Sunday, December 11, 2011
Smyrna-based Dream Makers Youth Foundation hosts black-tie Casino Night to raise money for and increase community awareness about the abilities of those who are disabled.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
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Sunday, December 11, 2011
Dream Makers Youth Foundation hosted their sixth annual Casino Night and Auction last month at the Smyrna Community Center and it was big fun for all who attended and an overall tremendous success. The event was well-attended, with more than 100 people black-tied up, to support both an organization and cause they believed in. Approximately $10,000 was raised as attendees played casino games including roulette, blackjack, and craps, and bid on silent and live auction items, the majority of which were donated by companies throughout metropolitan Atlanta. The festivities also included a Volunteer of the Year ceremony, during which Tim Noonan and David Stolle of the Universal Tennis Academy were inducted into their Hall of Fame, for their …
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
11-year-old Heather Farmer was diagnosed before her first birthday with Ectodermal Dysplasia, a genetic disorder that involves defects to the hair, nails, sweat glands and teeth.
- HOLIDAY GUIDE
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Wednesday, December 7, 2011
This past Saturday, Children’s Health Care of Atlanta hosted its 31st annual Children’s Christmas Parade. When asked to ride alongside Glenn Burns, chief meteorologist for Channel 2 Action News, in a 1941 Cadillac in the parade, 11-year-old Heather Farmer of Smyrna was thrilled to participate. However, for Heather, this was much more personal than simply celebrating the Christmas Season as part of an Atlanta tradition. CHOA has been a valuable resource to Heather and her family for the past 10 years. Just before her first birthday, Heather was diagnosed with Ectodermal Dysplasia, a genetic disorder that involves defects to the hair, nails, sweat glands and teeth. Ectodermal patients are often characterized by very sparse, light, thin …
Friday, December 2, 2011
Next week's 11th annual event allows local underprivileged elementary school children to spend the day eating and shopping with more than 200 firemen, policemen and military personnel.
- HOLIDAY GUIDE
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Friday, December 2, 2011
The annual "Shop With A Hero" program through the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation is set to take place on Friday, Dec. 9. Children from five local schools will be treated to breakfast and then paired-up with a local firemen, policemen and military personnel "heroes" at Wal-Mart to shop for Christmas. Later the kids will have lunch with the heroes before returning to school. Last year, about 50 children from Argyle, Belmont Hills, Brown, King Springs and Nickajack elementary schools were treated. For several years, members of the Smyrna Police and Fire Departments staged separate shopping events with area children before joining forces several years ago. "This event was really the catalyst for starting the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation…
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Generosity reigns in Smyrna-Vinings when the calendar turns to December.
December has arrived and with the holidays now in full swing, it’s a most appropriate time to remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Recently, Life Church Smyrna Assembly of God partnered with the motorcycle club, Ghost Ryderz Atlanta, to take 150 bags of groceries to those in need. The Ghostryderz Atlanta rode in their 1st Annual Turkey Run with the entry fee being a frozen turkey to add to the 150 bags of groceries that members of Life Church provided. The event was a great success as they were able to go to three apartment complexes in Smyrna to deliver the bags. This was the 7th Annual Blessing Bag Outreach organized by Life Church Smyrna Assembly of God. _______ Vinings Church will be teaching generosity in a unique…
Monday, November 21, 2011
“I was excited because it’s one of those things, it’s sort of recognition that you had earned the highest honor that you could get in the profession.'' - Scott Sikes
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Sydney Busby
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Monday, November 21, 2011
Smyrna resident Scott Sikes has devoted his career to doing good for others, an accomplishment that the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy has awarded with its highest honor. Last month Sikes received the “Fellow in AHP” medallion at the association’s international conference in Boston. Sikes was recognized for his work as vice president of development for the Shepherd Center, the nation’s largest nonprofit hospital, and as the executive director of the Shepherd Center Foundation, the hospital’s non-profit organization. Sikes is responsible for recruiting, training and retaining hospital and fundraising volunteers as well as raising funds for the hospital. “I was excited because it’s one of those things, it’s sort of recognition that …
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Sunday's Atlanta Marathon will use new intown course, beginning and ending at Atlantic Station.
The Atlanta Marathon Sunday will send 2,500 runners through scenic Atlanta neighbhorhoods, including several in Buckhead. The Atlanta Track Club race, long run on Thanksgiving Day, will begin and end at Atlantic Station in Midtown, starting at 7 a.m. After going through Virginia-Highland and Morningside, the course, used for the first time this year, will loop around to Buckhead and down Peachtree to return to Atlantic Station. One Vinings man who is very much looking forward to the race is Gerald Schaefer, who 12 years ago at the age of 29 was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. Type I diabetics need to inject insulin several times each day since their pancreas no longer produces insulin naturally. The disease, also known as juvenile diabetes…
Friday, October 28, 2011
Smyrna-based nonprofit distributes new and gently worn shoes to the homeless and underprivileged in Metro Atlanta.
A girl can never have too many shoes. And Sylvia Webb has been through about 10,000 pairs since 2007. “I have in my storage right now about 1,500 pairs of shoes,” she said. But Webb’s not keeping them all for herself. Webb is the founder of the Smyrna-based nonprofit 40 Girls and Some Shoes, which seeks to distribute new and gently worn shoes to the homeless and underprivileged in Metro Atlanta. The 501 (c)(3) group distributes shoes several times a year at events like the “Step Into Fall” Shoe Giveaway held in August at the Smyrna Community Center or September’s Fiesta Georgia in Conyers. Webb was inspired to start 40 Girls and Some Shoes as a means of honoring her cousin. At her cousin’s funeral in 2005 Webb learned that before dying of …
Hunt Archbold
1:40 pm on Friday, December 16, 2011
Hey folks, from our staff writer, Sydney Busby: "A Norcross charity is throwing a Christmas party for 2,400 needy kids TONIGHT but only has 500 gifts because several corporate sponsors dropped out at the last minute. My friend Aurora Nelson is collecting gifts for the party. If you'd like to help by donating a gift, coat, warm clothing, etc., please meet me in the Brawner Hall parking lot at 2:15… more ›