- Collection:
- Georgia Government Publications
- Serial:
- News release (Georgia Department of Labor)
- Title:
- News release, Mar. 2, 2000AA
- Creator:
- Georgia. Department of Labor
- Contributor to Resource:
- Georgia. Department of Labor.
- Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Georgia Dept. of Labor, 2000-03-02
- Date of Original:
- 2000-03-02
- Subject:
- Georgia. Department of Labor--Periodicals
Labor--Georgia--Periodicals - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- state government records
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Title from caption
Each issue also has a distinctive theme title - External Identifiers:
- Call Number GA L200 .P1 N45 2000/3-2AA
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:dlg_ggpd_i-ga-bl200-b-pp1-bn45-b2000-s3-h2aa-belec-p-btext
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:dlg_ggpd_i-ga-bl200-b-pp1-bn45-b2000-s3-h2aa-belec-p-btext
- Language:
- eng
- Holding Institution:
- University of Georgia. Map and Government Information Library
- Rights:
-
Georgia Department of Labor - Press Release
Georgia Department of
Labor
Suite 642 148 International Boulevard N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404)656-3032
March 2, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DREAM OF HELPING KIDS NOW A REALITY
By Ed Hall
ATLANTA -- Instead of the streets, vacant lots and school yards of Gray, the youth of this Jones County town in central Georgia now have a safe place to play with supervision, direction and organization. Thanks, in part, to David Tufts, an employment services specialist in the Georgia Department of Labor's Macon office, and a 28-year veteran of the department.
In 1997, Tufts and several others stepped forward and became key players in an effort to obtain a local Boys and Girls Club. In August 1999, that dream became a reality when the club opened in an old building that used to house Jones County High School. Since then, more than 300 youth have joined, and the county's public school system has joined in the effort by dropping off students at the club after school.
"It's an inspiration to get this done and to help the children who are less fortunate," said Tufts, a Gray native, who also serves as co-chairman of the club's board of directors. "It's great that they can be exposed to this kind of positive environment."
Tufts recently received the labor department's Black History Month Humanitarian Award during the eighth annual Black History Month celebration in Atlanta for his commitment to youth and contributions to the establishment of the club. State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond presented the award.
"Recreational opportunities for these young people were limited," Tufts said. "Little League ball lasts only a couple of months, so the kids didn't have anything to do after school. And they didn't have the transportation to go to Macon or Milledgeville to participate in any of the entertainment
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Georgia Department of Labor - Press Release
or recreational opportunities there."
Plans are underway for the club to offer more than just recreational benefits. Computer training and tutoring for students who need help with school work are in the offing.
"It will give the kids something positive to do in their free time," he said. "And maybe it'll help keep some of them away from drugs and violence, or other trouble, and have a positive impact on their lives."
A graduate of Fort Valley State University, Tufts holds a Georgia license as a funeral director. He is married to Barbara Tufts, and is the father of four children and the grandfather of seven children.
NEWS MEDIA NEEDING MORE INFORMATION MAY CALL (404) 656-3032.
E-mail: communications@dol.state.ga.us.
FY-00-400
An Equal Opportunity Employer
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