Governor Perdue Appoints Board Members Of Hands On Georgia

Representatives to help increase volunteerism throughout the state

            ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue today named the first board members of Hands On Georgia, an initiative aimed at spreading the spirit of volunteerism to communities across the state.  The board members have been instrumental in the formation of Hands On Georgia, and they will help to engage 20,000 new volunteers who will contribute 500,000 plus hours of volunteer service in the state’s communities over the next three years. 

            The Governor and First Lady will serve as Honorary Chairs of Hands On Georgia, and Ambassador Andrew Young and Mrs. Young will be Honorary Co-Chairs of the organization.  Eric Tanenblatt, Senior Managing Director, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLC, will serve as Chairman of the Board.  Kimberly Goff is Executive Director of Hands On Georgia.

            “I have given much thought and taken great care in selecting the Board of Hands On Georgia.  These individuals have repeatedly demonstrated a commitment to civic involvement within their communities,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “I have every confidence they will instill leadership and forge partnerships that will raise volunteerism to new levels in every part of this state.”

            “We have assembled an exciting and dynamic board, with a broad spectrum of Georgia leaders in industry, government, service and academia,” said Eric Tanenblatt, Hands On Georgia Board Chairman.  “Through the leadership of this group, I am confident that Hands on Georgia will serve as a powerful catalyst, inspiring and encouraging people of Georgia to change our state for the better.”

            Upon taking office, Governor Perdue recognized a need to raise the level of civic engagement across the state.  It is his hope that by catalyzing a groundswell of volunteerism, communities, in partnership with the state, could better address their infrastructure and social needs.  To achieve this end, the Governor solicited input from public and private citizens who had demonstrated success in this arena.  The outcome is Hands On Georgia, which will maintain an on-going relationship with Hands On Network and its statewide affiliates.    

Hands On Georgia will undergo a temporary incubation period within Hands On Network, an innovative, international alliance of volunteer organizations transforming people and communities through service and civic engagement.  There are 35 Hands On Network organizations in the U.S., and international affiliates in the Philippines and China, as well as 20 partner organizations in the United Kingdom. 

Those individuals, communities and private partners wanting to join this volunteer effort can log on to www.HandsOnGeorgia.org for more information or call Kimberly Goff, executive director, at (404) 979-2910.

            The following is a complete list of Hands On Georgia board members.

Honorary Chairs

Governor Sonny Perdue & Mrs. Mary Perdue

The Honorable Andrew Young & Mrs. Carolyn Young

Board Chairman

Eric Tanenblatt

Senior Managing Director

McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP

Atlanta

Board Members

Marc Adler, President, Macquarium, Atlanta

Mike Beatty, Commissioner, Department of Community Affairs

Lisa Borders, President, Atlanta City Council, Atlanta

Maria Calkins, Hands on Hall, Gainesville

Trey Childress, Director of Policy, Office of the Governor

Army Lester, Professor of Biology, KSU, Kennesaw

Lewis Massey, Massey & Bowers, LLC, Atlanta

Gilbert Miller, Board Member, Hands on Columbus, Columbus

Caesar Mitchell, Chairman, Hands on Atlanta, Atlanta

Mary Moses, Augusta

Ingrid Saunders Jones, SVP Corporate External Affairs, The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta

Courtney Neely, Savannah

Kris Nordholz, Wilheit Packaging, Gainesville

Michelle Nunn, President, Hands on Network, Atlanta

Betsy Palmer, AT&T Corporation, Atlanta

Michael Russell, Chief Executive Officer, H.J. Russell & Company, Atlanta

Brad Shaw, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and External Affairs, The Home Depot, Atlanta

Alston Watt, Hands on Thomas County, Williams Family Foundation, Thomasville

Dee Yancey, Chairman, President and CEO, State Mutual Insurance Company, Rome