2010 Upcoming Events

2009 Memorable Events

OLLIVETTE S. ALLISON RETIREMENT DINNER
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009
CSPH Campus

121st BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2009
11:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.
Georgia State Capitol Rotunda

FRIDAY & SATURDAY, AUGUST 21 – 22, 2009

2008 Memorable Events

On Saturday, November 15, 2008, the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild provided more than 30 of our young residents with beautiful quilts. The love and care taken will provide warmth to each and every child well into the future. We graciously thank each and every member of the Guild for their continued support over the years and look forward to seeing them again in the future.

About the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild:
In December 1999, Jocelyn Carter and Nancy Franklin conceived of a group of African American quilters in the Atlanta area. Encouraging a beehive of creative activity at this branch, Librarian Doris Wells (now retired), opened the doors of the Wesley Chapel Library in Decatur, Georgia to the effort. It is significant that this branch of the library is named for the late Dr. William C. Brown who was the first African American to serve on the DeKalb County Library Board of Trustees, ultimately as its Chair, and who was elected as a DeKalb County Commissioner. In 2000, a core group of quilters decided to formally organize as a Guild under the name Brown Sugar Stitchers. In conjunction with other cultural activities at the library on the first Saturday in May 2001, we ambitiously held our first quilt show, themed "Grandma’s Hands." We also held highly successful quilt shows at the Library in 2002 ("Beyond February: African American Creativity in Quilts"), 2003 ("Quilt A Village"), 2005 ("Quilt Me A Story") and 2007 ("The Gift of Our Time"). Since our founding, we have grown to over 50 members strong.

Brown Sugar Stitchers has been active in the cultural and educational affairs of our community since its formation. Our signature public service activity is giving quilts to children at the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home in Atlanta. We have also made quilts for Kwanzaa activities at the Wesley Chapel Library, displayed quilts at the DeKalb County Courthouse, participated in enrichment activities in local public schools and entered a variety of local and national quilt shows and support the Friends of the William C. Brown Wesley Chapel Library. We have participated in events at the High Museum, the National Black Arts Festival, the Stone Mountain Arts Center, Georgia State Employees’ Recognition, the Atlanta History Center, Fernbank Museum, the Georgia Department of Human Resources and others. As a group we have donated time and quilts to the Gateway Center (homeless women and children) and to families who were devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

2008 Officers
O.V. Brantley, President
Belinda Pedroso, V.P. of Programs
Nicole Blackwell, V.P. of Membership
Nina Moore, Treasurer
Jeanette Walton, Recording Secretary
Bessie Barnett, Corresponding Secretary


2007 Memorable Events

Juliana Pyne-Booker helped lead the Board of Trustees in conducting a Family Reunion Fundraising Picnic in August of 2007. The event was complete with live entertainment, arts and crafts, henna tattoos, moon walks, quilt raffle, and a tasty barbeque dinner.

Hunton & Williams LLP made bird houses with the children.

UPS Legal Department provided recreational activities and career development program.

Turner Volunteer Day allowed the children to go bowling.

Braves and Hawks Foundation provided tickets throughout the year.

Camp Whesley eight children attended Summer camp.

Brown Sugar Stitchers made priceless quilts for all of the children.

The Combined Federal Campaign held their closing ceremony at CSPH.

UPS held their Annual Basketball Tournament in the CSPH gym.

Cindie Roberson of Children’s Health Care the children recognized her long-term commitment to providing parties to celebrate their birthdays.

Dan Downing took the children to a Hawks game and provided many treats.

Apollo MD gave the children a pizza party and many Christmas gifts.

Atlanta Metro Band held a Winter Concert for Black History Month.

Estes Heating and Air provided Easter baskets.

GTG’s Women’s Group decorated Easter eggs with the children.

Hill Crest Church provided game night with the children once a month.

Vett Sett Corvette Club gave a pizza party and a car exposition for the children.


2005 Memorable Events

CARRIE STEELE-PITTS HOME HONORS GALA WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!

Thank you for supporting the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home Honors Gala and for your generous financial support of the Home. The Honors Gala is all about the Home's commitment to neglected and at-risk children and to honoring a few of the many individuals who have contributed so much of their time, hard work and/or money to the Home and its children.

The proceeds of your generous contributions to the 2005 Honors Gala have been placed in the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home Endowment. The Endowment was established by the Home's Board of Trustees to accumulate and invest monies for special purposes not provided for by the normal operation and budget of the Home. The Endowment provides ongoing financial security so the Home may continue to provide a a loving and nurturing environment for the enhancement of the physical, emotional and educational needs of at-risk and neglected children. The principal of the Endowment is reinvested and used only for special purposes approved by the Home's Board of Trustees for dire emergencies. The special purposes are those that are not usually or normally undertaken and can include the use of income to provide aid to individuals for post-high school educational expenses, special programs and unusual renovation beyond normal maintenance requirements. Expenditures from the fund are to be consistent with the charitable purposes of the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home and prudent financial standards.If a donor to the Endowment states a specific purpose for the donation, to the extent possible, contributions will be used in line with stated intentions of the donor or legator. If the stated wishes of the donor or legator cannot be adhered to then the donor or his legal representative will be notified and may withdraw the donation or legacy.

The Honorees:

Odessa M. Hunter
An invaluable supporter of the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home for more than 40 years.

“… In grateful recognition of your passion and hope, an inspiration to all and a great gift to the children of the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home.”

Johnnie L. Clark, Ph.D.
Her financial expertise has helped build a solid foundation for the home.

“…In grateful recognition of your service as an ambassador for the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home, lifting up your voice for our children.”

Cathy Woolard
Established an old-fashioned Christmas at the home, a marvelous feast of giving and sharing always embraced by everyone.

“…In grateful recognition of your deep and loving spirit, given freely and joyfully to the children of the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home.” y


1998 Memorable Events