Newspaper Page Text
2 - The Savannah Tribune • Wednesday, December 9, 2009
SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY NEWS
United Way of the Coastal Empire
Raises $8,080,344
United Way of the
Coastal Empire is pleased to
announce the 2009 campaign
has raised $8,080,344 or 98%
of the $8.2 million goal to
help people in need in our
community. The funds raised
will be used to support over
100 human service programs
and services in Bryan,
Chatham, Effingham, and
Liberty counties.
“It's significant to note
that while this may not be the
highest campaign total, it was
probably the greatest cam
paign effort, given the fact
that we achieved this in a year
where we are experiencing the
biggest recession since the
Great Depression,” said
Gregg Schroeder, President
and CEO of United Way of the
Coastal Empire.
At the campaign celebra
tion on November 20th, 2009,
United Way of the Coastal
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Jeff Kole
Empire decided to extend its
campaign to include last
minute donations.
With the campaign still
building momentum and the
surprise announcement of a
$100,000 campaign challenge
grant, United Way hoped that
by extending the campaign, it
would be able to raise addi
tional funds necessary to help
more people in need. Since
November 20th, United Way
was able to raise nearly
$265,000.
Several new records
were set this year, the largest
being Gulfstream Aerospace
Corporation and their
employees with total contri
butions exceeding $2 million.
Additionally, the
Colonial Group contributed
over $300,000 and funded the
$100,000 challenge match at
the end of campaign.
Campaign Chair Jeff
Kole, President of Kole
Management Company,
declared this year's campaign
a victory, revealing that in
extraordinary economic
times, generous individuals
and corporations raised over
$8 million for only the third
time in United Way's 71 year
history.
United Way sincerely
thanks the individual donors,
corporate supporters, volun
teers and staff who showed
they cared about their com
munity as they gave gener
ously in these challenging
times.
The mission of the
United Way is to improve
lives by mobilizing the caring
power of communities.
Through partnerships,
long-term planning and
thoughtful investment of
donor contributions, United
Way of the Coastal Empire
supports over 100 programs
and services in Bryan,
Chatham, Effingham and
Liberty counties.
Minority- & Women-owned Businesses
A Local Beauty Queen-
Brittany Jester
By Edith W. Anderson
Running for Miss
Savannah State University
was not something she
decided to do at the spur of
the moment. She had long
realized that a campaign for
such a prestigious office
would be time-consuming
and would take meticulous
planning.
While she did not
receive the title of Miss
Savannah State University
(SSU), she came in as the
first place attendant. “I am
honored to be granted the
opportunity to serve as the
first attendant. I love work
ing with students and have a
lot of programs to imple
ment. I am excited,” said
Brittany Andricka Jester of
Hinesville.
Twenty-two year old
Jester is elated with her
accomplishment. “It was
hard work, but I enjoyed it.
I had been thinking about
running since my freshman
year, so when it was time, I
was ready. I had saved my
money because campaign
ing is expensive,” she said.
There were five contest
ants vying for the queen.
Tierenne Raeshaun
Roberson was crowned
Miss SSU and Jasmine
Raglin was selected to serve
Brittany Jester
as the second attendant.
“My campaign slogan
was: “Building a Bridge for
a Brighter Tomorrow - One
Vote at a Time.” I also had
a platform slogan of,
“Promoting Scholarship,
Uplifting Spirits, and all
About You.
“Even though I did
not win, I still hold a very
important position. I am so
grateful that I have a posi
tion,” she said
Jester is originally from
Atlanta, but moved to
Hinesville when she was in
the 7th grade. “My dad was
military, and my mom
(Amanda Jester) still lives
in Hinesville. She is my
number one supporter,”
Jester said. Jester also has a
brother named Tracy.
A busy multi talented stu
dent, Jester writes for the
university's newspaper
(Tiger's Roar). She recently
finished her internship with
WTOC television and is
currently interning in the
Athletic Department at
SSU.
“I do media relations,
write stories, and interview
football players,” Jester
noted. She is also a member
of the Mass
Communications Student
Association; Ladies of
Venus and Elegance
Modeling Troupe; Vice
President of the National
Association of Black
Journalists; a Tiger
Network News anchor spe
cialist; Vice President of
Sisters Striving for
Excellence Inc.; and Vice
President of Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority Inc., Delta
Nu Chapter. Her future
plans include obtaining a
masters degree in broad
casting from Georgia State
University or Savannah
State University.
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Grow your brininess— apply now to
become a certified Minority- or
Women-owned Busmens
Bntetpise (M/WBE) with the City
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The City of Savannah aw ards
millions of dollars in connects ro
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Certification will he required to
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For more information on certification,
contact the M/WBE Office:
Make the holiday meal your
crowning achievement.
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My mother died of
colon cancer when
she was only 56.
Terrence Howard, actor/musician
Colorectal cancer is the
2nd leading cancer killer
in the U.S., but it's
largely preventable.
If you're 50 or older,
please get screened.
1-800-CDC-INF0 (1-800-232-4636)
www.cdc.gov/screenforlife
I National Colorectal Cancer
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