Gala To Celebrate Public Schools, Honor Retired Educators

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Woodstock, GA -- The Cherokee County Educational Foundation is planning to build upon the success of its inaugural event with the presentation of its Second Annual Celebration of Education.

The event, which will benefit the Cherokee County School District, will be held on Saturday, March 12.

The black-tie optional event at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center in Canton begins with a cocktail hour and silent auction at 6:30 p.m. and dinner, awards and entertainment at 7:30 p.m. The event’s presenting sponsor is Northside Hospital-Cherokee.

“Our inaugural gala was such a success that we can’t wait for this year’s event,” CCEF Board President Billy Hasty said. “Our sponsors and guests help us celebrate the important work being done every day by our School District and raise funds to benefit CCSD students, teachers and schools.”

Since 2012, the Foundation has awarded more than $115,000 in grants to students, teachers and schools. The nonprofit, charitable foundation seeks funding and resources to enrich schools in areas not fully funded in the regular school program.

Guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, raffle with cash prizes and silent auction during the cocktail hour reception, followed by dinner, dessert and the program. The entertainment will be the second annual CCSD’s Got Talent student talent show featuring the best act each from CCSD’s six high schools in competition for a $1,000 grand prize and $500 runner-up prize.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower is the event’s honorary chair, and there will be special recognitions of outstanding alumni and educators as part of the evening’s festivities.

The Second Annual Alumni of the Year Awards, which will honor at least one alumnus and one alumna of district high schools each year for outstanding professional and civic contributions, will also be presented.

This year’s recipients, who were unanimously selected by the CCEF Board, are Frankie Shepherd, a lifetime educator who retired as principal of her alma mater, Ralph Bunche High School (now Center), and has volunteered in numerous community service roles; and Gene Norton, a lifetime educator who served as Cherokee County superintendent of schools and in roles for the Georgia Department of Education and Reinhardt University.

Foundation board members Amanda Arnold of Credit Union of Georgia and CCSD parent and PTA volunteer Debbie Rabjohn are this year's gala co-chairs.

For more information about CCEF, visit its website or its Facebook page. To sponsor the gala, call (770) 704-4228 or email cceducationalfoundation@gmail.com.

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Photo: from left, Frankie Shepherd and Gene Norton. Credit: Cherokee County School District