Americus Valentine Gala to support scholarship, honor law enforcement

AMERICUS — The Green family in Americus is hosting a gala next month meant to give the next generation opportunity while also honoring those who live to serve the community.

The Glitz and Glitter Red and White Valentine Gala is set for 8 p.m.-11:30 p.m. on Feb. 11 at the Rees Park Economic Development Center at 409 Elm Ave.

The formal attire event will include cocktails, dinner and live entertainment from Karla Heath-Sands and The Fire and Ice Band. For a $50 individual ticket, or $500 for a table, attendees will be contributing to the Bernice High-Green Scholarship Foundation.

The event is being hosted by the children of Bernice High-Green, including Americus City Council member Shirley Green-Reese. The goal is to gain monetary support for a scholarship for high school students going into college that was recently set up in their mother’s name.

Green-Reese said the family of educators was led to start the scholarship late last year after the effort their mother made to ensure her children got through school. That effort inspired them to open up opportunities for the next generation when college might not otherwise be a reality.

“My mom is a hero,” she said. “It made a difference for us through the hard times.

“We are trying to make a difference.”

The criteria for the scholarship has not been completed yet, but it is expected to be by the event. It is hoped that the recipients chose a college in Southwest Georgia so the Green family can follow up on any needs that come up later.

“We have been in those shoes,” Green-Reese said.

The honorees will be three individuals from the public safety community. They are Americus Police Department Chief Mark Scott, Sumter County Sheriff Pete Smith and Georgia Southwestern State University Security Chief Michael Tracy.

The decision on who to honor was based largely on recent events involving the area’s law enforcement community, including the fatal shootings of Americus police officer Nicholas Smarr and Georgia Southwestern police officer Jody Smith during a response to a domestic disturbance call in December.

“(The law enforcement agencies) have done a tremendous job, looking back on all that happened,” Green-Reese said. “It’s sad this happened at the same time. They need to be honored. There is not enough honor for people like this.

“It is great how (the community) is rallying. There was a lot of support during that time, the deaths of all those people. It’s not just happening in Americus, it is happening all over the world. At some point, I’m hoping it will stop.”

The scholarship’s namesake, who is turning 96 later this month, will likely be attending the function, her daughter said.

“She has made a difference for us, and we are uniting to make a difference,” Green-Reese said. “(We want to) make a difference for her and the children in Americus. She worked hard to get us an education. It was a miracle for all her children to get an education.

“We are hoping the scholarship gala will encourage others who can start a scholarship. We want others to be challenged to do what we are doing every year. We want to see more of what we are doing here, and we are hoping people will have a good time (at the gala).”

Tickets to the event can be purchased at PeoplesSouth Bank, First State Bank, Wells Fargo Bank and Citizens Bank.

Those unable to attend the gala can make a donation to the Bernice High-Green Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 6181, Americus, Ga., 31709. For more information, or to take advantage of the limited number of reserved tables, contact Green-Reese at (404) 216-4578.