About The Savannah tribune. (Savannah, Ga.) 1973-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 2008)
2 - The Savannah Tribune • Wednesday, October 8, 2008 SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY NEWS Local Non-Profit Group Receives Foundation Grant My Brothaz HOME, Inc., a local nonprofit AIDS service organization based in Savannah received a $40,000 grant for general operating support from the Public Welfare Foundation on September 22, 2008. The organization has received the annual award for the past six years to help with general operating costs. The primary focus is to provide HIV pre vention education, HIV Counseling, Testing and Referral services and sup portive services for persons living with HIV including Mark Douglas men, women and youth. My Brothaz HOME was founded in April 2000 by Mark Douglas and several peers. Douglas now serves as the CEO/Executive Director of the organization which also has a satellite office in Augusta, Georgia. The satel lite office is currently work ing on a CDC pilot project through the financial support of the Georgia Department of Human Resources to provide health education and risk reduction services to individ uals referred from the Medical College of Georgia. Douglas states, “We are very grateful for the Public Welfare Foundation's support and will now be able to con tinue providing the lifesaving services to avert HIV infec tion in our area.” According to recent data received from the CDC, the latest national HIV incidence numbers indicate that the number of reported HIV cases is higher than they had pre dicted. The CDC estimates that about 50,000 persons a year are infected with the virus rather than the 40,000 annual cases previously reported. Currently, Savannah has the second highest number of reported HIV/AIDS cases in the state (GA DHR Epidemiology Office, March 2008). A majority of these cases represent minority men and women. The area contin ues to see an increase in the number of young men who have sex with men and women and older adults con tracting the virus. These trends indicate a need for increased prevention educa tion and awareness messages. Douglas encourages everyone to get tested. “We must get real about HIV/AIDS. When one is afflicted, we all are,” he noted. The organization contin ues to solicit the support of local churches, businesses, fraternities, sororities and oth ers to help stem the epidemic. Support is desperately needed from the NAACP, local churches, 100 Black Men of Savannah Chapter and other See Grant, page 3 It’s Time For A Change! ELECT GWEN FORTSON WARING SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE Motivated to Serve Justice Greg Wood Rejoins "AccuMortgage Team" Lin Walsh of AccuMortgage Walsh and Associates is pleased to announce that Greg Wood has rejoined the "AccuMortgage Team" at its new location in downtown Savannah, located at 119 Jefferson Street. Wood has over 25 years experience in the mortgage/real estate industry. He has worked as a liscense realtor, a mortgage banker, broker, lender and mortgage loan underwriter. Wood is currently an affiliate member of the Savannah Board of Realtors, and a member of the Savannah Downtown Business Association. AccuMortgage special izes in all types of home mortgage lending, including conventional, FHA/VA, Jumbo loans and "specialty Greg Wood programs" You may visit or call Greg Wood at the downtown office 119 Jefferson St. 912- 236-1150 or Lin Walsh at the Tybee Island office at 1008 Hwy 80 Suite B, 912-786- 9 9 2 6." www.accumortgage.net. Excellence Fund Seeks Exceptional Teachers The Savannah Fund for Excellence in Public Education has announced the availability of funds for certi fied K-12 teachers in the Savannah Chatham County Public School System. Grants of up to $2,000 will be awarded to encourage class room innovation and reward exceptional teachers. The Excellence Fund Grants are offered for classroom proj ects that show measurable results and may not be used for professional develop ment. Since 2003, the Excellence Fund has awarded between seven and fifteen grants of up to $2,000 per year. An important element for this year’s grant is the Savannah Chatham County Public School System’s will ingness to find a way for recipients to share best prac- See Teachers, page 3 Gwendolyn Steele Fortson Waring was born in Harlem, N. Y. She attended public schools and graduated from the Brearley School in 1973. She graduated from Princeton University in 1977 with a B.A. in politics, teacher certification, and certification in African American studies. In 1989, after a twelve year career in retail management and merchandising, she returned to school and obtained her Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from Georgia State University College of Law in 1992, while raising her daughter, Brooke Fortson, as a divorced mother. After clerking as the staff attorney for the Hon. Don A. Langham in Fulton County Superior Court from 1992-1994, she moved to Savannah, GA and opened her law practice, concentrat ing in the areas of Employment discrimination, Family Law and Criminal Law, under the tute lage of the late Fletcher Farrington, Esq. During her sixteen year career as a lawyer, she has been committed to improving the community and the legal profession. Since 1999, has been married to Savannah native Lawrence Waring. “Gwen Fortson Waring knows her community. She is active throughout Chatham County. She has passion for the Law and she will make sure that Justice is truly blind.” Georgia State Senator Regina Thomas “Gwen Waring has the honesty and integrity to be a good judge in Cha tham County. I have worked with her on community projects and seen her get things done. I support Gwen and hope that she is successful in her election campaign.” Patrick Shay - Chatham County Commissioner “Attorney Gwendolyn Fortson Waring is one of the outstanding citizens of Chatham County with a brilliant legal mind, who will always temper justice with mercy. She has always shown her willingness to serve beyond the call of duty to foster pro grams for community development and instill Christian principles in youth. I highly recommend her forjudge.” Rev. Dr. Henry R. Delaney, Jr. - Senior Pastor “I served as a member of several organizations with Attorney Waring and worked with her as president of the Metropolitan Community Improvement Association as Alderman in the City of Savannah - 5th District. I can assure the Chatham County Community that she possesses the necessary qualifications-learning, patience, a fine personality, integrity and ability to serve as Superior Court Judge. When elected, I believe she will serve well and bring credit to that office.” The Hon. Clifton Jones, Jr. , District 5 Alderman, City of Savannah “I am supporting Gwendolyn Fortson Waring because first of all she is qualified. Secondly, because she is a people’s person, one who can feel the touch of the high and the low. Gwendolyn Fortson Waring is kind, just, fair and honest. She loves and serves her Lord and Saviour. Join me in support of Gwendolyn Fortson Waring.” Rev. Matthew Southall Brown Sr. “Gwen is a visionary. She is visible and accountable to make a difference for people. She has a proven track record for working with all people. She will be a full time judge, her work will not end when she leaves the bench!” The Hon. Dorothy Pelote “According to my observation, of my dear friend and sister, I do believe she will make one of the best judges on the bench because she is fair, honest. She will make the best possible decisions, because she is God fearing. And that’s who she is. She demonstrates character daily in her life and she is a woman of integrity.” Prophetess Hazel Scott “I have had the honor of serving on several committees and commissions with Attorney Gwen Waring over many years. She is always an involved leader who grasps issues and proposes fair solutions to complex situations. Her people skills and concern for the community are assets that will make her a quality Superior Court judge.” Hugh S. Golson Vote November 4th Paid ior by the Committee to Elect Gwen fortson Waring Superior Court Judge Tree Checking ‘Great CD Rates ‘All Tines ef leans •(’(Mil M*1 One Of Our Kihuurirf Servicers Sjhh iulivtv Fur DrluHs arverntatelHank ) FDIC www.canerstatedank.cem LENDER
