Atlanta, Ga., February 26, 2020 – The Georgia Historical Society announced today that the 2020 Georgia History Festival,
which culminated on February 15, 2020, with the Trustees Gala, has
surpassed all previous institutional fundraising milestones by raising a
record $1,625,000 for K-12 educational programs in Georgia.
“This is an incredible achievement for GHS that would not have been possible without our 2020 Georgia History Festival Co-Chairs, Ed Bastian and Paul Bowers (Atlanta), and Dr. William T. ‘Ted’ and Linda Moore (Savannah), and the entire Georgia History Festival
Committee who worked so tirelessly to reach and surpass the original
goal of $1.5 million,” said Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the
Georgia Historical Society. “Because of their efforts and the generosity
of our corporate sponsors and individual donors who support the Georgia History Festival each year,” he added, “GHS will continue to bring exceptional educational programming to future generations of Georgians.”
The Georgia History Festival is the signature K-12 educational
program of the Georgia Historical Society that teaches history to
approximately 250,000 students statewide. Beginning with the new school
year in September, a variety of public programs, exhibits, in-school
events, and educational resources bring history to life for students of
all ages. Thanks to a partnership with Georgia Press Association, GHS
will make additional educational materials related to the Georgia History Festival theme, “Women’s Suffrage at 100: The 19th
Amendment and Georgia History,” available to teachers and students
across the state. The publication will be available for download through
the Georgia Historical Society and the Georgia Press Association
website.
The Festival concludes in February, the founding month of the
Georgia colony, with Founding City events like the popular Colonial
Faire and Muster living-history program held at Wormsloe State Historic
Site, Savannah’s colorful Georgia Day Parade, and the annual Trustees
Gala. The funds raised will go directly toward creating and delivering
educational programs that teach history to 2nd and 8th
grade Georgia students, teacher training opportunities, research
services, publications, and specialized care for the 5 million
documents, photographs, rare books, and artifacts that make up the
oldest collection of Georgia history archival materials in the nation.
Each year the Georgia Historical Society collection is used by more than
60,000 scholars, researchers, and genealogists representing every state
and many countries around the world.
During this year’s Festival, GHS education staff conducted
dozens of in-school programs and professional development training
sessions for students and teachers across Georgia focusing on new,
standards-based resources created in support of this year’s educational
focus, the struggle for women’s suffrage. Made available online for free
download through the Festival website,
these resources include the “Winning the Vote: Women’s Suffrage in
Georgia” middle school project box and “Finding My Voice” elementary
school resources that explore the women’s suffrage movement in Georgia.
These lasting online materials will extend the Georgia History Festival’s impact throughout the year-long centennial commemoration of the passage of the 19th Amendment, providing support for teachers and students throughout this anniversary year and beyond!
The statewide impact of the Georgia History Festival cannot be
underestimated as Super Museum Sunday featured 134 sites across Georgia
that opened their doors free of charge on February 9. Additionally, over
3,000 students representing a record-breaking 42 schools marched in the
2020 Georgia Day Parade.
The Trustees Gala is the Georgia Historical Society’s premier annual event and the culmination of the Georgia History Festival.
Each year, this elegant and much-anticipated evening draws top local,
state, and national leaders to honor and pay tribute to the best the
State of Georgia has produced.
The 2020 Gala featured Governor Brian Kemp’s induction of Robert L.
Brown, Jr., President and CEO of R.L. Brown & Associates, Inc.,
renowned architect and civic leader, and Robert S. Jepson, Jr., Founder
and CEO of Jepson Associates, Inc., philanthropist and visionary
entrepreneur.
For more information about the Georgia History Festival, the
Georgia Trustees, or to schedule an interview with Dr. W. Todd Groce,
please contact Patricia Meagher, Director of Communications, at (912)
651-2125, ext. 153 or by email at PMeagher@GeorgiaHistory.com.
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