FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2023

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 excited to announce its inaugural Elevate Savannah Leadership Award Dinner, to be held November 2, 2023, at The Charles Morris Center. The 2023 Elevate Savannah Leadership Award recipient is Christian Demere, President & CEO – Colonial Group,Inc.

“The Elevate Savannah Leadership Award was created to recognize community leaders who have elevated and positively impacted our community. We are thrilled to be able to recognize the exceptional leadership of one of our board members, Christian Demere,” said George Oelschig, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Elevate Savannah. “Christian’s steadfast commitment to our mission has been an inspiration to us all, and we are proud to honor his contributions that have significantly shaped the trajectory of our organization.”

Born and raised in Savannah, Christian B. Demere graduated from Savannah Country Day School before pursuing studies at the University of Notre Dame, successfully obtaining his degree from the Mendoza College of Business. In 2013, he returned home and commenced his professional career at Colonial Group, Inc. Five years later, Christian B. Demere accepted the responsibility and opportunity of continuing his great grandfather’s legacy and became the fourth generation President of Colonial Group, Inc. The company has grown and evolved to offer a wide variety of services centered around petroleum and chemical supply, storage, and distribution, and retail convenience, through nine subsidiary companies, including Colonial Oil Industries, Colonial Terminals, Colonial Chemical Solutions, and Enmarket. As a family owned and operated business, Colonial Group continues to rank as one of the largest privately held companies in the United States, employs over 2,000 people, and serves as an invaluable steward of the communities where it operates.

“The work that Elevate does in our community every day is invaluable. Their philosophical approach should serve as a model to all of how to ensure that our young people are receiving the mentorship and support they need to thrive despite the many challenges they face. No one gets there alone. I feel very fortunate to have played a part in seeing their mission come to life with the many students that are now part of the Elevate family, and I look forward to seeing that family grow across the Savannah community in the years to come,” says Demere.

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

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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. Four years later, 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 the 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