Georgia Ports Authority Donates $50,000 to Wesley Community Centers of Savannah

Georgia Ports Authority Donates ,000 to Wesley Community Centers of Savannah

The Georgia Ports Authority presented a check for $50,000 to the Wesley Community Centers of Savannah on July 26 and committed an additional $100,000 over the next two years. This funding will support the renovation and reopening of the Wesley Early Childhood Education Center, which provides early learning opportunities for children from infancy to age four.

Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch emphasized the importance of early childhood education, stating, “We believe the development of the next generation begins in early childcare and childhood education. That’s why we’re proud to support the Wesley Community Centers of Savannah.”

The Wesley Community Centers, celebrating 75 years of service, is a nationally-accredited childcare facility. Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, also the chairman of the Wesley Community Centers board, highlighted the significance of early education. “Research shows the more words a child hears during early development, the better they are established for learning later in life,” Johnson said. He noted the lasting impact of the organization, mentioning that “the oldest Wesley kids are now in their 70s.”

Core programs of the Wesley Community Centers include:

Lady Bamford Early Childhood Education Center: Serving disadvantaged children aged 6 weeks to 4 years in the West-Savannah area.
Early Childhood Education Center: Temporarily closed since 2021 due to the Covid pandemic and building conditions, this center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Georgia Quality Rated Center. It can accommodate up to 48 children, ages 1-4.
WCCS Youth Arts Camp: Offers programming for children ages 5-12, including a Transition to Kindergarten session and a Career Development component for older campers.
Crisis Intervention Program: Located in the J.R. Paddison Family Life Center on the Drayton Street Campus, this program provides emergency utility assistance, a food pantry, a computer lab, and adult education classes as funds are available.