Release Date: 03.11.10 | Location: All Metro Atlanta | Organization: Consumer Credit Counseling Service
Lane and Clark Howard Are Honorary Chairs for CCCS "Purse Strings" April 22 at The Foundry at Puritan Mill
"Purse Strings:" Change a Purse and Change a Life.
Consumer advisor Clark Howard and his actress wife Lane are honorary chairs for the third annual "Purse Strings" auction party, presented by Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Greater Atlanta to help fund financial literacy outreach to women.Thursday evening, April 22, at The Foundry at Puritan Mill, the couple will help CCCS host its "Purse Strings" event - a catered cocktail reception and silent auction of more than 100 handbags, wallets and accessories from well-known designers, local boutiques and artists. Tickets are $50 each; please see www.pursestringsatlanta.com
A longtime proponent of the CCCS mission to help people achieve their financial goals, Clark Howard previously served on the agency's board of directors. He often recommends credit or budget counseling to callers to the nationally syndicated Clark Howard Show, originating from Atlanta's WSB-AM and syndicated by Dial Global. Every day across America, he is heard on more than 200 radio stations advising consumers how to save more, spend less and avoid getting ripped off. His show has been expanded to HLN (formerly the Headline News channel) in a new weekend program. A successful entrepreneur, radio host, TV personality and best-selling author, he is dedicated to helping Americans of all means get ahead in life.
An Atlanta native, he started several civic programs, including Atlanta Volunteer Action, Volunteer Action Inc., The Big Buddy Program and Career Action. He worked with his listeners to build 30 homes around metro Atlanta for Habitat for Humanity. In 1993, he opened the Consumer Action Center, now staffed by 140 volunteers providing off-air advice on consumer issues.
Lane Howard is also an Atlanta native with a history of community involvement. She has acted in 300 commercials and industrial films, and in independent films and plays. She has appeared with local sketch comedy groups and children's puppetry tours. With her own production company, she was executive producer of Cablevision's 20-show season of "Get Clark Smart."
Lane is on the board of Synchronicity Performance Group and has served on the Dunwoody Stage Door Players advisory board and the Georgia Aquarium board of visitors. She volunteers for Zaban Night Shelter and FOCUS (Families of Children Under Stress) and has helped develop a clothing line for kids with severe food allergies.
CCCS provides education to help women gain control of their finances
The Howards will welcome the CCCS board of directors and guests to The Foundry at Puritan Mill to enjoy catering by Affairs to Remember. Everyone will have ample time to mingle, network and bid on purses, accessories and bags of all types from well-known designers, local artists, shops and boutiques. Make-up demonstrations will be offered by Christian Dior.
The event provides funding for financial education classes for low-income women in Atlanta, supporting the CCCS mission to help financially distressed families move from crisis to control. Last year's event helped provide 238 financial education classes to 2,400 Atlanta women.
"'Purse Strings' opens the doors for women to receive financial literacy courses at no cost," said Lisa Ray, financial education specialist for CCCS. "These courses empower women to work toward achieving their full potential by giving them hope and motivation through education."
"Purse Strings" sponsors include: Gas South, Affairs to Remember, Atlanta Gas Light, Georgia Power, King & Spalding, Cbeyond, Wachovia, Atlanta Daybook, Delta Community Credit Union, Equifax and TurnerBoone Contract.
A "Power of the Purse" Host Committee includes: Rebecca Blalock of Georgia Power, Meredith Hodges of Gas South, Robin Holland of Equifax, Joe and Lee Oesterling of Cbeyond, Helen Smith Price of The Coca-Cola Foundation, Beth Reese of Atlanta Gas Light, and Belinda Stubblefield of Winestyles Cascade.
The event is chaired by CCCS board member Lisa Keyes of King & Spalding. Her committee includes Julie French, Esther Hammond, Robin Holland, Jamee Lawson, Lynn Lilly, Lisa Martinez, Tracye Miller, Melanie Mueller and Gay Watson.
If you are interested in sponsorships, donations, or volunteering on the event committee, please contact Maisha Armstrong at 404-260-3231 or Maisha.Armstrong@cccsinc.org.
About CCCS:
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit community-service agency that provides confidential budget counseling, money management education, debt management programs, bankruptcy counseling and education and comprehensive housing counseling. The agency serves more than 500,000 individuals annually primarily from low- and moderate-income households in all 50 states.
Consumers may speak to counselors in English and Spanish 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by phone at 1-800-251-CCCS, and also access the agency's web sites, www.cccsinc.org and www.cccsenespanol.org where live-chat counselors are available around the clock. The agency's web site also provides free interactive seminars and other online education courses through CredAbilityU.
Media Contact: John McCosh 404-260-3108, John.McCosh@cccsinc.org
Contact Info
Contact Name: John McCosh
Company: CCCS Purse Strings
Phone: 404-260-3108
Cell: 678-596-2889
E-mail: John.McCosh@cccsinc.org
