemented by an endless beverage bar offering high-quality Bean-2-Cup coffee, Savannah Sweet Tea®, and a myriad of fountain and frozen beverage choices.

ABOUT ENMARKET:

Enmarket employs more than 1,300 people and operates 131 convenience stores that include 30 Eatery locations in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The company also operates 13 restaurants branded as Subway, Larry’s Giant Subs, Baldino’s and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, as well as 26 Marketwash car washes. The company was founded as Interstate Stations by Robert Demere in 1964. In 2024 Enmarket is celebrating 60 years in business. Enmarket is committed to giving back to the community through many charitable contributions and volunteer efforts and offering fresh food, healthy snacks and competitively priced quality fuel as part of its mission to enrich life. Enmarket secured the naming rights in 2021 for the Enmarket Arena. www.enmarket.com

Media Contact
Carriage Trade Public Relations®
Marjorie Young, Founder
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com
912-844-9990

Healthy Savannah’s Faith and Health Coalition Hosts April 21 Faith Walk at Lake Mayer

(SAVANNAH, GA) Healthy Savannah’s Faith and Health Coalition will host a free community event to celebrate health, wellness and springtime fun on Sunday, April 21 at Lake Mayer Community Park. Those planning to attend are encouraged to RSVP at https://www.punchbowl.com/parties/39cba6fa531bc8c713f8

Called “Faith Walk” and co-sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, the event will be held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Lake Mayer pavilions, located at 1850 E. Montgomery Cross Rd., The activities will include a variety of healthy resources and giveaways for adults and games for kids such as corn hole, jump ropes and Hula-Hoops.

“We’ll be giving away 100 grocery bags from Forsyth Farmer’s Market, courtesy of Anthem, and CORE will be on hand with free COVID vaccinations for underinsured and uninsured adults,” said Ruby Castro, Nutrition Program manager. “Representatives from GirlTrek, Black Girls Do Bike, and Black Girls Run are also expected to be on hand with exciting information about those programs and to help show off the benefits of walking and bike riding.”

Attendees will also be able to participate in a healthy walk around the Lake Mayer trail which provides a connection point to the Truman Linear Park Trail. Those who wish to receive a free COVID vaccine are encouraged to register in advance at https://curogram.com/registrations/6164217118fe6d009fed44c1

“Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal that inspires us to reconnect with each other,” said Pastor Yolanda Roberson, executive pastor at Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship and chair of the Faith and Health Coalition. “It is both refreshing and exciting for the entire community to join with those from our faith-based organizations to enjoy fellowship and healthy activities together.”

Healthy Savannah’s Faith and Health Coalition is a sub-committee of Healthy Savannah, formed in 2014 to support faith-based organizations in implementing policies and programs that promote health. The Coalition strives to help elevate the health and wellness of the community through funding from an initial $3.4 million, five-year CDC Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant awarded in 2018 and a second five-year, $5.1 million REACH grant awarded in 2023, both administered by Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia.

“We’ll additionally share the latest news about the scheduled completion of the Truman Linear Park Trail as well as updates on the entire Tide to Town urban trail system project,” said Armand Turner, Healthy Savannah’s deputy director, who also serves as the Friends of Tide to Town board president. “We are making great strides now that the City has brought a project manager on board, and we are also working with City staff on an official agreement between Friends of Tide to Town and the City of Savannah that outlines how the two entities can work together to ensure the trail system is constructed and maintained with equity and health in mind.”

Friends of Tide to Town is a nonprofit organization formed in 2017 to advocate for the development and promotion of Savannah’s Urban Trail System through community engagement activities.

Construction of the final three-mile stretch of the Truman Trail from DeRenne Avenue to 52nd Street is expected to get underway later this year. Once completed, it will fully connect the Lake Mayer Park Trail Loop to the Daffin Park Trail Loop, creating nine miles of continuous off- and on-road bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure through the heart of Savannah. The entire Tide to Town project is expected to connect 75% of Savannah’s neighborhoods to safe walking and biking infrastructure. It will include a network of 30+ miles of bikeable and walkable trails connecting more than 60 neighborhoods and 30 schools in Savannah and Chatham County, from downtown to the marshes and waterways.

In November, Savannah City Manager Joseph A. Melder appointed Tina Bockhold to take over management of the Tide to Town project, which received an additional $10 million in funding from the City Council last fall due to an increase in the hotel/motel tax and $8 million that was approved in February for construction of Phase IIB of the Truman Linear Park Trail. Bockhold, with 10 years of experience as a traffic engineer for Chatham County and the Georgia Department of Transportation, will manage all phases of the project design and construction.

Healthy Savannah’s online Healthy Walks map, https://healthysavannah.org/our-programs/physical-activity/healthy-walks-story-map/, shows trail routes all across Savannah and Chatham County. Trail users are encouraged to share walk experiences by tagging photos and videos with #activepeoplehealthysavannah, #activepeople and #HealthyWalk.

ABOUT THE YMCA OF COASTAL GEORGIA/HEALTHY SAVANNAH GRANT FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH: In September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded a second grant called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) to Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia. $5.1 million in funding is being deployed over a five-year period to be utilized in an “upstream” approach to foster sustainable health equity among racial and ethnic minority populations in low-wealth neighborhoods in areas of nutrition, physical activity and the reduction of chronic diseases. The renewed funding enables work to continue which began under the initial, five-year, $3.4 million REACH grant awarded in 2018, and a supplemental grant awarded in 2021 to increase awareness and acceptance of COVID-19 and flu adult immunizations. Working with more than 200 community partners and organizations, the Savannah/Chatham County project team’s specific goals in implementing the new five-year grant include fostering physical activity by creating greater access to safe places to walk, run, bike and play; elevating the health and wellness of the community through policy, systems, and environmental change; and providing education and awareness regarding adult immunizations, especially as they relate to health disparities in chronic conditions of hypertension, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The administrators will also continue to foster stronger connections between people and the healthcare providers who serve them by supporting awareness and use of the HERO Help Me database. In July 2022, Healthy Savannah received the CDC’s 2022 REACH Lark Galloway-Gilliam Award for Advancing Health Equity Challenge. The award recognizes extraordinary individuals and entities whose work has contributed to advancing health equity.
healthysavannah.org ymcaofcoastalga.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912.844.9990
www.carriagetradepr.com
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

Enmarket Charity Classic Raises $270,000, Bringing 5-year Total to $1 Million

(SAVANNAH, Ga.) – The Enmarket Charity Classic golf tournament returned to Savannah April 4, raising $270,000 for charity and driving the total raised over Enmarket’s 5-year sponsorship past the $1 million mark.

Achieving that milestone involved the efforts of 271 golfers and 115 companies participating in the 2024 Enmarket Charity Classic.

As in past years, this year’s proceeds will be split evenly between The 200 Club of the Coastal Empire, which is devoted to assisting the spouses and children of the area first responders killed in the line of duty, and Make-A-Wish Georgia, which grants the wishes of seriously ill children.

Sponsorship of the charity tournament is part of Enmarket’s sponsorship of the Club Car Championship, an annual pro golfing tournament at The Landings Club that ran from April 1 through April 7, 2024. The event was staged at the Marshwood and Magnolia courses at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club.

“We are excited to see our impact reach the $1 million milestone with this year’s Enmarket Charity Classic. It took a record-breaking performance from Enmarket and the communities we serve. Still, the quarter of a million dollars raised by this day-long event put us over the top,” said Matt Clements, Enmarket’s president. “The two organizations which will benefit from this funding are The 200 Club and Make-A-Wish Georgia, and Enmarket is proud to be associated with these fine efforts.”

“We are deeply grateful for the continued support from Enmarket and the community. Their commitment has been instrumental in helping us fulfill our mission of aiding the families of our fallen first responders. This significant milestone of $1 million raised over five years reflects the dedication and generosity of all involved,” said Mark Dana, president and CEO of the 200 Club.

Clements pointed out that Enmarket has a long-standing track record of supporting the community via various events, both with fund-raising and volunteer activities on the part of its more than 1,300 retail employees. The company also commits to making healthier choices available to its customers. He added that commitment is reflected in the active events Enmarket chooses to back, such as the golf tournament and the annual Enmarket Bridge Run.

Charity golf tournaments are a big part of the fundraising landscape in this country and account for $4 billion annually to benefit nonprofits, according to a GolfStatus executive writing for Nonprofit Tech for Good’s website.

ABOUT ENMARKET:
Enmarket employs more than 1,300 people and operates 131 convenience stores that include 30 Eatery locations in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The company also operates 13 restaurants branded as Subway, Larry’s Giant Subs, Baldino’s, and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, and 26 Marketwash car washes. The company was founded as Interstate Stations by Robert Demere in 1964. Enmarket is committed to giving back to the community through many charitable contributions and volunteer efforts, as well as offering fresh food, healthy snacks, and competitively priced quality fuel as part of its mission to enrich life. Enmarket secured the naming rights in 2021 for the Enmarket Arena. www.enmarket.com

CONTACT
Jeannie W. Amerson
Vice President of Marketing
Enmarket
JAmerson@enmarket.com

MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912.844.9990
www.carriagetradepr.com
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

Project Smile Marks 32 Years of Global Dental Outreach and Service in Belize

(SAVANNAH, Ga.) Project Smile, a non-profit dental mission, commemorates over three decades of providing free essential dental care and community support to children in Belize. Established in 1992 through a cooperative effort between the apostle dioceses of Georgia and Belize, this initiative exemplifies humanitarian service at its best and showcases international collaboration for the betterment of society.

Dr. Roy Maynard (right) and wife Dr. Crystal Williams (left) providing dental care to a patient of Project Smile in Belize.

Dr. Steve Acuff, the founder of Project Smile, together with his wife Montie Acuff, the organization’s treasurer, have been pivotal figures in this mission. Their outstanding work managing the operations, documentation, and patient records has ensured the initiative’s long-term impact.

Dr. Acuff, reflecting on the experience, commented, “I truly feel alive in Belize and it feels like the ‘real world’. Serving in Belize is a reminder of how most of the world lives.”

This year Project Smile operated with sixteen self-paid volunteers serving 200 patients in a mere three and a half days, demonstrating the effectiveness and dedication of the volunteers. The most recent trip to Belize took place in February 2024 which included two teams that keep the clinic running for two weeks, one from Georgia and the other from Ohio, echoing the true spirit of teamwork and continuity.

Dr. Roy Maynard of Georgetown Family Dental and his wife Dr. Crystal Williams of Georgetown Orthodontics and two others Georgetown Family Dental staff members Sojourner Mays and Shea Bryant, joined forces with a dental team from Ohio to undertake the Project Smile.

The couple emphasized that their work went beyond the dental world because, as Black professionals, and as the first Black dentist to join Project Smile they serve as role models to their young patients.

“I wanted the kids to see a role model and a dentist that looked like them,” Dr. Maynard said. “Dental hygiene is important, of course, but it is equally important to enable children to envision themselves in roles that work towards bettering communities and the lives of others.”

Together the Project Smile teams, from both Georgia and Ohio, offer a holistic approach to children’s dental health including cleanings, fillings, extractions, and cavity-preventing sealants. Operating out of St. Mary’s School in Belize, Project Smile has six professional dental stations for children ages four to fourteen to receive free dental care.

Since 1992, Project Smile has freely given more than 22,000 dental treatments, started free lunch programs, and started the first computer lab in Belize.

About Project Smile
Project Smile is a prevention-oriented dental program for indigent children (ages 4 -14) started by Christ Church parishioners, Montie and Steve Acuff, which began in 1992 as a cooperative effort between the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia and the Anglican Diocese of Belize in Central America. Every year, various teams of volunteer dentists, along with auxiliary personnel, travel to St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church in Belize City where the team works in a permanent seven-chair dental treatment facility in an unused classroom at St. Mary’s School. Gradually, the program has expanded to meet other needs at the school, including providing hot lunches, playground safety and equipment, and even a computer lab.

About Georgetown Family Dental
Georgetown Family Dental is a locally owned and operated dental practice by Roy Maynard, Jr., DDS since 2016. The practice focuses on quality dental care for patients in Georgetown and the greater Savannah area. Georgetown Family Dental uses the latest technological advancements in dentistry to keep teeth healthy and strong. Dr. Maynard and his team’s mission is to provide a relaxing and understanding dental environment for patients.

Contact Information:
Georgetown Family Dental
Email: contactus@georgetownfamilydental.com
Phone: 912-927-8484
Website: www.georgetownfamilydental.com

Media Contact:
Marjorie Young
Email: Marjorie@carriagetradepr.com
Website: www.carriagetradepr.com
Phone: 912-844-9990

The Monthly Family Support Meeting by LDSS is April 18: Come Connect and Learn

(SAVANNAH, Ga) The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) announces its upcoming Family Support meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 18th, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The meeting will be held at 1525 Dean Forest Rd., Savannah, GA 31408. Attendees are kindly asked to utilize the side entrance labeled “100A”.

This monthly gathering is open to all families and individuals in the greater Savannah/Lowcountry area who have been touched by Down syndrome. Established in 2006, LDSS serves families across eight surrounding counties, providing vital support, resources, and a sense of community.

The meetings, held every third Thursday of the month, offer a valuable platform for families to connect, share experiences, and gain insights. Each session typically features a guest speaker, providing valuable information and perspectives, followed by dedicated social time for families to interact and build relationships. Children are enthusiastically encouraged to attend, fostering a supportive environment for all members of the family.

“We’re excited to welcome both familiar faces and newcomers to our upcoming meeting,” said Joe Marchese, President of LDSS. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together as a community.”

The LDSS Family Support meetings are free to attend, and no RSVP is required. Simply join us and be part of this vibrant community.

ABOUT THE LOWCOUNTRY DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY
The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) supports people with Down syndrome and their families through local leadership, support, outreach, education and advocacy. Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month, typically with a guest speaker and social time for families to meet and interact. LDSS encourages the whole family to attend; children of all ages are welcome. LDSS is an affiliate of the National Down Syndrome Society. For more information about LDSS, visit http://www.ldssga.org/

CONTACT
Lindsey Barron
Construction Administrator
Joe Marchese
Marchese Construction, Inc
lindsey@marchese.construction
229-457-7974

MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912-844-9990
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

LOWCOUNTRY DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY SET FOR 15TH ANNUAL NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS & HIRING EXPO ON MAY 3

(SAVANNAH, GA) The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society has announced the 15th annual Night of Champions & Hiring Expo for Friday, May 3rd 2024, from 6-11pm at the Savannah Convention Center on Hutchinson Island. Cocktail hour begins at 6:00 pm, dinner and ceremony will follow.

The Night of Champions event recognizes area businesses that employ differently-abled adults, including those with Down syndrome, and celebrates the contributions made by these employees.

Companies with job openings for adults with different abilities will be available at the Hiring Expo.

“The Night of Champions isn’t just about recognizing employers; it also offers them a stage to highlight the invaluable contributions made by individuals with diverse abilities in the workforce,” commented LDSS President Joe Marchese. “It’s a chance to get to know people with various abilities and, ultimately, cultivate a deep appreciation for their talents.”

The LDSS emphasizes that this event goes beyond an awards ceremony, it’s also a hiring opportunity, celebrating the boundless potential within each individual.

Night of Champions showcases the transformative outcomes of embracing differently-abled individuals in the workforce. In addition to hearing success stories from recognized businesses, attendees gain firsthand insight into the benefits of inclusive hiring and have the opportunity to network with potential employees.

The event will conclude with the closure of the silent auction and item pickup, followed by the Hiring Expo. Guests can also enjoy gourmet coffees, European desserts, and the opportunity to meet and mingle with past Champions and perhaps even find their future champions!

“The success of Night of Champions is directly tied to local organizations that create opportunities for people to demonstrate their desire to work and make valued contributions to their community,” Marchese said. “These Champions are throughout our community, including a local quick-service restaurant owner who’s had great success since hiring a person for each of his multiple locations as well as a local physician hiring a young man with different abilities who is still exceeding exceptions ten years later! We hope the achievements of these champions in the workforce will inspire more local organizations to take up the mission to light the way.”

To purchase your tickets and/or tables for this event, or to become a Night of Champions Sponsor, visit: https://events.readysetauction.com/lowcountrydownsyndromesociety/nightofchampions2024/shop/tickets

ABOUT THE LOWCOUNTRY DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY
The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) supports people with Down syndrome and their families through local leadership, support, outreach, education and advocacy. Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month, typically with a guest speaker and social time for families to meet and interact. LDSS encourages the whole family to attend; children of all ages are welcome. LDSS is an affiliate of the National Down Syndrome Society. For more information about LDSS, visit http://www.ldssga.org/

CONTACT
Lindsey Barron
Construction Administrator
Joe Marchese
Marchese Construction, Inc
lindsey@marchese.construction
229-457-7974

CONTACT
Joe Marchese
Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society
jmarchese@ldssga.org
912-213-9999

MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912-844-9990
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

 

Healthy Savannah Announces New Direction in Community Health Advocate Training on April 6

(SAVANNAH, GA) How do you reach out to people who are weary or wary of talking about vaccines with a message that helps build trust? That’s the challenge Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia plan to put to the test on Saturday, April 6.

The organizations are inviting community members interested in health equity to an in-person panel discussion and training event from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Vaden Automotive corporate office building at 12020 Abercorn in Savannah. Seating is limited, and those interested in attending are asked to register by emailing CHAadmin@healthysavannah.org. The discussion will also be streamed live on Healthy Savannah’s Facebook page.

The event is made possible through funding from a five-year Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Sept. 2023 to Healthy Savannah and the YMCA as the local grant administrators.

Starting at 9:30 a.m., healthcare professionals who work with Savannah-area priority populations daily will lead a panel discussion on the realities of access, awareness, and acceptance of adult vaccines including COVID-19 and flu.

The panel is expected to include school nurse Cecilia Kurtz, a public health nurse with the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System and president of the nurses’ guild ministry with First Bryan Baptist Church, and other medical professionals who will speak about the disparity that exists for many adults with health conditions who also might have a level of mistrust of medical intervention or government oversight.

“When it comes to their healthcare journey, the biggest deterrent for many people is mistrust,” said Dr. Elsie Smalls, operations manager. “We know we must listen to what they have to say so we can help them respond and communicate within their communities with more agency, better access, preparation, and greater understanding about their own health.”

Another challenge to be discussed is the misconception that the COVID-19 threat is over.

“No one wants to talk about COVID anymore even though the threat is still very real,” said Smalls. “We’re in a better situation, but we’re not out of the woods.”

According to the CDC, most people have developed a level of immunity to the virus because of prior infection or vaccination. In February, the organization loosened isolation recommendations, acknowledging how much the COVID-19 landscape has changed since the virus emerged four years ago, killing nearly 1.2 million people in the United States. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/02/13/covid-isolation-guidelines-cdc-change/]

The local REACH team is also hoping the event will provide a platform for people to talk openly about racial disparities in healthcare that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the African American Wellness Project, Coronavirus has disproportionately impacted Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Indigenous people. The group says Black Americans are especially at risk, being 1.1 times more likely to get infected with COVID, 2.3 times more likely to be hospitalized and 1.7 times more likely to die from COVID-19 when compared with their white counterparts.[https://aawellnessproject.org/covid-19-and-black-america-2/?gclid=CjwKCAiAibeuBhAAEiwAiXBoJJPsj2HRfF-UvnKsFyeUn_KSSGp49HD450ehYSRS8nosKskPejPLEhoCThYQAvD_BwE]

While recent CDC metrics show a decline in hospital admissions and emergency department visits, they also indicate wastewater viral activity levels, which represent both symptomatic and asymptomatic infections, remain high but are trending downward in all regions except the South. [https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-02-14/as-u-s-covid-19-winter-wave-recedes-cdc-tracks-new-ba-2-87-1-variant]

“This downward trend should not suggest that we ignore the threat of COVID-19 but it should inspire a more practical approach, something similar to the guidelines we’re familiar with now on avoiding transmitting flu and RSV,” said Nichele Hoskins, communication manager. “That’s why we remain committed to training community health advocates who can relate to the health inequities that Black and Hispanic Savannahians experience.”

Following the panel session, Healthy Savannah and the “Y” will hold a 90-minute training session for those interested in becoming Community Health Advocates (CHAs). This will be the seventh cohort of the series but the first in-person training to be held since the program began in 2021. More than 70 members of the community have previously participated in six online training sessions.

One of the training program’s goals is to equip the advocates with information to help the uninsured or underinsured learn how to receive free or low-cost healthcare services for the prevention of illnesses from the flu and RSV to shingles and pneumonia. One such effort is the CDC’s Bridge Access Program, providing no-cost COVID-19 vaccines across Chatham County at the Coastal Health District’s Eisenhower Clinic, J. C. Lewis Primary Health Care and several CVS and Walgreens branches through the end of this year.

“In previous training sessions, we focused primarily on COVID-19 and flu vaccine access, awareness, and acceptance, particularly in Savannah’s Black and Hispanic communities; but now we’re broadening our efforts to encompass a wider range of health conditions that make people more vulnerable,” said Hoskins. “Our goal is to provide a more thorough understanding of current perceptions and offer feedback that could help shape public health interaction with people in priority communities.”

In addition to a $500 incentive those chosen to become Community Health Advocates will receive for performing community outreach activities after the training, participants can look forward to sharpening leadership and networking skills and learning about advocacy. Hoskins said many of the CHAs from past cohorts are also still out working in the community, often with civic and faith-based organizations that may offer free vaccines at health fairs and community events.
To learn more or register for the April 6 panel discussion and/or apply for the Community Health Advocate training program, please email CHAadmin@healthysavannah.org.

ABOUT THE YMCA OF COASTAL GEORGIA/HEALTHY SAVANNAH GRANT FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH
In September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded a second grant called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) to Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia. $5.1 million in funding is being deployed over a five-year period to be utilized in an “upstream” approach to foster sustainable health equity among racial and ethnic minority populations in low-wealth neighborhoods in areas of nutrition, physical activity and the reduction of chronic diseases. The renewed funding enables work to continue which began under the initial, five-year, $3.4 million REACH grant awarded in 2018, and a supplemental grant awarded in 2021 to increase awareness and acceptance of COVID-19 and flu adult immunizations. Working with more than 200 community partners and organizations, the Savannah/Chatham County project team’s specific goals in implementing the new five-year grant include fostering physical activity by creating greater access to safe places to walk, run, bike and play; elevating the health and wellness of the community through policy, systems, and environmental change; and providing education and awareness regarding adult immunizations, especially as they relate to health disparities in chronic conditions of hypertension, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The administrators will also continue to foster stronger connections between people and the healthcare providers who serve them by supporting awareness and use of the HERO Help Me database. In July 2022, Healthy Savannah received the CDC’s 2022 REACH Lark Galloway-Gilliam Award for Advancing Health Equity Challenge. The award recognizes extraordinary individuals and entities whose work has contributed to advancing health equity.
healthysavannah.org ymcaofcoastalga.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912.844.9990
www.carriagetradepr.com
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

Mediation Center Presents Community Partnership Award to Resilient Coastal Georgia

Mediation Center Presents Community Partnership Award to Resilient Coastal Georgia

(SAVANNAH, GA) Resilient Coastal Georgia, an initiative of the Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition, has received the Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire’s Community Partnership Award.

Executive Director of the Coastal Georgia Indicators and Co-Chair of Resilient Coastal Georgia Lizann Roberts accepts the Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire’s Community Partnership Award along with fellow Co-Chair Holly Whitfield.

The award was presented at the 2024 Anchored in the Community fundraiser on February 8 at Savannah Bottle Works in Savannah.

“We’re so thankful for all Resilient Coastal Georgia does to cultivate a trauma-informed community and build resilience in our community,” said Jill Cardenas, executive director of the Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire. “We were grateful to celebrate with them on this special evening and thank all those who help us live our mission of increasing our community’s capacity to be conflict-resilient.”

The Resilient Coastal Georgia initiative serves to improve community well-being by engaging and leading the community to work collectively with a focus on building resilience and a trauma-informed community across the coastal counties of Chatham, Effingham and Bryan Counties.

In collaboration with the Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire, Resilient Coastal Georgia has supported peacebuilding initiatives, including the inaugural Peace in the Park event in September 2022 and Savannah’s Day of Peace 2023, held in October. The 2023 event included 45 community resources and over 500 community members who engaged at the event.

Award winners recognized at the 2024 Anchored in the Community event include:

  • Domestic Mediator Award – Robert Rodatus
  • General Civil Mediator Award – Carol McCarthy
  • Lifetime Achievement Award – Jeanne Dent
  • Innovator Award – Kelly Crosby
  • Stellar Advocate for Youth: Guardian Ad Litem – Gwendolyn Fortson Waring
  • Stellar Advocate for Youth – Janie Brodhead
  • Attorney Appreciation Award – Jack Strother, Attorney at Law
  • Attorney Appreciation Award – The Law Offices of Joseph J. Steffen Jr.
  • Community Partnership Award – Resilient Coastal Georgia
  • The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire Board Service Award – Adam Kirk

ABOUT RESILIENT COASTAL GEORGIA
Resilient Coastal Georgia was formed in 2022 as a subset of the statewide organization, Resilient Georgia, to support mental health system change and policies for children, youth and families in the Savannah area affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The local organization works with community partners to provide training sessions for groups and individuals who work directly with children and youth and hosts mental wellness and trust-building events and spaces for young people. https://resilientcoastalga.org/

ABOUT THE MEDITATION CENTER
The Mediation Center is a 501©3 non-profit organization, founded in 1986 to serve the Savannah community with free and low-cost mediation services. A United Way agency since 2001, the organization is dedicated to helping citizens proactively manage conflict, creating alternatives to litigation and increasing access to justice. https://mediationsavannah.com/

ABOUT COASTAL GEORGIA INDICATORS COALITION
The Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition (CGIC) is comprised of community members and advocates working together through a comprehensive coordinated approach for planning accountability. It serves as a collaboration of resource agencies addressing overall health and well-being while leveraging resource initiatives. The purpose of the Coalition is to improve community well-being by engaging and leading the community to work collectively in its development of strategic priorities that guide policy, programs and resource allocation. CGIC is the responsible organization for the development, and with partners, the implementation of the Chatham Community Blueprint. CGIC has strength and capacity related to leadership, management, systems and partnerships.
https://www.coastalgaindicators.org

MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912-844-9990
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

Community Invited to Celebrate Healthy Savannah’s Four Years of Healthy Walks on March 26

Community Invited to Celebrate Healthy Savannah’s Four Years of Healthy Walks on March 26

(SAVANNAH, GA) A grass-roots initiative that started as a pandemic solution for people to escape isolation has become a popular early morning routine for many Savannahians. Every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m., Healthy Savannah’s Paula Kreissler and Armand Turner don their walking shoes and lead participants on Healthy Walks around Savannah and Chatham County.

Now, after having since offered more than 150 Healthy Walks over the past four years, the organization is celebrating the initiative by encouraging the community to join them at a special anniversary walk.

On Tuesday, March 26, the public is invited to meet up with members of Healthy Savannah, the YMCA of Coastal Georgia and Friends of Tide to Town to celebrate the 4th anniversary of Healthy Walks. Walkers will gather at 7:30 a.m. in the parking area at Scarborough Sports Complex, Skidaway at Bona Bella Ave. This will be a low-impact two-mile walk along a portion of the Tide To Town Urban Trail system known as the Truman Linear Park Trail, which is level and accessible, with wide, paved walkways and highly visible pedestrian crosswalks. The walk will last about an hour and end back at the starting point.

“At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when so many people were isolated and homebound, this activity grew from a need for folks to get out and participate in a safe social setting that also encouraged physical fitness,” said Turner, deputy director, Healthy Savannah and board president, Friends of Tide to Town. “It was also a way for people to experience our local trails and parks and see areas of our city and county from a different perspective.”

Founded in 2007 by Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson with the aim of making Savannah a healthier place to live, Healthy Savannah has since grown into a dedicated coalition of over 200 partner organizations with which the organization leads, collaborates and innovates equitable solutions for the sustained health of all Savannahians.

Together with the YMCA of Coastal Georgia, Healthy Savannah currently administers a five-year $5.1 million Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant to foster sustainable health equity among racial and ethnic minority populations in low-wealth neighborhoods in areas of nutrition, physical activity and the reduction of chronic diseases. A portion of the grant funding supports the development and use of the Tide to Town urban trail system.

The Friends of Tide to Town was founded in 2018 to lead the community-based engagement, implementation and stewardship of Tide to Town, through the lens of health and equity.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates a single session of moderate to vigorous physical activity such as a brisk walk can provide immediate health benefits including improved sleep, less anxiety, and lowered blood pressure. Long-term benefits can include improved heart and brain health, a healthier weight, bone strength and even a lower risk for certain cancers. [https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/adults/health-benefits-of-physical-activity-for-adults.html]

But CDC data also indicates only 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 5 high school students fully meet physical activity guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities.

“While these walks do encourage physical activity, we also want weekly walkers to have fun while exploring activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations all around our community,” said Kreissler, Healthy Savannah’s executive director. “We might invite someone who knows about the history of the area to walk along and tell the story behind the trail or point out significant landmarks of the area we’re visiting. It gives you an entirely new perspective of places you might have always known but never really knew.”

Kreissler says the March 26 anniversary walk will take walkers along a section of the Truman Trail which has newly planted camellias.

Savannah City Council recently approved an over 8 million dollar contract for the second phase of the Truman Trail construction. The first three miles, completed during the pandemic, run from Lake Mayer to DeRenne Ave. The next segment will run for about three miles picking up at DeRenne Ave. near Jenkins High School to 52nd St. and Bee Rd. Construction is expected to get underway later this year. Once completed, it will fully connect the Lake Mayer Park Trail Loop to the Daffin Park Trail Loop, creating nine miles of continuous off- and on-road bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure through the heart of Savannah.

“In our most recent Healthy Savannah survey, which we have conducted each year since 2014, respondents said they would walk or bike to work, school and shopping if there were bike paths and sidewalks,” said Turner. “That’s precisely what we’re striving to accomplish through the Tide to Town urban trail project.”

Almost all (87%) of Healthy Savannah’s 2023 survey respondents said that sidewalks/paths in areas for walking to work, school, and businesses are fairly or extremely important. A majority (70%) further indicated that they use the city and county parks at least once a month or more and (75%) participate in physical activities a few times a month or more.

“Our observational data also shows that Black and white residents use the trail in nearly equal numbers,” said Turner. “The trail system is creating a safe, stress-free place to walk, jog, skate or bicycle for all.”

Turner says the Tide to Town project is also gaining greater momentum now that the City has brought a project manager on board. The group is additionally working with City staff on an official agreement between Friends of Tide to Town and the City of Savannah that outlines how the two entities can work together to ensure the trail system is constructed and maintained with equity and health in mind.

When completed, Tide to Town will include a network of 30+ miles of bikeable and walkable trails connecting more than 60 neighborhoods and 30 schools in Savannah and Chatham County, from downtown to the marshes and waterways.

“We encourage everyone to get out and get healthy, whether you join our Healthy Walks or explore these routes on your own, using the Healthy Walks map,” said Kreissler. “You can also watch live streams and recordings of our walks on Healthy Savannah’s Facebook page.”

Healthy Savannah’s online Healthy Walks map, https://healthysavannah.org/our-programs/physical-activity/healthy-walks-story-map/, shows trail routes all across Savannah and Chatham County. Trail users are encouraged to share walk experiences by tagging photos and videos with #HealthyWalk and #ActivePeople.

The next healthy walk is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on April 2 at Whitemarsh Preserve, 68 Johnny Mercer Blvd, Savannah, GA 31410. To learn about upcoming Healthy Walks, click on Healthy Savananh’s Healthy Activities calendar, https://healthysavannah.org/healthy-activities/, and to watch live streams of their walks every Tuesday morning, visit Healthy Savannah’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/healthysav and Healthy Savannah’s Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/officialhltysav/

ABOUT THE YMCA OF COASTAL GEORGIA/HEALTHY SAVANNAH GRANT FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH: In September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded a second grant called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) to Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia. $5.1 million in funding is being deployed over a five-year period to be utilized in an “upstream” approach to foster sustainable health equity among racial and ethnic minority populations in low-wealth neighborhoods in areas of nutrition, physical activity and the reduction of chronic diseases. The renewed funding enables work to continue which began under the initial, five-year, $3.4 million REACH grant awarded in 2018, and a supplemental grant awarded in 2021 to increase awareness and acceptance of COVID-19 and flu adult immunizations. Working with more than 200 community partners and organizations, the Savannah/Chatham County project team’s specific goals in implementing the new five-year grant include fostering physical activity by creating greater access to safe places to walk, run, bike and play; elevating the health and wellness of the community through policy, systems, and environmental change; and providing education and awareness regarding adult immunizations, especially as they relate to health disparities in chronic conditions of hypertension, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The administrators will also continue to foster stronger connections between people and the healthcare providers who serve them by supporting awareness and use of the HERO Help Me database. In July 2022, Healthy Savannah received the CDC’s 2022 REACH Lark Galloway-Gilliam Award for Advancing Health Equity Challenge. The award recognizes extraordinary individuals and entities whose work has contributed to advancing health equity.
healthysavannah.org ymcaofcoastalga.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912.844.9990
www.carriagetradepr.com
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

Resilient Coastal Georgia to Offer Free Community Resiliency Model Training on March 11

(SAVANNAH, GA) Resilient Coastal Georgia (RCG), a collaboration of Savannah-area individuals and organizations seeking to build trauma-informed and trauma-responsive communities that can prevent and heal childhood adversity, will offer a free, three-hour Community Resiliency Model (CRM) workshop on Monday, March 11 for anyone interested in learning wellness skills. The event will be held from Noon to 3 p.m. at the Coastal Health District, 420 Mall Blvd, Savannah. Those interested can sign up at https://resilientcoastalga.org/resilience-and-compassion or learn more at https://www.chathamsafetynet.org/community-resiliency-model-crm/

The CRM program introduces wellness skills designed to help adults and children learn how to bring the body, mind, and spirit back into greater balance, and to encourage people to pass the skills along to family, friends, and their wider community.

The free workshop will be led by certified CRM trainers. Currently, Resilient Coastal Georgia supports 14 certified trainers, representing various public and private sectors across the Chatham County community. This includes nonprofit and youth-serving organizations, public health and behavioral health systems, local governments and public libraries, as well as yoga instructors, a real estate professional, and a chaplain.

“With this strong foundation and a robust teacher network, the CRM team has been successfully serving the area for the past four years and has provided training to over 1,400 people,” said Tara Jones, Resilience Enhancement and Learning (REAL) Programs manager at the Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council. Jones offers technical support to CRM trainers and works to bring free training to organizations community-wide.

The local group is a subset of Resilient Georgia, a state-wide coalition working toward a united vision to create an integrated behavioral health system for children through young adulthood.

“Moreover, the CRM program has become a permanent feature at multiple organizations, from the Savannah Police Department and Savannah State University to Gateway Community Service Board, Park Place Outreach, and the Coastal Health District, where monthly CRM workshops are offered at no cost to community members,” Jones said.

While Jones and her team work to champion the program to the Savannah community, they are also advancing the program nationwide and around the world, including providing CRM instructor training for the Ukrainian people in war zones and supporting the development of resources in the Ukrainian language. Additionally, they have a Spanish-speaking trainer, Beatriz Severson, who has spearheaded the CRM program in the Hispanic community, and, in partnership with the Parent University, has led the formation of the Parent University en Español.

“We are proud to support RCG’s efforts through the CRM program to help ensure equity, diversity, and inclusion by identifying and creating opportunities for a diverse population to create systems-level change,” said Lizann Roberts, executive director at the Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition. “The goal of offering this free training in the Community Resiliency Model workshops is that participants can then bring the wellness skills they learn back to their communities.”

Those interested in gaining knowledge about trauma and resilience and learning wellness skills by taking the upcoming three-hour CRM workshop should sign up at https://resilientcoastalga.org/resilience-and-compassion and can learn more about the program at https://www.chathamsafetynet.org/community-resiliency-model-crm/. The event will take place from noon to 3 p.m. on Monday, March 11 at the Coastal Health District, 420 Mall Blvd, Savannah.

For information about becoming a certified CRM trainer, visit the Trauma Resource Institute website [https://www.traumaresourceinstitute.com/crm-teacher-training].

CRM is a training program of the Trauma Resource Institute (TRI), which introduces wellness skills designed to help adults and children learn how to bring the body, mind, and spirit back into greater balance, and to encourage people to pass the skills along to family, friends, and their wider community. CRM serves as an effective instrument to the mission of the RCG by building an understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), explaining the impact and implications of various traumatic events, and providing simple yet effective tools and techniques for re-setting the natural balance of the nervous system.

To learn more about local CRM efforts supported by Resilient Coastal Georgia and Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition, please contact Tara Jones at tarajones@chlink.org.

ABOUT RESILIENT COASTAL GEORGIA
Resilient Coastal Georgia was formed in 2022 as a subset of the statewide organization, Resilient Georgia, to support mental health system change and policies for children, youth and families in the Savannah area affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The local organization works with community partners to provide training sessions for groups and individuals who work directly with children and youth and hosts mental wellness and trust-building events and spaces for young people. https://resilientcoastalga.org/

ABOUT COASTAL GEORGIA INDICATORS COALITION
The Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition (CGIC) is comprised of community members and advocates working together through a comprehensive coordinated approach for planning accountability. It serves as a collaboration of resource agencies addressing overall health and well-being while leveraging resource initiatives. The purpose of the Coalition is to improve community well-being by engaging and leading the community to work collectively in its development of strategic priorities that guide policy, programs and resource allocation. CGIC is the responsible organization for the development, and with partners, the implementation of the Chatham Community Blueprint. CGIC has strength and capacity related to leadership, management, systems and partnerships.
https://www.coastalgaindicators.org

MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912-844-9990
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

DHS and HOPE for Georgia Moms Will Sponsor “Bump & Beyond Maternal Health Fair” on March 9 at Eckberg Auditorium with Co-Host Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition

The free event is especially for families with Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® and those who may have questions about their health coverage. Information, giveaways, raffle prizes, and resources will be available from community partners.

Savannah, GA – Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) and HOPE for Georgia Moms will sponsor the “Bump & Beyond Maternal Health Fair” with local co-host Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition (CGIC) at the Savannah Technical College’s Eckberg Auditorium on Saturday, March 9, 2024, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The event and parking are free.

Expectant and recently-delivered mothers and their families should bring their Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® paperwork with them to the event to get help with their eligibility checks. In addition, the fair is the perfect place for families to spend an afternoon taking advantage of free health services, fun activities, self-care and childcare samples, and giveaways, including:

Free community-based services like mobile primary health care
Important health information from experts on pregnancy and postpartum
concerns
Samples of products like diapers, wipes, and more
Opportunities to connect with other parents to share experiences and advice
Door prizes for maternity and newborn care and much more

In Georgia, approximately 56% of births are covered by Medicaid, and many mothers delivered their babies during the pandemic when annual eligibility checks were paused for three years. The fair is intended to help increase awareness about and provide help for families now that the federal government has required states to resume Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® eligibility checks (a process called “redetermination”). These activities are an extension of DHS’ “Stay Informed. Stay Covered.” statewide public information campaign to engage and educate Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® members about redetermination more broadly.

The Savannah “Bump & Beyond” event is the second of three maternal health fairs planned in Georgia. The first event will be held March 3 in Albany, and the final event will be held in North Georgia this spring.

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The fairs are made possible through funding from HOPE for Georgia Moms, a Northeast Georgia Health System initiative funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). HOPE seeks to connect resources and be action-oriented so that all moms thrive in Georgia. The partnership with DHS is the latest example of the “Stay Covered” campaign’s dedication to emphasizing local solutions, local outreach, and local impact.

“We are excited to partner with DHS and Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition on Savannah’s ‘Bump & Beyond Maternal Health Fair’ because we know pregnant and postpartum women so rarely put themselves first when it comes to their health,” said Heidi Ehrenreich, Project Director for HOPE for Georgia Moms. “The Bump & Beyond event is an opportunity to lift up and encourage mothers who have Medicaid; to offer them support and resources so they can stay informed and stay in control of their health care coverage.”

DHS and HOPE are working with co-host Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition on the event. Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that is part of Georgia Family Connection Partnerships. CGIC serves as a convener at the regional, state, and national level to secure and provide technical assistance, best practices, and sustainability for the collective well-being of Chatham County.

“We’re thrilled to co-host this event to promote maternal health and share important information on Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® redetermination,” said CGIC Executive Director Lizann Roberts. “There’s no time like the present to take charge of your family’s health, and we’ll have experts on-site to get you moving in the right direction.”

The fun, free event will offer dozens of vendors, services, and experts for the whole family.

Event information:

Savannah Bump & Beyond Maternal Health Fair at Savannah Technical College’s Eckberg Auditorium
Saturday, March 9, 2024, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
5717 White Bluff Road
Savannah, GA 31405

Background on Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® Redetermination

The Medicaid redetermination process is the result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which requires all states to resume annual Medicaid eligibility checks after a three-year pause during the pandemic. States were required to begin these “redeterminations” by April 2023 and finish the process by May 2024, reporting on their progress monthly to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Georgia Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® members can update their contact information through one of three ways:

1. Online at Georgia DHS’ benefits website
2. In person at their local DFCS office: dfcs.georgia.gov/locations

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3. By phone at 1-877-GA-DHS-GO or 711 for the hearing impaired

To learn more about Medicaid redetermination, visit staycovered.ga.gov.

  • This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $5,170,233 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. government. For more information, please visit hrsa.gov.

ABOUT COASTAL GEORGIA INDICATORS COALITION
The Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition (CGIC) is comprised of community members and advocates working together through a comprehensive coordinated approach for planning accountability. It serves as a collaboration of resource agencies addressing overall health and well-being while leveraging resource initiatives. The purpose of the Coalition is to improve community well-being by engaging and leading the community to work collectively in its development of strategic priorities that guide policy, programs and resource allocation. CGIC is the responsible organization for the development, and with partners, the implementation of the Chatham Community Blueprint. CGIC has strength and capacity related to leadership, management, systems and partnerships.
https://www.coastalgaindicators.org

LOWCOUNTRY DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY ANNOUNCES PARTICIPATION IN SAVANNAH’S 200TH ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE WITH FLOAT

(SAVANNAH, Ga.) The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society will be participating in the 200th year of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Savannah, Georgia, and is looking for friends and volunteers to help them show up and show out.

The St. Patrick’s Day parade will be on Saturday, March 16th, 2024.

The families of LDSS will be hosting a Float Decorating Day on Saturday, March 9th, beginning at 9:00am at 1525 Dean Forest Rd (the same location as their monthly support meetings).

If you plan to ride on the float please plan on attending the float decorating day this weekend.

If you would like to participate please text Candy Bogardus at 912-663-8573.

ABOUT THE LOWCOUNTRY DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY:
The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) is a support group to benefit people with Down Syndrome and their families through local leadership in support, outreach, education and advocacy. Meetings are held every 3rd Thursday of the month, typically with a guest speaker and social time for families to meet and interact with one another. LDSS encourages people to bring their children. LDSS is an affiliate of the National Down Syndrome Society. For more information about LDSS, visit http://www.ldssga.org/

ENMARKET OPENS ITS NEWEST LOCATION AT WHITE BLUFF AND EISENHOWER

(SAVANNAH, Ga.) Enmarket opened its first newly constructed store of 2024 on March 2 at the intersection of White Bluff Road and Eisenhower Drive, bringing the total count of Enmarket convenience stores to 131.

The store employs more than 25 people on the site, which previously featured a Fiat dealership before the new-to-industry construction of the store. It includes a 12-pump canopy with multiple fuel grades, including unleaded, mid-grade, premium, non-ethanol and diesel. A new Marketwash, Enmarket’s in-bay carwash brand, is situated at the east end of the property and offers customers multiple car wash package options. Using the Marketwash mobile app, customers can participate in car wash subscription packages or use this new location with an existing car wash subscription.

The company has committed to preserving a 300-year-old live oak that graces the property. Enmarket worked with Bartlett Tree Services to determine the tree’s age and conservation techniques. Bartlett Tree Services cared for the oak by pruning it, installing a lighting protection and cabling system on the property as well as soil care amendments. To highlight the majestic Savannah Live Oak, Enmarket will feature outdoor seating under the tree’s canopy.

“We are excited by this latest addition to our three-state family of stores,” said Matt Clements, president of Enmarket. “This location is ideally situated to serve the public, being along major traffic corridors and carefully planned to minimize traffic impact. We are thrilled to better serve our local military with this site that is particularly convenient to Hunter Army Airfield’s main gate.”

The 6,098-square-foot convenience store features an Eatery. The Enmarket Eatery, awarded the Convenience Foodservice Innovator to Watch by Convenience Store News in 2020, is a Southern-inspired menu that expands to include fresh, healthy, and on-the-go, quality offerings. Some breakfast offerings are burritos, platters and fish and grits. Lunch and dinner items include daily specials, made-fresh fried chicken and tenders, pecan cobblers, and even sausage gravy pizza. Fresh salads, parfaits and an array of cold sandwiches and wraps are also available. This location also serves Mooz frozen yogurt, a proprietary offering that allows customers to mix flavors and add endless toppings, all for one set price. The beverage bar is endless with fresh, high-quality Bean-2-Cup coffee, Savannah Sweet Tea® and dozens of fountain and frozen beverage choices.

A formal ribbon cutting and grand opening is planned for a later date.

ABOUT ENMARKET:
Enmarket employs more than 1,300 people and operates 131 convenience stores that include 30 Eatery locations in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The company also operates 13 restaurants branded as Subway, Larry’s Giant Subs, Baldino’s and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, as well as 26 Marketwash car washes. The company was founded as Interstate Stations by Robert Demere in 1964. Enmarket is committed to giving back to the community through many charitable contributions and volunteer efforts and offering fresh food, healthy snacks and competitively priced quality fuel as part of its mission to enrich life. Enmarket secured the naming rights in 2021 for the Enmarket Arena. www.enmarket.com

National Early Language and Literacy Expert Trains Savannah Educators and Leaders on Critical Literacy Skills for Young Learners

(SAVANNAH, Ga.) Learning early language skills helps children make social and emotional connections and affects their ability to communicate, engage socially and regulate emotions.

(L-R) Arianne Weldon, director, Get Georgia Reading Campaign, Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy at Georgia College & State University; Jamie Thomas, Early Language Professional Development specialist, Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy at Georgia College & State University; Emily Rubin, director, Communication Crossroads, Inc.; Lizann Roberts, executive director, Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition; Bernadette Ball-Oliver, executive director of Middle Schools, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System; Caroline Lacksen, Early Literacy Professional Development specialist, Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy at Georgia College & State University.

Developing this skill in young learners is one of the Savannah area’s biggest challenges, according to the Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition (CGIC), a Savannah area collaboration of resource agencies that address overall health and well-being while leveraging resource initiatives. The Coalition has determined that the community must seek opportunities to work alongside the school system in improving early language skill development to foster more positive life skills.

On Jan. 11, the CGCI hosted 84 local leaders and educators who work with Savannah area Pre-K and Kindergarten-aged children for a training session with national early language and literacy expert, Emily Rubin.

Presented by Coastal Georgia Indicators Collation, United Way of the Coastal Empire and the Savannah Chatham County Public School System, the all-day event held at the Southwest Branch of Live Oak Public Libraries provided a tool kit for educators to help to identify early indicators of language and how to interact with children to help with their communications.

“I’m passionate about the relationship between engagement and language development. Did you know that when you’re interacting with children, you are producing this awesome chemical called oxytocin? When you produce it, it actually triggers oxytocin in the child. This is an incredible hormone that breaks through the blood-brain barrier and gets children to grow their brains and develop their language. It’s one of the reasons why it’s so exhausting interacting with children because we’re doing all that – but boy, did we know that we are brain architects!” Rubin said.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the first three years of life, when the brain is developing and maturing, are the most intensive period for acquiring speech and language skills. The NIH says these skills develop best in a world that is rich with sounds, sights, and consistent exposure to the speech and language of others.

“This training opportunity gave us the platform we need to engage a wider audience within the community,” said CGIC Executive Director Lizann Roberts. “It shines a light on the importance of language skills in a child’s overall development while also providing educators with the tools they need to help young learners who may be struggling with language development.”

ABOUT SPEAKER EMILY RUBIN, MS, CCC-SLP
Emily Rubin, MS, CCC-SLP is the Director of Communication Crossroads, Inc. in Decatur, GA. She is a speech-language pathologist specializing in social emotional engagement and its relationship with language development, learning and positive outcomes. As a former adjunct faculty member and lecturer at Yale University, she served as a member of their Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic. She has also served as an instructor for the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts where she has developed courses to prepare graduate level students for addressing the needs of children with autism and their families. She participated as a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Ad Hoc Committee on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), a committee charged with developing guidelines related to the role of speech-language pathologists in the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of ASD.

Rubin’s publications have focused on early identification of autism, contemporary intervention models, and programming guidelines focused on the social emotional engagement of all learners. She is a co-developer of the Social Emotional Engagement – Knowledge and Skills (SEE-KS) professional learning approach, an approach that provides freely accessible tools for measuring learner engagement, enhancing engagement in everyday settings and academic instruction, and empowering educators to sustain the work through peer to peer mentorship.

Rubin provides support for the development of community viable models of staff training. Her focus is on building the capacity of school systems and early intervention providers to serve as informed consumers of evidence-based practices. Emily’s professional vision is to empower our public schools with a framework for social emotional engagement and learning that is: 1) ecologically valid to the demands of achieving academic standards, 2) sensitive to the unique needs of students with social learning differences, and 3) can serve as a universal design for learning that benefits all of our students and young children in order to maximize return on professional learning.

SPONSORED BY:
Corporate sponsorship for this training is provided by Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and St. Thomas Thrift Store.

EVENT PARTNERS: Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition, United Way of the Coastal Empire, Live Oak Public Libraries, Get Georgia Reading, Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy and Savannah Chatham Public School System.

ABOUT EVENT PARTNERS AND SPONSORS
Emily Rubin https://scerts.com/emily-rubin-ms-ccc-slp/
Get Ga Reading https://getgeorgiareading.org/
Deal Center https://www.galiteracycenter.org/
CGIC: https://www.coastalgaindicators.org
St Thomas Thrift Store Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StThomasThriftStore
UWCE: https://uwce.org
SCCPSS: https://spwww.sccpss.com/Pages/default.aspx

ABOUT COASTAL GEORGIA INDICATORS COALITION
The Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition (CGIC) is comprised of community members and advocates working together through a comprehensive coordinated approach for planning accountability. It serves as a collaboration of resource agencies addressing overall health and well-being while leveraging resource initiatives. The purpose of the Coalition is to improve community well-being by engaging and leading the community to work collectively in its development of strategic priorities that guide policy, programs and resource allocation. CGIC is the responsible organization for the development, and with partners, the implementation of the Chatham Community Blueprint. CGIC has strength and capacity related to leadership, management, systems and partnerships.
https://www.coastalgaindicators.org

ABOUT UNITED WAY OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE
The mission of the United Way of the Coastal Empire is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of community. The nonprofit organization provides a safety net for the most vulnerable and pathways for upward mobility so everyone in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty counties thrive. With upward mobility in mind, United Way of the Coastal Empire intends to help build a ready & resilient workforce and a better future for our youngest citizens through READ UNITED, a year-round series of early language and literacy development programs, and strategic partnerships to support SCCPSS and all school systems in their four-county service area. For more information, please visit www.uwce.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912-844-9990
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

Cobia Clarke Nursery Unveils New Mega Site Location on Abercorn

(SAVANNAH, Ga.) Cobia Clarke Nursery celebrated the grand opening of its new location on Abercorn with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 1.

Cobia Clarke Nursery owner Mike Neal presents a Green Gala sponsorship to Savannah Tree Foundation’s Outreach Manager Kathryn Erickson.

Located at 15015 Abercorn, the nursery’s expansive 10.85-acre mega site, offers an extensive selection of shrubs, trees, plants and landscaping supplies. With a seasoned staff possessing a wealth of planting and horticulture knowledge, customers can anticipate personalized service and expert guidance for their landscape needs.

Owner Mike Neal, also the owner of Neal Landscape & Irrigation Co. since 2014, established the nursery in Pooler in 2018. Following the recent acquisition of Cobia Clarke’s former land for a warehouse, the nursery has relocated to its expanded location.

During the ceremony, Neal presented a Green Gala sponsorship to the Savannah Tree Foundation. “We look forward to enhancing Savannah’s green spaces and serving our community’s landscape needs,” said Neal. “We are dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of our beautiful city, which we proudly call home,” he added.

Friends and family of Cobia Clarke Nursery owner Mike Neal celebrate cutting the ribbon on their new location in Savannah.

Cobia Clarke Nursery caters to a wide range of clients, from homeowners seeking to enhance their yards to contractors with landscape operations and companies involved in the installation of large multi-phase projects.

ABOUT COBIA CLARKE NURSERY
Cobia Clarke Nursery, spanning 10.85 acres, serves as a premier destination for shrubs, trees, and landscape supplies. Founded by Mike Neal in 2018, it is located at 15015 Abercorn St. in Savannah, GA. Committed to sustainability and community service, Cobia Clarke Nursery aims to provide top-quality products and expertise to its customers.

For more information, visit https://www.cobiaclarkenursery.com.

Contact:
Mike Neal, CIC, CID
Founder & President
Neal Landscape and Irrigation Co., LLC
Cobia Clark Nursery
Cell (912) 306.9201
Website: www.neallandco.com
Website: https://www.cobiaclarkenursery.com

Media Contact
Marjorie Young
President
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com
912-844-9990
www.carriagetradepr.com

LOWCOUNTRY DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY ISSUES CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR 2024 NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS

(SAVANNAH, GA) Do you know a business that deserves recognition for hiring workers with different abilities? If so, here is your chance to recognize them.

The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) is seeking nominations for its 15th annual Night of Champions on Friday, May 3, 2024, beginning at 6:00pm at The Savannah Convention Center on Hutchinson Island. The multifaceted event includes recognition of some of the area’s outstanding employers of differently-abled people, and the public is invited to nominate businesses for this recognition.

Employee nominations may be completed online at https://ldssga.org/night-of-champions and will remain open until March 22nd.

Meanwhile, the LDSS would like to stress that this event is NOT an empty table event and is more than an awards ceremony. It is an undercover hiring opportunity that celebrates the unlimited potential in every one of us. Night of Champions is a showcase for what can happen when employers are open to the idea of including differently-abled people in their workforce. Besides hearing the success stories from the honored businesses, attendees will learn first-hand about the rewards resulting from inclusive hiring. They can also leave the event with contacts of potential employees.

“The Night of Champions is a wonderful opportunity for business owners and hiring decision makers to realize the unlimited value of having people with disabilities as accepted, belonging, and contributing members of their organization. It allows them to experience the real and lasting relationships that are created between people with special needs and their employers. As we like to say, they are NOT disabilities. They are DIFFERENT ABILITIES. And it is the differences that add cohesion and fortitude, and compassion, and joy (other options) to your team.” said Joe Marchese, president of LDSS.

The evening will include a recognition ceremony, a silent auction benefiting LDSS, and a cash bar. We’ll conclude the event with the closure of the silent auction and item pickup and the second annual Night of Champions Hiring Expo. Plan to stay for gourmet coffees and European desserts and to meet and mingle with past Champions and possibly even find your Future Champion!

“The success of Night of Champions is directly tied to local organizations that create opportunities for people to demonstrate their desire to work and make valued contributions to their community,” Marchese said. “These Champions are littered throughout our community including a local quick-service restaurant owner who’s had great success since hiring a person for each of his multiple locations as well as a local physician hiring a young man with special needs who is still exceeding exceptions ten years later! We hope the achievements of these champions in the workforce will inspire more local organizations to take up the mission to light the way.”

LDSS is seeking sponsors to support Night of Champions as it raises money to sustain the programs it offers throughout the year, including Camp Buddy for children with Down syndrome, its annual Buddy Walk in Forsyth Park, and its monthly support meetings for the families and friends of individuals with Down syndrome.

To become a Night of Champions sponsor, donate an item for the silent auction, or reserve tickets, visit https://nightofchampions.org. Individual tickets are $100 and tables of ten can be reserved for $1,000. If you’d like to sponsor a past Champion and other guests, two additional tickets can be purchased at the time of reservation. If you’d like a past Champion to sit with you at your table, please let us know. For additional information, email info@ldssga.org.

ABOUT THE LOWCOUNTRY DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY
The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) supports people with Down syndrome and their families through local leadership, support, outreach, education and advocacy. Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month, typically with a guest speaker and social time for families to meet and interact. LDSS encourages the whole family to attend; children of all ages are welcome. LDSS is an affiliate of the National Down Syndrome Society. For more information about LDSS, visit http://www.ldssga.org/

CONTACT
Lindsey Barron
Construction Administrator
Joe Marchese
Marchese Construction, Inc
lindsey@marchese.construction
229-457-7974

CONTACT
Joe Marchese
Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society
jmarchese@ldssga.org
912-213-9999

MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912-844-9990
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com