The Mark W. Graham Foundation participated in the 2011 Hope for the Holiday Gala. The project is put on by United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area, St. Bernard Project and Phoenix of New Orleans.

During the dinner members of the foundation board of directors spent time getting to know the Washington family. The foundation surprised the family with the gift of repairing their home with the help of players from the New Orleans Saints.

Thank you to all of our local supporters for helping bring families home for the holidays!

]]> http://www.mg20-20.com/news/hope-for-the-holidays-gala/feed/ 0 http://www.mg20-20.com/news/labor-day-afghanistan-run/ http://www.mg20-20.com/news/labor-day-afghanistan-run/#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:21:45 +0000 bbille http://www.mg20-20.com/?p=78

The Mark W. Graham Foundation was a proud supporter the Labor Day Afghanistan Run! Over 228 participated, making this year the largest run to date.

The race had participants from a wide selection of our NATO forces here, including Civilian contractors. It was a GREAT day as well. Upon completion of the race, the runners received their T-shirts. All of which were individually packed in plastic bags for the first 200 participants who signed up. The T-shirts were a BIG hit especially with the Marines. The event continued into the evening with presentations of floats made out of card board boxes!

Congratulations to all the participants!

The Mark W. Graham Foundation is the proud recipient of a Shop Local Marketing Package! The Foundation was up against 8 other great nonprofit community organizations. The package is valued at over $2,000.

Thank you to all our supports who voted!

The Mark W. Graham Foundation honored nine graduating seniors with the Character Award and scholarship.

The award is designed to recognize well-rounded young persons whose lives demonstrate an enduring commitment to qualities associated with goodness.

The Mark W. Graham Character Award recipients exemplify the core values of character – caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and citizenship – and provide examples of being a positive role model for others.

This past year, the foundation awarded a total of $12,000 to Character Awards recipients at the following schools:

St. Thomas More High School – Laura Alexander
Tuerlings High School – Tyler Richey
Comeaux High School –  Emily Bratcher
Lafayette High School – Michael Wiley
Northside High School – Chelsea Alexander
Acadiana High School –  Bakari Hollier
Carencro High School –  Daniel Graham
Ascension Episcopal School – Luis Alberto Alvarez, Jr.
Charter High School – Rita Maronge

The Mark W. Graham Foundation has announced the recipients of its MG 20-20 Character Award given to eight local high school seniors. The purpose of the Character Award is to recognize graduating seniors who exemplify the core values of character: caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, citizenship, and provide examples of being a positive role model.

“We like to focus on students who whose contributions to his/her community may not be acknowledged by more traditional awards,” said Jamie Holmes, a foundation member. “Regardless of family background, race, financial status, academic achievement or physical condition, anyone can earn respect and admiration by being a person of character.”
The foundation was established to honor Mark Graham, a U.S. Army soldier killed from a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2007. He was a Lafayette resident and 2002 graduate of St. Thomas More. “MG 20-20” was Mark’s nickname and the foundation use of the term to honor Mark has evolved into an icon to acknowledge all heroes, soldiers or not.
The monetary gifts, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 each, may be used however the recipient deems necessary to provide financial assistance to follow a dream.

“We know there are a lot of deserving students for this award,” said Holmes. “There are a lot of good kids out there and you don’t hear too much about the good news from schools these days. This is our way to recognize these students.”
According to Steven Graham, the recipients can use the money however they want. “They can use it for books, tuition, or to buy a guitar,” Graham said, referring to his brother’s love of music and the guitar. “However they feel they want to use it. It’s theirs, they deserve it.”

The MG 20-20 Character Award was implemented in 2007 and with the support and generosity of the community, has been able to expand its list of schools for 2010 to include all of the Lafayette Parish public high schools, along with STM, Teurlings and Ascension Episcopal School.

The 2010 recipients of the MG 20-20 Character Award are: Acadiana-Jenna Rhoads; Carencro-Raymond Reed; Comeaux-Matthew Lincon; Lafayette High-Jenna Simard; Northside-Jenae Morgan; STM-Eustis Corrigan; Teurlings-Michael Decou; and Ascension Episcopal School-Meghan Kenny. Lafayette Charter High School’s recipient will be announced during its graduation ceremony in June.

These recipients are chosen on their strength of character alone, regardless of academic or athletic achievement. Nominations are submitted by teachers and staff from the students’ respective schools and the winners are selected by a committee from each school.

“Mark wasn’t exactly the greatest student when it came down to academics, but he was a good person,” said Kim Graham, Mark’s mother. “That’s what this award is about. Honoring students who are just good people.”