Georgia Ports Authority to be honored at the 20th annual Opportunity Award Gala

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) will be honored at the 20th annual Opportunity Award Gala, Thursday, April 3, 2025. The event, hosted by the Savannah Technical College Foundation, honors deserving leaders and businesses in the local community for a lifetime of service in creating and enhancing opportunities for others to succeed.

The STC Foundation will honor GPA for its transformative economic impact for the region, commitment to workforce development, and pivotal role in advancing Georgia as a global logistics leader and a top state for business.

The event gathers community and civic leaders for a celebratory evening honoring a special individual or organization. The evening also showcases the talents of students enrolled in Savannah Technical College’s award-winning Culinary Arts programs. Past recipients include: Former Governor Zell Miller, Arnold Tenenbaum, Judge Griffin Bell, Tom Coleman, Dick Eckburg, Arthur M. Gignilliat, Jr., Bob and Alice Jepson, Howard Morrison, Stratton Leopold, Chef Jean Vendeville, Ted Kleisner, Kevin “Catfish” Jackson, Dr. Bill Cathcart, Chef Mashama Bailey, and Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.

The event is a fundraiser for the Savannah Technical College Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that raises funds to support Savannah Technical College. STC Foundation Board members are leading the fundraising efforts. For ticket and sponsorship information, visit savannahtech.edu/gala or contact Jennifer Ratner at jratner@savannahtech.edu.

Founded in 1984, the Savannah Technical College Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization that exists to raise and disburse funds to support the College’s efforts to enhance learning, workforce training and economic development in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty counties. The Foundation also supports student success through its many privately funded scholarships.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Georgia’s ports and inland terminals support more than 561,000 jobs throughout the state annually, contributing $33 billion in income, $140 billion in revenue, and $3.8 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. GPA anticipates investing $4.2 billion in the next ten years as part of its port master plan to expand cargo handling capabilities to support future supply chain requirements. As part of GPA’s community engagement efforts, $6 million will be donated to communities located near the Port of Savannah to support a multi-year, local workforce housing initiative. CNBC ranked Georgia #1 in the U.S. for infrastructure in America’s Top States for Business in 2024. Area Development – a site selection news outlet for the U.S., has ranked Georgia as the Top State to Do Business for 11 consecutive years. More information about Georgia Ports Authority is available at gaports.com.

#2522 | January 10, 2025