2023 National Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award Banquet
Mrs. LaTivia Rivers and Judge Michael Bellamy To be recognized for Outstanding Services
Columbus, GA, August 4, 2023 – The 10th Annual National Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award Banquet will be hosted by the Boy Scouts of America, Chattahoochee Council on September 26, 2023, at the St. Luke Ministry Center. Mrs. LaTivia Rivers and Judge Michael Bellamy will be honored with the 2023 Whitney M. Young Jr. National Service Award in recognition of their dedicated service to our community, particularly our underserved and historically disadvantaged youth. Rep. Teddy Reese will be the Keynote Speaker, and Judge Ben Richardson, the 2022 Whitney M. Young Jr. National Service Award Recipient, will present the awards.
Tickets are $60 apiece, and tables of eight are $450. Sponsorships start at $1,000, and those interested in supporting this event can purchase their tickets or sponsorships at www.91bsa.org/10thWMY or by calling (706)327-2634.
The Whitney M. Young, Jr. National Service Award is a national recognition of those individuals – “unsung heroes” – who do exceptional service for their community. The mission of the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award Banquet is to secure resources in support of Scouting programs for underserved youth and provide experiences that develop self-esteem, character values and life skills, thereby enhancing the lives of young people in disadvantaged areas of our community. All proceeds go to benefit our community’s underserved and historically disadvantaged youth access the iconic Scouting programs.
Mrs. LaTivia Rivers has represented this community for over 20 years and has been dedicated to her work in providing visitors with a positive experience. LaTivia is the Manager of the Georgia Visitor Information Center, Columbus, with The Georgia Department of Economic Development from where she is well known throughout the State of Georgia for her enthusiastic love for sharing Georgia with visitors from all over the world. LaTivia is extremely active in serving the tri-city community. She has given her time and talents to many organizations which include the 2016 General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Phenix City Charter Review Committee, Columbus and Phenix City Mayor’s Balls, Kiwanis Club of Columbus, the 2016 Honorary Chairwomen of the Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic Committee, and Girls Inc. of Columbus 2023 SSB Committee. LaTivia also serves on the board of directors for the Springer Opera House and has faithfully volunteered with the Columbus Sports Council since 1999.
Judge Michael Bellamy is the Past Circuit Court Presiding Judge for the 26th Judicial Circuit in Russell County, Phenix City, Alabama. Judge Bellamy is responsible for starting the Drug Court Program in 2007. Previously Michael Bellamy was a law partner in Bellamy & Jones, P.C., law firm from 1997 until his appointment to District Court in 1998. Judge Bellamy is a member of numerous professional organizations such as; United States Circuit Judges Association, United States District Court of Alabama, United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, Alabama State Bar Association, Russell County Bar Association, American Bar Association, Alabama Lawyers Association, former member of Alabama Municipal Judges Association, former member of Alabama Child Support Association. When Judge Bellamy is not presiding over courts, he is actively involved in various community civic organizations.
“It is our distinct honor to be able to present Mrs. LaTivia Rivers and Judge Michael Bellamy with this prestigious award. Both of these individuals exemplify the ideals and values of Scouting and have demonstrated their immense dedication to serving our community’s most vulnerable populations.” says Scout Executive/CEO Juan F. Osorio of the Chattahoochee Council. “Facing adversity as an inner-city youth was not easy for me, but the Scouting Program provided the tools and guidance to overcome. Our goal is to continue to provide a quality Scouting program to every available youth regardless of their financial background. Your support of this important event allows us to do just that.”
For information on this event or to purchase your sponsorship, visit www.91bsa.org/10thWMY or contact the Stephanie Hill, Development Director, at (706) 327-2634 or stephanie.hill@scouting.org.
About the Chattahoochee Council:
The Chattahoochee Council BSA, chartered in 1922, has helped youth develop academic skills, self-confidence, ethics, leadership skills, and citizenship skills for more than 100 years. The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. The Chattahoochee Council serves almost 1,500 Scouts in 60 Scouting groups. In 2021, 661 adult volunteers helped carry out the BSA’s mission in the Chattahoochee Valley. The Chattahoochee Council BSA serves youth in Chattahoochee, Harris, Heard, Marion, Meriwether, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Stewart, Talbot, Troup, and Webster counties in west central Georgia, and Chambers, Lee, and Russell counties in east central Alabama. Available programs include Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Exploring, Venturing, and ScoutREACH. For more information about the Chattahoochee Council, visit www.91bsa.org or call (706) 327-2634.