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The Champion, Thursday, December 10 -16,2015 LOCAL Page 6A
A trip to the Middle East in the
1980s led to an opportunity for Ben
nie and Barbara Boyd to help fami
lies in need.
The Boyds, who live in Decatur,
volunteer regularly with The Earl
and Carolyn Glenn Foundation Inc.,
a nonprofit organization that pro
vides resources and raises funds to
operate Unconditional Love for Chil
dren (ULC) programs. ULC’s mis
sion is to provide opportunities for
disadvantaged children through edu
cational enrichment programs, life
skills training, athletics and health
services.
While on their trip to the Middle
East, the Boyds saw up close how
Carolyn and Dr. Earl Glenn care
about giving back to those in need.
“We have always admired the
generous and giving spirit of the
Glenns,” Bennie said.
The Boyds have been actively
involved with the Glenns foundation
since its inception in 2008, and then
began working with ULC.
“Once Unconditional Love for
Children was created and Betty
Palmer was named director, it was
a natural for us,” Bennie said. “We
had long admired Betty’s work from
the time we watched her develop
the Greenforest McCalep Christian
Academy (high school) from feasi
bility study to full fruition. It is an
awesome experience to be involved
with a project (ULC) that involves so
many pieces taking place in different
locations during the first 11 months
of the year and see it all successfully
come together during one week in
early December.”
The Boyds also work with the
Greenforest Social Ministry, a com
munity outreach ministry at their
church.
“The church’s outreach ministry
and supportive services play an inte
gral role in meeting emergency food
and short-term housing for at-risk
individuals and families by providing
short-term payments to third parties
to prevent evictions and foreclo
sures,” Bennie said. “Greenforest also
provides a 30-day supply of food nu
trition to approximately 100 families
per month and provides food bas
kets at Thanksgiving and Christmas
along with a generous toy ministry at
Christmas time.”
Bennie said it was his daughter
who inspired him and his wife to
help those who are in need.
“During our Army career, mili
tary bases always reached out to sur
rounding communities and I never
thought much about it,” Bennie said.
“Shortly after I retired from the mili
tary and moved to Decatur I hap
pened upon a paper that our daugh
ter, who was in the ninth grade, had
written. In her paper she explained
that up until that time she had never
known that there were people that
didn’t have anywhere to live because
everybody on the military base al
ways had housing and everybody’s
dad had a job.
“After drying my tears I decided
to teach by doing,” he added. “So
far, two of our children have had the
ULC experience and it is our goal
that all of our children and grand
children participate in at least one
ULC project and always remain sen
sitive to the fact that they are their
brother’s keeper.”
If you would like to nominate someone to be considered as a future Champion of the Week, please contact Andrew Cauthen
at andrew@dekalbchamp.com or at (404) 373-7779, ext. 117.
NCNW
Continued From Page 3A
Silver Holiday Gala, which
featured dinner, a silent auc
tion, awards program, live
band, DJ and dancing.
The DeKalb NCNW has
a campaign to increase mem
bership.
“Most of the women
are older women,” Pedrosa
said. “When I became presi
dent. .., my primary goal was
to change the image because
we are a young and a vibrant
organization. We want to
have a vibrant look and at
tract younger women into
our organization.
“Like most organizations,
NCNW is aging and we need
to replenish the population,”
she said.
DeKalb NCNW has 189
dues-paying members.
“That number has dou
bled in the last year since
I became president, which
proves the point to me that
younger women are joining,
and we are reaching people
in the community and they’re
interested in what we’re do
ing,” Pedrosa said.
To attract women 20 to
35 years old, NCNW has a
program called Young Adult
Initiative and seeks mem
bers from college sections at
Georgia State and Clark At
lanta universities.
“That’s our opportunity
to capture the interest of
younger women,” Pedrosa
said.
Although the organi
zation has “women” in its
name, males are welcome to
become members.
“It’s not just a women’s
group,” Pedrosa said. “When
Mary McLeod Bethune first
started the NCNW she had a
vision.. .for African-Ameri
can women to work together
to help solve the problems
facing women and children
of color.
“That was the vision but
you can’t do that without
men,” she said. “You cannot
help families without includ
ing the male partner in the
family. So NCNW has al
ways been open to men, but
because it’s called National
Council of Negro Women,
you will definitely attract
more women.
Male members of the
DeKalb branch include Rep.
Rahn Mayo, Rep. Earnest
“Coach” Williams, Con
gressman Hank Johnson,
former DeKalb County CEO
Lula (ID# 29261876)
is a sweet, wiggly girl who
would love to be your
new best friend! This gor
geous 2 year old gal seems
to love every human she
meets. Lula's favorite ac
tivities include getting
belly rubs, going for car
rides, and playing with
squeaky balls. She already
knows how to sit and she
would love to learn more.
Lula prefers to only have
human friends, she isn't
a fan of other dogs. She
would do best in an only
dog home, one where she
could have you and your
family all to herself. She
is already spayed, micro-
chipped, vaccinated, and
heartworm negative. Lula
is currently in a foster
home. If you would like
to meet Lula please email
foster@dekalbanimalser-
vices.com or call (404)
294-2165. She’s waiting to
meet you.
During December to
Vernon Jones, and DeKalb
Board of Commissioners
candidate Steve Bradshaw.
“Of course the men are
outnumbered, but they’re
there,” Pedrosa said.
celebrate our "Home for
the Pawlidays" special all
dogs weighing 25 lbs. or
more and all cats may be
adopted for FREE. Adop
tion includes spay, vac
cinations, microchip and
more! If you would like
more information about
any pet not in a foster
home email adoption@
dekalbanimalservices.com
or call (404) 294-2165. All
potential adopters will be
screened to ensure Lula
and all of our pets go to
good homes.
-
Notice of Availability
DeKalb County 2016 Executive Budget Recommendation
The Interim Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County will present the 2016
Executive Budget Recommendation to the DeKalb County Board of
Commissioners on or before December 15, 2015 for their consideration.
A copy of the entire Executive Budget Recommendation will be available for
public inspection in the Office of Management & Budget, 6th Floor, Maloof Center
during normal business hours, beginning December 16, 2015. The Executive
Budget Recommendation will also be available electronically at
www.dekalbcountyga.gov and at DeKalb County Library locations.
The DeKalb County Interim Chief Executive Officer and Board of Commissioners
will hold Public Hearings on the 2016 Executive Budget Recommendation at
times and places to be announced later.
Pet the Week