Guest columnist Faye Bush Robin Michener Nathan The Times Faye Bush, right, hugs Tamar Ricks on July 13 after presenting her graduation certificate during the ceremony for the Newtown Florist Club Summer Girls Leadership Course at Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Gainesville.

In a time when the public is deluged by negative images of young people, I could not have been prouder than I was last week when the Newtown Florist Club held its graduation for our seventh Summer Leadership Program for Girls.

Each year, a different class of young girls enters the program one way and leaves forever changed because the so many wonderful people in Gainesville take the time to share experiences and guidance to young people who might not otherwise get it at home or in school.

It has been nearly a decade since we first conceived of the idea of bringing young girls together with role models from the community to simply hear what it means firsthand to be a public servant, a teacher, police officer, banker or one of many more occupations and professions that might seem unattainable.

Since its inception the organization -- no, I am sorry, the Gainesville community -- has educated more than 250 young girls between the ages of 13-18 on various aspects of leadership development skills. The course utilizes guest speakers, field trips and intensive curriculums that teach young girls about conflict resolution, etiquette, environmental justice and community service.

When we first started the program, it was difficult to find participants, but I can honestly say that each and every time we asked one of leaders in the community to help, they stepped up. When the program first started, spearheaded by Florist Club volunteer Susan Perz, State Rep. Carl Rogers, Mayor Myrtle Figueras, DHR's Anderson Flen and City Councilwoman Deborah Mack were among the first to heed our clarion call to empower our young people.

Over the years, the list of supporters has grown to include virtually every influential leader in Gainesville, and I cannot remember one person who has turned us down when asked. This year's participants had a number of key Gainesville leaders speak to them including Mayor Robert Hamrick, members of the Gainesville police and fire department, health educators and environmental science specialists. The group also visited the King Center, Spellman College, the Georgia Aquarium, Gainesville Senior Center, a city council meeting and the Centers for Disease Control.

However, the program could not have continued for so many years without the help of the city of Gainesville, which has supported us financially for nearly four years through its Human Services Program. We especially want to thank Ms. Phillippa Lewis Moss, who is always there working to develop programs to enhance the lives of young people.

The Hall County Board of Education and Gainesville City Schools also continue to be among our most ardent supporters providing space for the program and bus transportation on an annual basis. Georgia Power, one the community's strongest corporate partners, also continues to support us in our endeavors.

The Florist Club would also like to thank the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta for being one of the long-time funders of the project. The foundation helps create permanent endowment funds. Funds range from $50,000 to $120 million and currently serves as the charitable giving partner for 650 donors and their families.

During Fiscal Year 2004-2005, the Foundation awarded more than 4,000 grants totaling nearly $50 million to nonprofits in the areas of arts and culture, community development, education and youth, health and human services. For more information on this great partner, please visit its Web site at www.atlcf.org.

Of course, none of the success of the project wold have come about without the incredible efforts of the Newtown Board of Directors. The directors not only encourage new projects, but get right in there and roll up their sleeves to make the project work. The dedication that our board members have to making life better for our young people is truly indescribable.

I wish I had the space to list every person from our board and community who has contributed to this program, but please know you are well remembered and appreciated. I hope to see all of you on Oct. 27 at the Gainesville Civic Center when we celebrate our 57th anniversary.

Next year, when the next graduating class leaves us, I will again be filled with the same pride I felt last week. However, I can only imagine how I will feel when one day I walk into a courtroom and one of my girls sits on the same bench she saw Judge Kathlene Gosselin sitting on this year. Or one of our girls bangs the same gavel that Mayor Bob Hamrick uses to call a meeting to order. When that day comes, Gainesville as a community will know that this program was well worth it.

However, for those who have been a part of the program for seven years, we already know it. Thank you Gainesville!

Faye Bush is executive director of the Newtown Florist Club Inc. in Gainesville.

Originally published Friday, July 27, 2007