Gwinnett Daily Post

Charter helps cancer foundation with $11,000 gift

DULUTH — One in every four elementary schools across America has a child with cancer, and each day, 46 children are diagnosed with the disease. The rate of survival for children with cancer has improved over the years more than for any other age group due to the successes in pediatric oncology research, and close to 75 percent of children diagnosed with cancer can ultimately be cured.

Aware of the critical need for funds to support this research, Charter is making a donation of $11,000 to Georgia’s Joanna McAfee Childhood Cancer Foundation to help in the fight for a cure to pediatric cancer.

The mission of the foundation is to raise awareness, provide support and fund research for childhood cancer. Charter has partnered with the foundation since 2008 and displays “Joanna Tags” on all 335 of its service vehicles as part of a Curing Childhood Cancer campaign.

The tag, which is available to all Georgia motorists, features the silhouette of Joanna McAfee, a 6-year-old girl from Warner Robins who lost her life to cancer in 2005.

Credit union donates van to VA Medical Center

NORCROSS — The Associated Credit Union Foundation recently donated a 1999 Chrysler Town and Country to the Atlanta VA Medical Center.

The van is wheelchair accessible and fully equipped with ramps and hand controls to operate the brakes, gas and steering. The Chrysler also came with two powered wheelchairs.

The van was donated to the foundation by the family of a former Associated Credit Union employee who passed away after a long battle against multiple sclerosis. The van was then donated to the Atlanta VA Medical Center to help assist veterans with similar conditions.

Bank of North Georgia hosts toy drive

LAWRENCEVILLE — Recognizing that there are thousands of families in desperate need of assistance during the holiday season, Bank of North Georgia is hosting a Holiday Toy Drive at all 42 branches in metro Atlanta. Last year, the bank collected a total of 1,850 toys for children.

The Gwinnett branches selected the following charities to support:

• Buford — Gwinnett County Division of Family & Children’s Services

DFCS investigates child abuse; finds foster homes for abused and neglected children; helps low income, out-of-work parents get back on their feet; assists with childcare costs for low income parents who are working or in job training; and provides numerous support services and innovative programs to help troubled families. New, unwrapped toys will be collected at the Buford branch to benefit the local Gwinnett office of DFCS until Dec. 3.

• Norcross — Sheltering Arms

This organization’s mission is to serve working families with high quality, affordable child care and education and comprehensive support services, as well as to provide professional development for early childhood educators and community outreach. The Norcross branch is accepting toys and clothing for children of all ages through Dec. 17.

• Suwanee — Foster Children’s Foundation

This organization serves foster children through its “Clothing and Needs” center, mentoring program and other projects that are held year round. The Foundation’s ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for foster children in our community and offer them many of the opportunities that non-fostered youth enjoy.

Gwinnett Gab appears in the Thursday and Sunday editions of the Gwinnett Daily Post. To submit an item to Gwinnett Gab, e-mail gab@gwinnettdailypost.com.