Garden club donates to children's group
The Columbia County Foundation for Children just had its first scholarship recipient graduate from college thanks to a scholarship fund established by the West Lake Garden Club.
The West Lake Garden Club raised $5,392.48 for the Columbia County Foundation for Children through its annual Tour of Homes. Garden club members are Deborah Gay (from left) Debra Shockley, Mary Ann Williams, Karen Goodell, Donna Lee (with the CCFC), Marilyn Hardin and Tina Rojas.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
On Wednesday, club members donated $5,392.48 to foundation board member Donna Lee.
"We had our first graduate," Lee said. "We are very excited, so they could see that what they are doing is excellent work."
Each year, proceeds from the garden club's Tour of Homes is donated to the foundation for the scholarship fund. About 500 attend the Christmastime tour each year. This year, the foundation awarded four scholarships. The scholarship is renewed each year the student is in school.
"There are so many children who have a C average or are underprivileged who think they can't qualify," Lee said. "We tell them, if you want to be a beautician, we'll pay for you to go to school. We'll send you to wherever you want to go to further your education."
The scholarships are based on financial need and vary according to the child's choice of institutions. The only criteria after selection is that the student maintain a C average.