SAVANNAH, Ga. – Elevate Savannah, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building long-term, life-changing relationships with youth and equipping them to thrive and contribute to their community, will host its 4th Annual Elevate Savannah Leadership Awards Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Kehoe Iron Works at Trustees Garden.
The 2026 Elevate Savannah Leadership Awards recipients are Helen Downing, Owner of Downing Real Estate; Dr. Shirley James, Publisher and Retired Editor of The Savannah Tribune; and Dr. Jermaine Whirl, President of Savannah State University.
The annual Leadership Awards Dinner recognizes individuals whose leadership, service and commitment have made a meaningful impact on Savannah and the surrounding community. The event brings together community leaders, supporters, mentors, educators and friends of Elevate Savannah to celebrate this year’s honorees while supporting Elevate’s work with local youth.
Guests will also have the opportunity to connect with current and former Elevate students, teacher-mentors, staff and board members, hear stories of growth and achievement, and learn more about the role mentorship plays in preparing young people for success in school, careers and their communities.
“We are excited to honor this year’s Leadership Awards recipients and celebrate the lasting impact they have made in our community,” said Chad Dollander, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Elevate Savannah. “Their commitment to leadership, service and investing in the future of Savannah reflects the very values that Elevate Savannah seeks to instill in the young people we serve.”
The Leadership Awards Dinner has continued to be a tremendous success, with last year’s event alone raising more than $250,000 to support Elevate Savannah’s mission of empowering and inspiring future leaders.
Helen Downing is a respected Savannah businesswoman and community leader with a longstanding commitment to preserving the city’s historic, artistic and cultural heritage. She has supported numerous community and cultural organizations and is also a collector, researcher and lecturer on Early Southern Silver and decorative arts.
Dr. Shirley James is Publisher and Retired Editor of The Savannah Tribune, one of the nation’s oldest African American-owned weekly newspapers. A longtime Savannah community leader, James has built a distinguished career spanning media, higher education and public service, earning numerous local, statewide and national honors for her servant leadership.
Dr. Jermaine Whirl, President of Savannah State University and former president of Augusta Technical College, is a nationally recognized leader in higher education and workforce development. His career is distinguished by innovative academic programs, strategic partnerships and initiatives that expand educational and workforce opportunities.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available for the 4th Annual Elevate Savannah Leadership Awards Dinner. For more information, contact Elevate Savannah at 912-483-7242 or visit:https://elevatesavannah.networkforgood.com/events/104484-4th-annual-elevate-savannah-leadership-awards-dinner.
About Elevate Savannah:
Since its launch in 2019 at A.E. Beach High School, Elevate Savannah’s mission has been to build meaningful relationships with urban youth, equipping them to thrive and contribute to their community. The rapidly growing student mentor program now has representation across all levels of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System. Currently, more than 600 students from A.E. Beach High School, DeRenne Middle School, and Hodge Elementary School are involved with Elevate Savannah. With its first elementary, middle, and high school pipeline complete, Elevate Savannah’s next goal is to expand the program to other Savannah-Chatham County Title I schools in order to support as many local students as possible. For more information, please visit www.elevatesavannah.org.
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