FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
The diminishing of art programs in schools across the Hampton Roads area has been a problem for quite some time now. In the midst of all of the school budget cuts, Blacks in Government (BIG) Hampton Roads EBONACT (HRE) chapter found a way to continue to donate various art supplies and money to General Stanford Elementary School on Fort Eustis over the past four years.
Arneda Powell, BIG HRE chapter president, revamped the program for providing the materials and monetary donations to General Stanford Elementary School in the fall of 2011. Since then, Powell and her chapter have made an effort to contribute what they can. During the first year of the Art Supply Drive, the chapter donated a surplus of supplies. As the years progressed, BIG HRE decided that a monetary donation would be more feasible, since the school staff knows what supplies they truly need in order to have a successful art program.
This year, the BIG HRE chapter presented the school with a $200 check to help toward the sustainment of the art program.
The chapter's purpose is to serve and promote equity in all aspects of American life, excellence in public service and opportunity for all Americans. This small act of investing into our future generation is exactly what BIG is about.
For more information about the BIG's contributions, contact Powell at
big.hre.president@gmail.com.