FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities to Bestow Its Highest Honor – The Heart of Gold Award -- to the Junior League of Atlanta, Inc.
ATLANTA, March 19, 2007 -- The Board of Directors of the Atlanta Alliance on Disabilities, (AADD) in April will honor the Junior League of Atlanta, Inc. (JLA) as the recipient of AADD’s highest honor, the Heart of Gold Award. The award will be presented at AADD’s annual Heart of Gold dinner celebration on Thursday, April 12, 2007, at the Atlanta Marriott Century Center Hotel, 2000 Century Center Boulevard, NE.
The Heart of Gold celebration begins with a reception at 6:30 pm, followed by a dinner banquet and awards presentations at 7:00 pm.
Given each year, the prestigious Heart of Gold award is bestowed upon the individual or organization exemplifying outstanding support of the agency’s mission to build communities of acceptance, support, and opportunity for children, adults, and families living with developmental disabilities.
“For more than a decade, our programs have been strengthened by the active participation and financial support of Junior League of Atlanta members. Their caring and commitment have helped us to provide invaluable recreation services that have brought tremendous joy to the people we help to support,” said Mary Yoder, AADD executive director. “Junior League members have contributed with their hearts and minds in so many ways, pitching in where ever and when ever they are needed.”
Since the late 1990s, the JLA has helped to make possible AADD’s annual Holiday Dinner Dance for adults living with developmental disabilities. The dance is held the first Saturday in December, and the JLA provides decorations, volunteers, souvenir gift photos of attendees, and a major percentage of the funding to pay for the food and entertainment. JLA volunteers are also hands-on for AADD’s annual Valentine’s Day dance in February. These dances are just two of the ways JLA members participate in AADD recreation programs. Members also help throughout the year with swimming, bocce ball, bicycling and other activities.
“Without the Junior League of Atlanta we would have a difficult time fulfilling our need for qualified volunteers and recreation funding. JLA volunteers help with so many different events, and in so many ways. I cannot imagine being able to provide all the recreation programs we are able to provide – programs which include more than 13,000 individuals – without the help of the Junior League,” said Yoder.
When told about the designation as recipient of the Heart of Gold Award, Judy Lynn Rice, JLA president said, "The Junior League of Atlanta is both honored and humbled to be receiving AADD's highest award. As AADD is celebrating its 50th anniversary and the Junior League of Atlanta is celebrating our 90th, we will continue to work together to help improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities in our community. We value our relationship with AADD and look forward to building brighter futures for years to come."
Seating is offered through advanced reservations. Individual tickets to the event are $45 and sponsorship levels range from $75 to $1,000, with different benefits of recognition offered per level. The attire for the evening is business dress. Free parking is provided. All proceeds support the work of AADD. Guests may make their reservations and secured payment on line at www.aadd.org. In addition to the AADD website, additional information about the event is available by calling Dean Geiss at 404-881-9777, ext 221.
Founded in 1956, AADD has grown from a local, grass-roots not-for-profit organization founded by a group of concerned parents to become Georgia’s premiere provider of needed services, broad-based education, and effective advocacy for children, adults, and families living with developmental disabilities. In its 50-year history, AADD has been at the forefront of building strong collaborative partnerships. The result of these partnerships is an increased public awareness of the countless cultural benefits of including persons with developmental disabilities, and the promotion of needed policy change to ensure that people living with developmental disabilities are heard and respected at every level of society.
The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc. (JLA) is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and to improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. For more information on The Junior League of Atlanta, visit www.jlatlanta.org or call 404-261-7799.
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