April is Civitan Awareness Month

Founded in 1917 in Birmingham, Alabama, Civitan International has more than 30,000 members worldwide. Civitan International Research Center (CIRC) is a cutting-edge research facility dedicated to the study and treatment of developmental disabilities like autism, Rhett syndrome, and disorders of the brain.

Civitan is the only service organization dedicated to serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). This long-standing focus began as a local project in Baltimore in the 1940’s when Civitan began funding specialized teachers in schools. In 1956, Civitan membership unanimously adopted service to I/DD as the major focus of the international organization. Today, Civitan supports the Civitan International Research Center in Birmingham, Alabama where more than 100 researchers work on diseases that impact the lives of 1 in 6 people worldwide.

The Civitan Candy Box program is one of Civitan’s oldest and most well-known fundraising programs, which supports hundreds of international and local charity projects, and helps thousands of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Wayne County Civitan Club’s candy boxes are located at Dad’s Pizzeria, Wayne County Bank (Main Office), Old National Bank (Main Branch & Barlow), and at the County Clerk’s office (Stan Horton).

The Wayne County Civitan club projects directly benefit local communities and Buffalo River Services, a local organization dedicated to serving those with I/DD. Members of the club try to make sure these individuals are shown love and remembered as well as being involved in our community. The club’s main fundraiser is the Bobby Brown Vidalia Onion sale held each spring. This fundraiser is named in memory of former Civitan member, Bobby Brown, as he was always the top salesperson for any of the club’s fundraisers.

The Wayne County Civitan Club sponsors the Wayne County Junior Civitan Club at Collinwood High School. Membership is open to all high school students, and the club offers a scholarship each year to a graduating Senior that is a current club member.

Anyone interested in the local Civitan Club is welcome to attend any of the club meetings. The club meets on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month at Dad’s Pizzeria, 705 Highway 99, Waynesboro. The meeting begins at 12:00 noon. Members include Marla Beavers (President), Phil Garner (President-Elect/Charter Member), Angie Butler (Secretary), Judy Mayberry (Treasurer), June Steele, Patricia Pigg, Sherry Daniel, Brandi Sherrill, Jackie Taylor, Marcus Sherrill, Connie Massa, Matthew Lineberry, Sandra Pitts, Rachel Holt, and Toby Lineberry. The Wayne County Civitan Club was chartered in July 1991.

For more information contact Marla Beavers at 931-722-8110.

Keep an eye out for more information in The Wayne County News on the Civitan Club during Civitan Awareness Month.