FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
September 26, 2024 

Media Contact: Caroline Holden
Abshire Public Relations
912.695.7881
pr@abshirepr.com 

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Elevate Savannah, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering local communities and fostering educational excellence in the Chatham County Public School System, is proud to announce Sterling Seacrest Pritchard and the Georgia Ports Authority as the presenting sponsors for the 2nd Annual Leadership Awards Dinner. This sponsorship holds special significance as the 2024 Leadership Award honorees are Cliff McCurry, Director of Community Development for Sterling Seacrest Pritchard, and his son, Jamie McCurry, Chief Administrative Officer at Georgia Ports Authority. The Elevate Savannah Leadership Awards Dinner will take place on October 17th at Kehoe Iron Works at the Trustees’ Garden.

The Leadership Awards Dinner is a testament to Elevate Savannah’s commitment to recognizing and celebrating individuals who have elevated and positively impacted our community. Both Cliff and Jamie McCurry truly embody this spirit, having dedicated themselves to inspiring professional excellence and leadership through community service. Their contributions have greatly elevated Savannah, making them deserving recipients of this year’s award.

This year’s event will focus on the transformative power of mentorship, highlighting the importance of Elevate Savannah’s unique teacher-mentor program approach and the impact it has on the lives of students. Through individualized mentorship, peer leadership, academic support, and career training, Elevate’s teacher-mentors empower students to thrive both academically and personally, creating a foundation of confidence and hope that carries into adulthood. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with current and former Elevate students, teacher-mentors, staff, and board members to hear firsthand the stories of growth, success, and resilience fostered through this mentorship program. By spotlighting the profound impact of mentorship on the lives of young people, Elevate Savannah aims to inspire a stronger commitment to shaping the future of our community through support, guidance, and leadership.

“We are thrilled to have the support of both Sterling Seacrest Pritchard and the Georgia Ports Authority at this event. As part of their company’s respective leadership, Cliff and Jamie McCurry have been such influential forces in our community,” said George Oelschig, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Elevate Savannah. “Cliff has served on Elevate Savannah’s Advisory Board since 2019. His dedication to our mission has inspired us all, and we take great pride in recognizing his impactful contributions that have profoundly influenced Elevate Savannah’s path to success. And when you see what an inspiring leader Jamie McCurry is currently in our community, I can’t think of a better example of multi-generational servant leadership than this father and son.”

For more information on tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the Elevate Savannah Leadership Awards Dinner, please contact Elevate Savannah at 912-257-3918. To learn more about Elevate Savannah, please visit www.elevatesavannah.org.

About Elevate Savannah:

Since its launch in 2019 at A.E. Beach High School, Elevate Savannah’s mission has been to build meaningful relationships with urban youth, equipping them to thrive and contribute to their community. Now, the rapidly growing student mentor program now has representation in all levels of the Savannah-Chatham County Schools. Currently, over 400 students from A.E. Beach High School, DeRenne Middle School, and Hodge Elementary School are involved with Elevate Savannah. With its first elementary, middle, and high school pipeline complete, Elevate Savannah’s next goal will be to expand the program to other Savannah-Chatham County Title I schools in order to support as many local students as possible. For more information, please visit www.elevatesavannah.org.

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