Maureen Downey wrote an excellent profile of the Global Village School a couple days back in the AJC. The school, which opened in August, helps teenage survivors of war and refugee camps acquire the necessary education to attend and graduate from high school and college.

As Downey explains, the school – which teaches an “intense, extended five-day program” – grew out of a Saturday class at the International Community School on Covington Highway. Students get up as early as 4 a.m. and take trains and buses into Decatur every morning, looking to learn to speak better English and improve math skills.

The school utilizes donated classroom space at Decatur Presbyterian and students eat lunch everyday in Agnes Scott College’s dining hall.

Thanks to Adam for pointing out this great article!

Anne writes in…

Change for Haiti at Oakhurst Elementary a Huge Success!

The final total for the Change for Haiti collection is $2,320! We can purchase TEN Schools-in-a-Box to help set up temporary schools for 800 kids in Haiti. At Community Circle on Friday, March 12th, Oakhurst Elementary will present a check to a UNICEF representative. The UNICEF representative will bring a School-in-a-Box to show the kids exactly what they raised money for. Great job and tremendous thanks to all the kids and parents of Oakhurst Elementary for their generosity!

Another incredible, hometown story.

Suzy sent along this press release, which details the extensive commitment one Decatur family has toward foster kids.  John and Polly Lewis will receive this year’s 2010 Humanitarian Award on March 18th at the Dining For a Difference event at the Cobb Galleria.

In recognition of their unwavering dedication to children in need, foster parents John and Polly Lewis will receive the 2010 Humanitarian Award at the event. During the past 40 years, the Decatur couple took in more than 80 children, many of whom have gone on to receive college degrees and have families of their own.

“John and I were so happy to open our doors and our hearts to these children,” said Polly Lewis. “They needed help, and with the support of Families First and good case workers, we were able to give these kids a chance. Fostering wasn’t always easy, but we prayed for God’s strength to get us through and felt blessed to do the work.”

Suzy also notes that at age 84 and 90 respectively, Polly and John are still helping kids, currently “fostering 19-year-old Zada Wheat who is currently enrolled in college, thanks to the Lewis’ support.”

The keynote speakers for this year’s Dining For a Difference event will be Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, “the real-life inspirations for the book and Oscar-nominated best picture, The Blide Side.”

In the midst of helping young Decatur musician Sydney Rhame win $1,000 from Kudzu last year, we also promoted “Girls Rock Camp”, a start-up non-profit founded by “long-time Decaturites” that assists young girls in starting bands and creating original music.

Well, this year the organization is hosting a three day event for the 19 and older crowd!  “Ladies Rock Camp” is limited to 25 participants and will be held at Atlanta Charter Middle School features a culminating performance at L5P’s Five Spot and a songwriting workshop with the Indigo Girls Emily Saliers.

No prior musical experience is necessary and tuition is just $350!

For more info, check out the full press release after the jump or head on over to the Ladies Rock Camp page on the Girls Rock Camp website.

Read the rest of this entry »

Anne writes in…

The students of Oakhurst Elementary are presently holding a change drive entitled “Change for Haiti” in which the funds collected will go towards UNICEF’S “School-in-a-Box” Program providing temporary schools for children in disaster zones. Each “School-in-a-Box”, which costs $232, contains enough school supplies for 80 children.

This idea grew from 2 of Oakhurst’s very own students who were wanting to do something for the children of Haiti following the devastating earthquake. The third graders are collecting and counting/rolling the change and using their knowledge of estimation, multiplication and money as they make real life connections all while raising money for a good cause. It also draws close a real world example of Empathy and Caring, one of the design principles of Expeditionary Learning. By last Friday, the end of the first week, Oakhurst had collected well over $1000!

“Change for Haiti” will continue until this Friday, February 12th.

Bailey writes in…

The Booster club is having their spring fund raiser [Saturday] March 27th at the Church of the Epiphany. If anyone has any items that they would like to donate to our auction it would be very helpful.  It can be anything from a special cake you bake to donating a week at your mountain house.  Or if you would like to donate time,that would help also.

The money goes to student athletes of Decatur High and Renfroe. Please contact Bailey Pendergrast -sbpender@gmail.com

Beautiful wands for sale, for a good cause!  Audrey sends in this announcement…

Haiti needs a little magic.

A group of 3rd graders from Winnona Park Elementary have made some beautiful wizard and fairy wands and will be selling them on Saturday Feb 6th in front of Little Shop of Stories starting at noon. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to help Haiti. The wands will be $10 each.

From our friends at the Decatur Minute…

What: Decatur for Haiti. Local Decatur merchants and restaurants donating to the Haiti earthquake relief.

When: Monday, Feb. 1

Who: The following businesses have agreed to donate a portion of their proceeds from Feb. 1 to the American Red Cross.

See the full list of participating shops and restaurants after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Catherine at the Decatur Minute writes…

Mark your calendars for Monday, Feb. 1. We’re organizing a Decatur Haiti Relief Event with Decatur’s local businesses. Participating shops and restaurants will donate a portion of their Feb. 1 proceeds to the relief fund and the Beer Festival committee has agreed to match the donations using proceeds saved from the 2009 festival. The money raised will be donated to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. So encourage your friends and family to shop and dine in Decatur on Monday. We’ll publish a finalized list of participating businesses at the end of next week.

Michele sends along info on how you can see the Big Apple Circus in a private performance at Stone Mountain Park on Sunday, February 14th, AND at the same time support Camp Sunshine’s year-round programs for kids with cancer.

Join Camp Sunshine’s campers and their families for an incredible day at the Big Apple Circus on Sunday, February, 14, 2010, at 4pm. All proceeds from this private performance benefit Camp Sunshine’s programs for children with cancer and their families. This will be an afternoon of fun and excitement as we welcome Bello the Clown and his friends to Stone Mountain park under the big top!

We’ll be raffling off some fabulous prizes during the show, including a Guest Announcer Experience with the Atlanta Braves and two round-trip tickets on Air Tran Airlines!

Read the rest of this entry »