August 14, 2006

SCSDB News                                             

South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind

  A Palmetto Gold School 

 Media contacts:

 Sharon Goolsby, Public Information Office: (864) 577-7505

sgoolsby@scsdb.k12.sc.us

 

Katie Rice, Public Information Office:  (864) 5706

krice@scsdb.k12.sc.us

 

 

The Walker Foundation Elects New Trustees

 

SPARTANBURG — The Walker Foundation, the fund-raising arm of the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, is pleased to announce the election of eight board members according to Board Chairman Robert A. Dobson, III.

"These new members bring great wisdom and a diversity of experience to an already strong Board,” said Executive Director Heather Patchett.  “They will help the Foundation continue to build a statewide presence on the strength of SCSDB and its Outreach programs.  We look forward to securing new sources of support to enhance the excellent work that SCSDB is doing in South Carolina."

Paul Boggs of Lake Wylie — Boggs is president of R. P. Boggs & Co. A certified financial planner, he was formerly a “Money Matters” columnist for the Lake Wylie Pilot and has been quoted in various financial publications including the Charlotte Observer and the Wall Street Journal. Boggs currently serves as president of The River Hills Lions Club and is on the board of the River Hills Lions Community Foundation.

Dr. John F. Dunbar, Jr. of Spartanburg — A dentist, Dunbar is active in various wildlife conservation groups, serves on the advisory board of the Spartanburg Downtown Airport and is active with St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic.

Alan L. Harkey of Greenville — Harkey is president and chief executive officer of Christian Blind Mission International, the leading provider of eye care programs and services for people with blindness or other disabilities. He is a member of Rotary International and the National Society of Fundraising Executives.

Dr. Robert G. Mahon, Jr. of Greenville — Mahon is an otolaryngologist affiliated with Foothills Ear, Nose & Throat, the Greenville Hospital System and St. Francis Community Hospital. He is an active member of the Greenville Rotary Club.

Warren Norman of Rock HillNorman is a real estate developer with a family company.  He serves on the York County Board of Disabilities, and is the vice president of the Kiwanis Club of Rock Hill.   He is a member of First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. 

J. Randolph Potter of Greenville — Potter is the retired president and chief executive officer of Summit Financial Corp. and its subsidiary Summit National Bank, which he co-founded in 1989.  He also serves as director of The Bankers Bank in Atlanta, Ga.  Potter shares a special connection to SCSDB: his brother attended the School for the Blind during the 1950s. He remembers visiting the campus to watch his brother sing “Old Man River.”

Russell Raines of Inman — Raines is involved in local, state and international organizations including the University of South Carolina System, Wofford College, Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, Room to Read, GM Pacific and the Mellon Group.  He is a member of First Baptist North Spartanburg.

Richard C. Thompson of Columbia — A Medicare lead hearing officer with Q2  Administrators, LLC,  a subsidiary of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina, Thompson also serves as the state chairman of the computer science and technology committee for the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina. He is vice president of the Columbia Lions Club.

The Walker Foundation is a 501 © (3) public, non-profit foundation, licensed by the S.C. Department of Public Charities. Through the generosity of its contributors, the foundation aids and strengthens the work of SCSDB by providing grants, referral information, public awareness programs and direct assistance.

             The SC School for the Deaf and the Blind is a specialized instructional and resource center. It provides services statewide for individuals who are deaf, blind or sensory multidisabled, their families and the professionals who work with them. SCSDB offers programs for preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, sensory multidisabled, vocational and postsecondary educational students, as well as a variety of outreach and support services. The main campus is located in Spartanburg, and regional centers are located throughout the state. SCSDB's Web site address is www.scsdb.k12.sc.us.

###