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Wilson
For
Immediate Release 919-467-5567 or
North Carolina Education Ball Raises
Support And Awareness For
Communities In Schools of North
Carolina
Business,
Civic and Community Leaders Gather to Help Lower the Drop-Out Rate
(Raleigh, NC) June 20, 2007 – Business, education
and community leaders from across North Carolina attended the fifth annual NC
Education Ball in Raleigh on Saturday, June 16. The event, which supports the
work of Communities In Schools of North Carolina (CISNC), was held at the
Progress Energy Center for Performing Arts. Along with top business leaders, US
Senator Richard Burr and US Representative Bob Etheridge were in attendance to
support the work of the organization across the state.
In
addition to the original concert featuring Broadway veterans and student talent,
the evening honored the winners of this year’s H. Glenn Williams Power of One Awards. The award was created to
celebrate the impact one person, one company, or one organization can have on
education and the community.
This
year’s winners included: Duplin County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Inc. of Warsaw, Pastor Donald Gray of Kannapolis, Glen Love of
Hayesville, and Michael Olander of Raleigh.
The Duplin County Alumnae Chapter of
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority created
the High Expectation Program/Leaders of Tomorrow (HEP/LOT) program at
Douglass-Warsaw Middle School. Since the fall of 2000, this program has helped
over 200 students successfully reach high school and move on to college. In
addition to the HEP/LOT program, the sorority has given over $10,000 in
scholarships to deserving students.
Pastor Donald Gray has been making a difference in the lives of children
in Kannapolis for many years. His dedication to the youth at A.L. Brown High
School led him to create the Youth Advisory Council which trains JROTC students
to become Big Brothers and Big Sisters to at-risk youth at the Kannapolis
Intermediate School. With Pastor Gray’s help, A.L. Brown High School received a
grant to implement a Freshman Academy next fall. Pastor Gray has recruited
adult mentors from local churches to help those students who need it most.
Glen Love retired in 1993 and moved to Clay County where he
has been involved with countless organizations which make Clay County a better
place to live. Glen has donated property for 4-H mini gardens, mentored and
employed teenage boys, and provided hours of hands-on labor to help develop an
Outdoor Education Center for Clay County Schools. In addition, he has
volunteered with CIS of Clay County and provided training, consultation and
technical assistance to both school and community volunteers.
Michael Olander has been dedicated to the success and development of
youth by supporting education through board participation and financial
contributions for the better part of his adult life. His commitment to CIS of
Wake County for over 11 years has lead the organization to create a strategic
vision and created sustainability for the organization. Michael’s steadfast
dedication over many years to the development of youth throughout Wake County
has helped many young people reach greater success than they ever thought
possible.
In
addition, Linda Harrill, president of CISNC, presented this year’s Graeme Keith Student Leadership Award to
CIS of Caldwell County student, Chris
Bumgarner. A recent graduate of South Caldwell High School in Hudson, Chris
was nominated by the CIS of Caldwell County staff for the leadership he
demonstrates to other students in his community. He has been involved in the
Caldwell County CIS program for seven years and serves as the first student
representative on the CIS of Caldwell County board.
Orage
Quarles, president and publisher of The News & Observer Publishing Company,
and his wife, Terry Linda, along with Graham Denton, Bank of America Market
President Executive and President of Bank of America North Carolina, and his
wife, Anne, served as this year’s co-chairs of the Education Ball.
About Communities In Schools
Communities
In Schools has earned its place as the nation’s leading community-based
organization helping kids succeed in school and prepare for life. There are 38
local operational affiliates in North Carolina serving just under 400 schools
and other sites. During the past school year, CIS served over 120,000 youth and
family members and it maintains a presence in the five largest school districts
in North Carolina. For more information
on Communities In Schools of North Carolina, visit www.cisnc.org.