Lions StateMag 24 | Page 27

" SIXTH ANNUAL “GEORGIA CASUAL WEEK” GOVERNOR Nathan Deal PROCLAIMS... "Georgia Casual Week" April 20-24 2015  A Challenge to ALL Georgia Companies and Organizations for the Benefit of the Georgia Academy for the Blind.   I would like to share this information with you and invite you to participate. Several school systems in Georgia have already signed on, along with many community focused companies and organizations. Please consider joining in. Governor Nathan Deal has issued an official Proclamation challenging all businesses and organizations throughout the state of Georgia to participate in "Georgia Casual Week" April 20-24, 2015. "Georgia Casual Week" is a statewide campaign to raise awareness and support for Georgia's only state school for children and youth with visual impairments and/or multiple disabilities. The Georgia Academy for the Blind in Macon , Georgia , has been serving the needs of children throughout Georgia for over 150 years. The academy is a state school and does not have the benefit of local tax resources. "Georgia Casual Week" is an employee-choice fundraiser, at NO COST to the employer, whereby employers encourage and allow their employees (or staff and students) to dress casually for the week of April 20-24, 2015. For that privilege, an employee would make a small donation ($5-$10 or whatever your school decides), which would go to support the vital programs of the Georgia Academy for the Blind. The academy's student fund, which is funded solely through donations, is essential for student’s welfare and growth in a variety of areas. The Student Fund funds field trips, athletics, personal items including clothes for those who need them, adaptive equipment and devices, special events including camps that are designed for children, tuition for college or other training programs for youth with visual and multiple impairments. These programs are vital to the development of these children. We have the power to make a difference. By engaging in the education and welfare of Georgia 's visually impaired children, the business community has and will continue to benefit from the academy's outstanding work in educating and creating a better qualified workforce of independent, taxpaying citizens. Please consider joining in this effort, along with many other community focused organizations and school partners throughout the state, for the week of April 20-24, 2015. It takes very little effort to participate and this small gesture will help to empower these children to rise above their disabilities and find their rightful place in society. As parents of a GAB student, we support this effort to help give these children the resources they need and deserve. We are so pleased that Governor Deal has so quickly endorsed this cause to help bring awareness and support for these children, staff and school. Please pass this information to your schools and any organizations or companies that you think would be interested in helping. For more information or to let us know that you plan on participating, please visit https://sites.google.com/site/gacasualweekorg/Home or contact Tommy or Rachel Towery = [email protected] – 912-537-4926. Money collected can be sent to: Ga. Academy for the Blind “Student Fund”, Attn: Dr. Cindy Gibson, School Principal, 2895 Vineville Ave., Macon GA 31204. We thank you for your consideration and would be honored to have you partner with us. We greatly appreciate the generosity of Georgia schools and corporations who participated in the past to make Georgia Casual Week a success. Each person who made a donation made a difference in the lives of the students at GAB and we look forward to being able to provide the same opportunities this year as a result of your willingness to participate. Sincerely, Tommy and Rachel Towery 27