Dr. Deborah R. Jones, Principal of the Gadsden Performing and Fine Arts Academy, was ecstatic as she, members of her professional staff and several students accepted a special gift from Othia Saussy, President of the Carver State Bank Employees Association. Robert E. James, Mary Bynum and Sherrie Williams, members of the Association's "Back to School Committee," joined Saussy at the presentation ceremony.

Back row (l-r): Carver State Bank President Robert E. James along with Carver employee Mary Bynum, Carver Employee Association President Othia Saussy, Executive Director of Elementary Schools Freida M. Porzio, and Gadsden Principal Dr. Deborah R. Jones pose with students during the presentation. The presentation was held on Friday, September 12, 2008, in the Media Center at the Gadsden Academy. The gifts included uniforms, book bags, notebooks, paper, pencils, crayons and much more.

"I am extremely pleased that we had a successful campaign to help the students at Gadsden. We know that there are students at this wonderful school who will need these items," said Saussy. "This school supplies campaign continues the Association's wonderful tradition of service," she continued.

L-r: Carver State Bank President, Robert E. James; Gadsden Principal Dr. Deborah R. Jones; and Carver Employee Association President, Othia Saussy. Saussy praised The Savannah Tribune for serving as "Media Partner" and making the community aware of the campaign. "This was truly a team effort," she added.

In her comments, Dr. Jones thanked the Carver representatives for the supportive relationship that they have maintained with Gadsden for many years. She said that it is important to have business partners support the school during times like these. "There are many children who do not have supplies and this will be such a great help," she said. The dynamic and personable educator said that when she meets the parents of her students, she lets them know that when they walk through Gadsden's doors, they become her children. Now, with the extra uniforms, book bags and other supplies, she has even more evidence to help her show the children and parents just how much she cares about them. Dr. Jones also told the Carver representatives about the Mentoring Program that she has established where she invites responsible adults to visit the school to assist some of the students.

Back row (l-r): Carver employees Mary Bynum; Sherrie Williams, an Assistant Vice President; Othia Saussy, Dr. Deborah R. Jones and Dr. Robert E. James pose with a group of Gadsden students. Ms. Kim Bell, Parent Center Coordinator, said she would begin distributing the supplies to the students immediately.

Carver State Bank has been a partner with Gadsden for almost 30 years. The bank supports many of the school's programs and special projects. For example, the bank has sponsored and helped build the Gadsden float for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade, provided financial literacy classes for students, parents and teachers, as well as a tailored saving program for the students. The students have presented many holiday concerts at the bank and made numerous educational field trips to the bank's main office at 701 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, which is only three blocks from the school. Sherrie Williams, an Assistant Vice President at Carver, is a Gadsden School Council Member and coordinator of the bank's partnership program with Gadsden.

Some of the donated school supplies. Carver State Bank is a state-chartered, FDICinsured, commercial bank. Established in 1927, Carver is the oldest commercial bank headquarted in Savannah.

The Carver State Bank Employees Association was organized in the late 1970s to give the bank's employees an entity through which they can enjoy group activities, participate in community organizations, celebrate their individual achievements, and support local charities.