Atlanta, Ga., February 8, 2016 - The Georgia Historical Society announced today that the 2016 Georgia History Festival has surpassed all previous milestones by raising more than $1 million for K-12 educational programs in Georgia.
“We are grateful to our 2016 Georgia History Festival Co-chairs Alice Jepson and Bill Jones III, and the entire committee who worked so tirelessly to achieve this milestone,” said Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society. “It is because of their hard work and our corporate sponsors who support the Georgia History Festival each year that we will continue to bring exceptional Georgia history based educational programs to future generations.”
The Georgia History Festival is the signature K-12 educational program of the Georgia Historical Society. Beginning with the new school year in September, the Georgia History Festival’s public programs, exhibits, in-school events, and educational resources bring history to life for students of all ages and encourage Georgians to explore the richness and diversity of our state’s past. The festival culminates 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.
In conjunction with the Governor’s Office, the Georgia Historical Society reestablished the Georgia Trustees in 2009 as a way of recognizing Georgians whose accomplishments and community service reflect the highest ideals of the founding body of Trustees. The original Georgia Trustees, a governing body chartered and appointed by His Majesty King George II of England in 1732 to establish a new colony in North America, founded Georgia upon the principle of Non Sibi, Sed Aliis, “Not for Self but for Others.” The Governor annually appoints new Trustees whose history-making accomplishments and service reflect the original Trustees’ ideals. It is the highest honor the state can confer.
The 2016 Trustees Gala will feature Governor Nathan Deal’s induction of Muhtar Kent, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, and James H. Blanchard, retired Chairman of the Board and CEO of Synovus as the newest Georgia Trustees. Previous inductees are Bernard Marcus, Ted Turner, Hank Aaron, The Honorable Sam Nunn, Vincent J. Dooley, Andrew Young, Tom Cousins, Herman Russell, Truett Cathy, Billy Payne, Arthur Blank, Paula Wallace, Alana Smith Shepherd, and Marguerite Neel Williams, who was honored posthumously.
2016 History Festival Sponsors
