IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COGIC CHARITIES AWARDS $110,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO
70 STUDENTS AT ANNUAL BANQUET
(November 8, 2008 – Memphis, TENN) Each year at the Holy Convocation, where thousands of members of the Church Of God In Christ denomination gather for a week of prayer and rejuvenation, there is a non-profit at work pulling together a grand banquet to honor students and sponsors alike for their year-long dedication. Led by Chairman Bishop Charles E. Blake and his supporting leadership, Dr. J.W. Penton (Executive Director) and Sylvia Law (Scholarship Chair) along with a very seasoned board of directors, COGIC Charities awards over $100,000 annually in scholarships to deserving students who have applied for financial assistance and have displayed exemplary academic achievement in their various fields.
This was extremely year exciting for the Charity. Even with a soft economy, high unemployment rates and foreign turmoil, COGIC Charities awarded $110,000 in scholarships to over 70 students. “We like to consider these charitable contributions our own stimulus plan for the economy. We are helping students who will eventually help us – thus making sound investments in our country’s future,” says Executive Director, John Penton. During their annual banquet at the Cook Convention Center, the organization had renowned activist, Rev. Eugene Rivers speak to a packed house of over 1,000 attendees.
“Every year, we focus on expanding our scholarship program to meet the needs of people in the community who need assistance, and every year we continue to have an outpour of support from corporate sponsors and individuals with their generous contributions. Next year, we plan to set the bar higher by helping even more people and awarding more money,” says Scholarship Chair, Sylvia Law.
The 2008-2009 COGIC Charities sponsors include: TriState Bank, Chrysler Minority Dealer Association (CMDA) and ServiceMaster along with a host of individuals who went to the web site and made donations or sent in their checks and money orders to the organization.
About COGIC Charities
COGIC Charities was founded in 2002 by the late Presiding Bishop G. E. Patterson and the General Board of the Church Of God In Christ. As part of their mission, the charity has committed to taking a very active role in raising funds to help support areas devastated by natural disasters and create educational scholarships for those in need. For more information visit www.cogiccharities.org.
About Church Of God In Christ
The Church Of God In Christ is the fourth largest Protestant religious denomination in the United States of America with an estimated membership of more than 6.5 million. COGIC headquarters is located at Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee. For more information visit www.cogic.org.
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