Former Richland One Schools leader to be honored at fundraising dinner

Dr. John R. Stevenson

Dr. John R. Stevenson, former superintendent of Richland School District One, will be the honoree at the 2010 Elder of the Year Dinner staged by Africa’s Future-Umbuntu.  The event takes place on Friday, December 3rd.

Dr. Stevenson was the first African-American superintendent in Richland School District One history.  He served in that capacity from 1986 until his retirement in 1994.  He was later named superintendent emeritus in honor of his many years of outstanding service and distinguished leadership to the district.  The Richland Street administration building bears his name.

Africa’s Future-Umbuntu is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 by Dr. Jerome Hanley of Columbia.  The mission of the organization is to improve secondary educational opportunities in Zambia, Cameroon and Ghana by providing school fees to children.

“American children have access to a free education,” said Hanley.  “That is not the case in many African nations.”  According to Hanley, who has visited West Africa several times, tuition for one child is often more than a family earns in a year.  Families with more than one child face difficult choices.  “Africa’s Future works to make education more affordable for the children who desperately want it,” Hanley said.

The Elder of the Year Dinner will be held at the Margarette H. Miller Center on Fontaine Road in Columbia.  Tickets are $30 and tax deductible.  For purchase information, call 803-216-0083.
The money raised at the Elder of the Year dinner will be used to further the organization’s mission.

Who: Africa’s Future-Umbuntu
What: Elder of the Year Dinner honoring Dr. John R. Stevenson
When: December 3, 2010
Where: Margarette H. Hiller Center
1509 Fontaine Road
Columbia, South Carolina
Time: 7:00 PM
Tickets: $30 (Tax Deductible)

All-Male Reading Blitz at Carver-Lyon Elementary School

Mike Woolfolk speaks to Ms. Squirewell's fifth-grade class at
Carver-Lyon Elementary School in Columbia.

TWG President and CEO Mike Woolfolk was among several local civic and business leaders to participate in the All-Male Reading Blitz at Carver-Lyon Elementary School in Columbia.  The goal of the event was to impress upon students the importance that reading plays in their lives.

"This was a great chance to spend time with young students at a very impressionable point in their lives," Woolfolk said. "Reading is so important to their overall success."

Woolfolk visited Jessica Squirewell's fifth grade class where he read the book "You Can Do It" by Tony Dungy, the former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.  Dungy coached the Colts to victory over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.

In the book, Tony's little brother, Linden, is a third grader who is having a bad day at school.  Linden is the youngest of the Dungy family and the least motivated because he hasn't found "it." In a family where everyone seems to have found their special talent, all Linden knows is that he wants to make people happy.

With encouragement from his parents, a helping hand from his older brother Tony, and inspiration from God, Linden learns that if he dreams big and has faith, he can do anything!

Virginia College to host Karen Jenkins financial empowerment seminars

Author and financial empowerment coach Karen R. Jenkins will conduct free workshops on Thursday, November 18th hosted by Virginia College of Columbia.  Jenkins will conduct two sessions, one for students and one for the general public.

Click on picture for larger view.

Jenkins, who recently released her book "Nobody Told Me! The Path to Financial Empowerment," is an experienced banker, financial coach and the mother of two teenagers.  Her tips are smart, savvy and super timely as people everywhere work to weather the down economy.  "Everyone needs to know how to navigate the money maze to reach financial freedom," said Jenkins.  "My mission is to make the rules well known and easy to understand."

With the holidays approaching, this opportunity to learn the best ways to avoid pitfalls that often leave people financially fatigued after the season is invaluable.

For more information about Karen R. Jenkins and her book, "Nobody Told Me! The Path to Financial Freedom," visit www.NobodyToldMeOnline.com.

Reading Blitz: Mike Woolfolk to participate in special program

TWG President and CEO Mike Woolfolk will participate in the upcoming Reading Blitz at Carver-Lyon Elementary School.  The program will take place on Tuesday, November 16th from 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM.

Woolfolk, a former television news anchor, will read to students in Marisa Kornblut's 4th grade class, then hold a "Rap Session" with students in the Special Education class.

"Reading is fundemental to every person's success in life," said Woolfolk, the son of a retired educator. "I look forward to spending time with the Carver-Lyon students to impress upon them the importance of reading and doing well in school."

Reading Blitz is a literacy initiative during American Education Week.

POLITICAL NEWS: SC House candidate Mia Butler earns endorsement of popular Midlands educator

Mia Butler

With six days remaining in the 2010 campaign season, Mia Butler, the Democratic nominee for the South Carolina House of Representatives District 79 seat, has received the endorsement of Dr. Stephen Hefner, former superintendent of Richland Two Schools.  The Butler campaign announced the endorsement in an email message sent out on Wednesday morning.

“Mia understands that when we keep public funds in our public schools, every child will have an opportunity to excel," said Hefner in the statement.  "I strongly support Mia Butler for House District 79 because I’ve worked with her on issues that are critical to our district. She’s always been a fierce advocate for public education and I know she’ll continue to help strengthen our public education system to ensure that our schools remain among the best in the state.”

Dr. Stephen Hefner

Hefner spent 35 years in the Richland Two school district including 16 years as superintendent.  He retired from the district in June and later agreed to become interim superintendent of Lexington-Richland 5 schools beginning on January 1, 2011.

"Mia Butler is proud to have the endorsement of one of our state’s strongest champions for public education," said campaign spokesman Zach Croft.

Butler faces Republican nominee Sheri Few in the general election next Tuesday.  The winner will take the seat vacated by former Rep. Anton Gunn when he accepted appointment by President Barack Obama to the position of regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.