Newspaper Page Text
Triumphing
over obstacles
James and Alice Turner have faced institutional
barriers their entire lives. James was born deaf
and diabetic, and Alice, deaf since age 4, is now
blind. So when the couple’s financial situation
created yet another obstacle, they were tempted
to give up.
The family was unable to pay credit card and
medical bills after James was laid off from his
job at a printing company. With creditors calling
and bankruptcy imminent, the Turners turned to
Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of
Greater Atlanta for help.
Now, three-and-a-half years later, James and
Alice have transcended communication, medical
and transportation barriers to completely repay
their debts and begin saving for their future. For
their courage, commitment and perseverance, the
couple was named “Graduate Clients of the
Year” by the National Foundation for Consumer
Credit (NFCC), the nation’s oldest and largest
non-profit budget and credit counseling organiza
tion.
This award recognizes an NFCC client family
who has demonstrated outstanding determination
to repay debt and learn successful money man
agement techniques. NFCC serves as the umbrel
la organization for 1,510 non-profit credit coun
seling organizations throughout the U.S., Canada
and Puerto Rico.
“The courage and resolve shown by the Turners
has been truly admirable,” said Suzanne Boas,
president of CCCS. “Many people - even without
the barriers the Turners face - would have given
up long ago, but James and Alice picked up the
pieces and got their financial lives back on track.
It’s inspirational to see how they have turned
their financial situation around.”
The Turners are now helping to finance their
son’s college education, budgeting for regular
medical checkups and putting aside money for
their future.
The Turners were so determined to pay off
their debt that they gave up their car when it
needed costly repairs and walked or relied on
friends for transportation. Alice got a job teach
ing daily living skills and to deaf and
blind students at the Georgia Sensory
Rehabilitation Center.
“Instead of giving up, James and Alice took
responsibility for their finances. They made
incredible sacrifices to meet their obligations.
Now they help others discover CCCS and find
financial peace of mind,” said Durant Abernethy,
MIRACLE from 18A
“Beyond our mission of making
charitable grants to local non
profits, we act as a convener and
a catalyst, bringing people with
needs together with available
resources.” Estafen knows
J Creative Enterprises well.
• Through the Foundation,
;Creative Enterprises has estab
lished its own endowment fund as
one way of assuring an income
stream to support its programs.
Creative Enterprises has also
received grants from the
Foundation for the work that it
does for mentally and physically
challenged adults.
Seeing the need for landscaping
to complete the project, Estafen
contacted Bill Russell. Russell,
who is also a fund holder through
the Gwinnett Foundation, has
committed his companies to com
munity involvement. Employees
volunteer their time and skills to
work twice a year on projects to.
benefit the local community.
Their last project, for the Red
Cross, won them a service award
from the Metro Atlanta
Landscape and Turf Association,
said Russell, “The Creative
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Alice and James Turner
president of NFCC. “The Turners demonstrate
that deternination, sacrifice and a positive atti
tude allow people to overcome obstacles and turn
their lives around.”
“In todaj’s society, the financial needs among
groups wilh disabilities are often overlooked,”
said Boas. “We have seen a great need among
hearing-imiaired consumers for financial assis
tance, and ve are serious about doing all we can
to help suck individuals achieve financial stabili
ty and independence.”
In a step to further assist hearing-impaired con
sumers and clients, CCCS of Greater Atlanta has
a counselor available to communicate via
American Sign Language. CCCS' TeleTypewriter
(TTY) number for the hearing-impaired is (770)
716-9666.
Guided by their JCCS counselor, the Turners
gradually paid off their debt. “Getting our state
ments and seeing the balances go down gave us a
very positive attitude about the plan and made
our sacrifices worthwhile,” James said. His wife
added that the money management skills learned
from CCCS and their modified spending habits
have changed their lives. “We can now focus on
saving for out family’s future,” Alice said.
Enterprises project has been
rewarding for all our employees,
and we particularly like looking
at the ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures
to remind ourselves that we have
made a difference.”
Couch has directed Creative
Enterprises since 1981, and great
ly values anyone who donates
time, talent and financial
resources to help in its mission of
service. Couch said that working
with volunteers makes her con
stantly aware of the good side of
people. She said that’s what she
saw when Russell and his crew
swung into action. She is espe
cially grateful that Russell donat-
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ed all the landscaping materials,
with only the flowers coming
from Creative Enterprises’ own
greenhouse.
The handicapped men and
women who take part in the day
rehabilitation program now have
a beautiful, home-like setting in
which to enjoy positive learning
experiences. Both Couch and
Russell know that miracles can
come true, and the Gwinnett
Foundation is glad to be the point
of connection.
The Foundation invites other
charitably minded citizens and
organizations to get in touch and
find out about ways to make our
BUSINESS
Career programs show
show to seize opportunities
Ken Davis
For the Forsyth County News
Dear Ken: I know you do seminars and are
occasionally on TV, but I’ve not been able to get
to one of your seminars. Your book gave me
some very valuable tips and now I want more
specific training on the how and where to get a
job in my own specific field of expertise.
I heard there were some national companies that
help people with career changes and career
advances. My pastor told me there were even
some here in the Houston area.
What about places like this?
Where are they? How much do
they cost? Can just anyone go?
Are they for just executives, or
can a “working stiff’ like me
find some information at their
presentations.
Tommy T., Houston, Texas.
Dear Tommy: The market
abounds with companies that do just what you’re
asking. Although there are not as many in the
market now that the unemployment is less than it
was two years ago, there are still several. Even
this “downsizing” has been beneficial for people
like yourself - many of the “fast buck” compa
nies that promised a bunch, yet delivered very lit
tle, have simply gone away now that there are so
few unemployment lines.
Right in your area are several rather good
resources, and many of them are presented as a
public service by churches, the city, as well as
slate government. They have good manuals and
very interesting speakers, lecturers, programs and
Business note
International Trade
Conference scheduled
The Southern Center for International Studies,
Economic Development Division of Fulton
County, U.S. Export Assistance Center, Georgia
Tech Center for International Business Education
and Research present the first annual Fulton
County International Trade
community stronger through vol
unteering time and resources, or
by establishing a permanent
endowment future to do good on
into the future.
. Invited!
Jg&gW Celebration of Trees
” -A - proudly sponsored by
North Fulton Regional Hospital
For Kids of All Ages...
71 December 4 -
December 6
at Wills Park Recreation Center
11925 Wills Road, Alpharetta
Bring your camera to capture your little ones sharing their wish list with Santa.
Enjoy apple cider and cookies while you listen to Carolers singing your favorite
Christmas songs. See a variety of trees decorated by the following:
* Alpha Sports * Manor Care Spring House
* Cannery * Mr. John B’s
* City of Alpharetta v * North Fulton Regional Hospital
* Dillard’s at North Point * On the Border
* Hallmark Showcase * Rehabilitation Services at
* Houck’s Grille at Crabapple North Fulon Regional Hospital
* Ippolitos * Town Place Suites, Marriott
* Kim Mills * 29 S. Main
* Manor Care Arden Court
Parking is free and so is admission! But, in keeping with the holiday spirit,
please bring an unwrapped new toy, kids tennis shoes or canned goods.
All items will be donated to North Fulton Charities.
Celebration of Trees? Santa Claus Appearances? HOHL’
Friday, December 4 Friday, December 4
12 NOON - 8.00 PM 600 PM - 800 PM
Saturday, Decmber 5 Saturday, Decmber 5 JR
200 PM -1000 PM 400 PM - 900 PM \ <
Sunday, Decmber 6 , -. ■ - —J
LOO PM - 500 PM Garlands and wreaths provided by V, 7II 111 1
Pike Nursery. Refreshments provided by 1?
fnplcs, Kroger and Public
} . ( 1 _v_
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS W>dne»d»y, PectnbT 2,1898
specific details on individual jobs. Take a look at
your daily and Sunday newspaper in the employ
ment section. As these programs and seminars
are presented, the paper usually tells where and
when they will be presented, as well as the costs,
if any.
On the national scene, there are many more, but
they require a lot of travel, and they are not free.
One interesting one is in Scranton, Pa., where the
new career program of “Career Systems
International” shows how to seek, see and seize
opportunities. You can call (301) 765-0603 for
Change usually
causes rear - they
say, but it doesn't
have to.
99
“seize” (opportunities when they arise.) The cost
is $95.
Change usually causes fear - they say, but it
doesn’t have to. It also can inspire hope and offer
opportunity. It’s all in the mindset. You can take
advantages both in the workplace and in life.
Ken Davis contributes a weekly column and is
author of the book "Fired! Your Proven Guide To
Getting A Better Job, Faster, And Earning More
Money Than Ever Before." To get your copy of
this 144-page, 8 1/2” x 11" book, have your cred
it card handy and dial toll free (800) 293-9576.
Mention offer MYOI.
Conference.
The conference will be held on Friday, Dec. 4,
at the Georgia International Convention Center in
College Park. The conference will be held from
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2-3 p.m. The lun
cheon will follow from 12:30-2 p.m.
For more information on the conference, call
(404) 261-5763.
• Discounts to Schools • Embroidery &
& Groups ' Custom Lettering
• School Letter Jackets • Screen Printing
• Heat Process lettering
(770) 772-9473
information.
Theirs is a unique, self-con
tained, half-day workshop to
help employees manage change,
take charge of their careers and
make the most of available
opportunities. The four-module
workshop shows employees how
to “seek” (opportunities), “see”
(what applies to them) and
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