UWG News Item
Contact: UWG Public Relations Office
Phone (678) 839-6464, FAX (678) 839-6645
ucm@westga.edu
A DAY 2005 Chairman
September 19, 2005
CARROLLTON, GA - As a representative for Edward Jones Investments, Carrollton businessman Fred O’Neal spends his professional day advising people how to invest their capital. He is also spending his volunteer hours investing in the lives of current and future University of West Georgia students.
As
this year’s chair of the A DAY for West Georgia fundraising campaign,
O’Neal says that he is simply building on the success and dedication
of all the previous chairs. O’Neal plans to carry on the tradition
of A DAY by continuing to strengthen the community effort between Carroll
County and the university.
“I am encouraging new participants because raising funds is a by-product of participation,” he noted.
O’Neal knows about participation in A DAY first hand. He has been involved in the campaign since 1986 and served last year as co-chair, coordinating the efforts of the advanced solicitation committee.
While new participation is important, O’Neal knows the value of recognizing the past leaders. A new event, the past chairs breakfast, was added this year to honor the traditions of A DAY which has taken place for 23 years.
The chairman’s duties include speaking engagements and overseeing progress of all components of the drive. Taking the spotlight off himself, O’Neal contributes the success of A DAY to the volunteers.
“The volunteer spirit is alive and well in the Carrollton community and we could not get anything done without the great volunteers,” he stated.
O’Neal knows a great deal about the “volunteer spirit” himself. He has served on the UWG Alumni Council and the Board of Trustees of the West Georgia Foundation. He was a member of the Carrollton City Planning and Zoning Board, is currently active in Carroll County Chamber of Commerce committee work, is a member of the Carrollton Noon lions Club, the Downtown Carrollton Association, life member of the NAACP, and is on the Board of Deacons of the First Baptist Church of Carrollton.
O’Neal’s efforts of investing are not only within the community, state, or country. Just this past summer took his efforts overseas to Africa to invest in the lives of an impoverished nation.
He has been honored by a variety of organizations by being named Outstanding Young Man of America and Who’s Who Among Successful African Americans. He has also been presented the Junior Partner’s Award, Managing Partner’s Award, Jack Phelan Award, and was a Leadership Georgia Participant.
A DAY for West Georgia is a community fundraising event that supports the University of West Georgia. The funds finance student scholarships that benefit not only academically talented students but also those with financial need. The funds also are used to enhance the university's recruitment and retention efforts, programs for faculty and staff development, and student research. All of these efforts help bring the brightest minds both the University of West Georgia and our community.
“A DAY shines a light on the University of West Georgia and gives the university a special day to stand out in the community,” said O’Neal.
For more information or to volunteer, contact the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 678-839-6582.
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