Business Buzz

FESTIVAL FUNDS AT WORK

Members of the Saint Simons Food & Spirits Festival Board recently presented a check to Hospice of the Golden Isles (HGI) in the amount of $17,000, representing the total proceeds raised from the 2015 festival. “Hospice of the Golden Isles is deeply grateful to everyone involved with the Saint Simons Food & Spirits Festival for their efforts to benefit our non-profit agency,” said Karen Brubaker, HGI CEO. “Our hospice has served this community for 35 years, and we rely on the generosity of our donors to continue to deliver expert, compassionate care to all in need, regardless of ability to pay. In 2014, the funds received from the Festival paid for one of our new residential patient rooms in our Hospice House. In 2015, the Festival’s donation helped cover uncompensated care for some of our most vulnerable patients. We truly appreciate the Festival Team’s faithful support of our Hospice.” The festival will return October 5-9 in 2016.

TOGETHER AGAIN

Dee Simmons Interiors welcomes Cara Wommack as a senior designer. Cara, a Georgia native, holds a Bachelor of Interior Design from Auburn University. She is NCIDQ certified and a member of ASID. While interning at their first interior design firm in Atlanta, Dee and Cara became fast friends and colleagues, working together for six years both in Atlanta and then later on St. Simons Island. Cara then married Michael and took some time off to raise their three children, MJ, Lura, and Annie. Cara’s energy and creativity were put to good use designing and planning the new home she and Michael built in 2014. Recognizing Cara’s strong creative abilities, Dee asked Cara to join her established design firm. Dee and Cara’s style merge together both modern and classic design resulting in an ideal mix of old and new that is timeless. For more information, please visit deesimmonsinteriors.com.

HOPE STARTS WITH U

United Way of Coastal Georgia is creating lasting change in our community. Their awareness campaign Hope Starts With U launches this month. Hope Starts With U will show how far United Way’s impact reaches across our community. Their collaboration with local organizations is helping to improve education, financial stability and health for individuals in Glynn and McIntosh counties. They work with hundreds of volunteers and donors, providing a platform to make a bigger, deeper difference. Hope Starts With U focuses on improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community. It will bring awareness of what our community faces, what United Way is doing and the opportunity to change the lives of thousands of people across the region, generating a ripple effect of economic growth and stability. To find out how you can help, visit the United Way website at LiveUnitedNow.com.

FOUNDATION NAMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS

The Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation recently elected three new board members to four-year terms. Sandi Channell is an active community leader who has served as Finance Committee chair for Frederica Academy, president of Cherokee Garden Club, and board member of St. Simons Land Trust and Hospice of the Golden Isles. Mac Nease, President of Nease, Lagana, Eden & Culley, has served in numerous leadership roles in the insurance industry, was elected to the National Association of Estate Planning Councils’ Hall of Fame, is the Past Chair of the Georgia Tech Foundation, and sits on the numerous corporate and charitable boards. Rene’ Shelnutt, partner at Schell & Hogan, has held several offices of the local chapter of the Georgia Society FROM TOP: Mac Nease, Rene’ Shelnutt and Sandi Channell of CPAs and has also served in a financial capacity on the boards of several volunteer organizations.

DONATIONS THAT KEEP GIVING

Hello Goodbuy Community Thrift Store celebrated their final Quarterly Giving Back Ceremony of 2015 with a bang by distributing over $34,000 to 15 Glynn County organizations. That means they distributed in excess of $135,000 for the entire year. Louisa Nightingale, hello Goodbuy Community Liaison says, “It is truly a blessing to be able to walk beside these organizations who do such amazing work in our local community. I believe that one of the greatest benefits in bringing these groups together at the store for our Quarterly Giving Back Program is the opportunity for them to network in order to build bridges and strengthen our community’s foundation for future generations. Alone we can make an impact, but together we can truly make a difference within the community for those who need it the most.” Hello Goodbuy, 1523 Glynn Ave, 912.264.8181.

FROM LEFT (front row): Martha Grant (Coastal Animal Rescue Society), Kaki Thurber (Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church Back Pack Program), Steve Oldaker (Bwk-Glynn Co Mayor’s Committee for Disabled), Faye Boddiford (St. Mark’s Choir School), Martha Gant (Coastal Coalition For Children); (middle row): Amy Taylor (Burroughs Molette Elementary), Steve & Debby Temmer (Centered for Life), Cary Greenfield (CASA Glynn), Jameiah Jones (Knit Wits), Cheryl Ussery (Speech, Hearing, & Rehabilitation Enterprises of Coastal GA); (back row): Sheila Glaeser (hello, Goodbuy Board of Advisors), Rose Wilson (HG Board of Advisors Chair), Tracy Quintanar & Angela Scott (Girls on the Run of the Golden Isles), John Girton (Manna House), Heather Heath & Brad Butler (Golden Isles Arts & Humanities), Ellen Murphy (STAR Foundation)

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