About Sandy Springs reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 2013)
NORTHSIDE Hearing Center We have a hearing aid you can afford and enjoy. Call for appointment today! 770-751-7437 iThe NEW Phonak Dalia offers unique features of Enhanced Audibility, Speech Intelligibility and Wearing Comfort. The Dalia allows you to participate in conversations in an outdoor environment, catch up at family reunions and enjoy the laughter of children. The enjoyment of these simple pleasures is now more accessible regardless of what degree of hearing loss. The Phonak Dalia comes in a range of models, from extremely small and discreet in-the-ear forms to stylish behind-the-ear models. Call now to live without limits! ATLANTA 5730 Glenridge Dr Suite 220, Atlanta, GA 30328 ROSWELL 1360 Upper Hembree Rd Suite 201A, Roswell, GA 30076 CUMMING 1400 Northside Forsyth Dr Suite 320, Cumming, GA 30041 770-751-7437 www.northsidehearingcenter.com COMMUNITY Mission director receives 2013 Humanitarian Award BY DAN WHISEMIWT danwhisenhunt@reporternewspapers.net Leaders of Sandy Springs gathered at City Hall on Jan. 21 in memory of Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. and singled out a man who they felt best exem plified King’s message. Felix Lora is the 2013 recipient of the city’s Hu manitarian Award, a dis tinction awarded people who serve the local com munity. He is the first man to receive the award since the city, founded in 2005, started bestow ing the honor. In his role as director of the San dy Springs Mission, Lora provides an additional resource for more than 140 children who need help in school. Lora gives them that and more, previ ous award winner Tamara Carrera said. “When you see Felix at work, what impresses you is his ability to connect with young people,” Carrera said. “They respect him, they listen to him, they learn from him.” Carrera said 100 percent of students from High Point Elementary in Lora’s program passed the state CRCT exams. Lora thanked God and thanked the other people like him who are living Dr. King’s dream. “It’s just a privilege to be recognized today as someone who exemplified the work and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.,” he said. Rodney Bullard, keynote speaker for the event, is executive director of the Chick-fil-A Foundation. His remarks focused on progress made but also on the promises yet unfulfilled, with an em phasis on education and low graduation rates among Georgia students. “Too many of our families, too many of our children still suffer from the soft bigotry of low expectations, the faint bigotry of the acceptance of status quo, and the blind bigotry of inattention and apathy,” Bullard said. Bullard said that while the state ranks near the bottom in terms of ed ucational achievement, it has other dubious dis tinctions. “The size of our prison population in the state of Georgia ranks fourth in the nation and metro Atlanta leads the nation in child sex trafficking,” Bullard said. He said that dreams do come true, but people must take action to make their dreams a reality. Pastor Henry Bush of Sharon Com munity United Methodist Church in Sandy Springs said at first many in the community were skeptical when San dy Springs decided to hold the event. When the city became a reality in 2005, it contained a majority white population that had formed its own city within a majority black county. Bush said the city’s decision to con tinue the event shows its commitment and shows leaders are not denying more can be done toward improving opportu nity for all. “I commend you for Sandy Springs because even though you don’t say it publically, your continuous acknowl edgement of this event and this day say there’s room for more,” Bush said. “We all agree we are all trying to do one thing and that’s making America better.” Past award recipients: 2012: Tamara Carrera 2011: Melanie Noble-Couchman 2010: Carolyn Axt 2009: Lucy Hall-Gainer 2008: Randi Passoff 2007: Nancy McCord Felix Lora Lucy Hall-Gainer Couchman 2 | JAN. 25 —FEB. 7, 2013 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net ss
