ATLANTA, Sept. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 400 education, business, philanthropic and community leaders attended the ninth annual "A PAGE Turning Event" to recognize Georgia Power and Georgia Power President and CEO Paul Bowers for exemplary support of public education improvement in Georgia. The event, sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Foundation, was held on Monday, September 16, 2013, in the Egyptian Ballroom of the Fox Theatre.   

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130917/CL81539 )

"Georgia Power's involvement in public schools dates back several decades," said PAGE Foundation President John Varner.  "You can find company employees investing their time and considerable talents in support of local schools throughout Georgia, and at the state level company executives such as Paul Bowers have been leaders in efforts to address complex education issues.  The Georgia Power Foundation has played an important philanthropic role at both the local and state levels with charitable support for nonprofit organizations working to help our youngest citizens succeed in school and in life.  "A PAGE Turning Event" is one way the PAGE Foundation can recognize the meaningful work of Georgia Power employees and their President and CEO, and we feel privileged to join with others in expressing our heartfelt appreciation." 

Robert L. Brown, Jr., president of R L Brown & Associates, Inc., and Ann W. Cramer, senior consultant for Coxe Curry & Associates, served as co-chairs of the Host Committee for the 2013 event.  The gala began with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m.  WSB-TV Anchor Jovita Moore served as Mistress of Ceremonies for the banquet.  A highlight of the evening was Paul Bowers' recognition of Carl Madison as his favorite teacher.  For three years, Madison was Bowers' high school football coach in Pensacola, Florida.  Bowers acknowledged the powerful influence an individual teacher can have on a student, "As I look back now, I realize Coach Madison taught us more than the fundamentals of football. Coach Madison taught us the fundamentals of how to be successful in life."

Previous "A PAGE Turning Event" honorees include: Georgia-Pacific and Georgia-Pacific Foundation President Curley M. Dossman, Jr.; BellSouth and former BellSouth Georgia President Phil Jacobs; Southern Company and former Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO David Ratcliffe; The Coca-Cola Company and The Coca-Cola Foundation former Chair Ingrid Saunders Jones; GE and GE Vice Chairman John Rice; The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and Stephanie Blank and Arthur Blank; United States Senator Johnny Isakson and United States Congressman John Lewis; and AT&T Georgia and AT&T Georgia President Sylvia Russell.

Sponsors of "A PAGE Turning Event" this year include, at the Valedictorian level:  AT&T Georgia; Georgia-Pacific and Georgia Power; at the Salutatorian level: Adams, Hemingway & Wilson, LLP; Deloitte; Delta Air Lines; GE; Genuine Parts Company; Lockheed Martin; Newell Rubbermaid; VALIC and Wells Fargo Bank; and at the Honors level: Ariel Investments, LLC; The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation; Atlanta Housing Authority; Atlantic Capital Bank; Board of Regents, University System of Georgia; The Coca-Cola Company; Cox Enterprises; Oglethorpe Power, Georgia Transmission, Georgia EMC; Metro Atlanta Chamber; Phil Jacobs & Coxe Curry & Associates; Prior, Daniel & Wiltshire LLC; Robert L. Brown, Jr. & Steve Green; Tom Wommack; Troutman Sanders LLP and United Distributors, Inc.

The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), the parent organization of the Foundation, is a statewide professional association of more than 84,000 teachers, administrators and support personnel members.  PAGE provides professional learning for educators to enhance competence and confidence, build leadership and increase student achievement.

SOURCE PAGE Foundation; Georgia Power