Dr. Deborah Jones (back, left) is pictured with Sherrie Williams, Mary Bynum, Othia Saussy, and Gadsden Elementary School students. Dr. Deborah R. Jones, Principal of the Gadsden Elementary School, The 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.

Sherrie Williams and Mary Bynum, members of the Association's “Student Support Committee,” joined Saussy at the presentation on Monday, October 5, 2009, in the Media Center at the Gadsden Academy. The gifts included uniforms, book bags, paper, pencils, and other requested supplies.

“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 need these items, and this school supplies campaign continues the Carver Employees Association's tradition of service,” said Saussy.

Dr. Jones thanked the Carver representatives for the relationship that they have maintained with Gadsden for many years. She said that it is important to have business partners support the school, and that this assistance is even more meaningful during these difficult economic times.

“There are many children who do not have supplies or uniforms and this will be such a great help,” she said. The dynamic 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 will have another method of showing the children and parents just how much she cares about them. Dr. Jones also told the Carver representatives about the free Gadsden's Gourmet Grab and Go Breakfast where each student eats a nutritious breakfast every morning before class. She said the program is very successful.

Dr. Jones and Ms. Bernice Wall, school counselor, began distributing the supplies to the students immediately after the presentation.

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 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.

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.