On Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, seven of Rome’s “unsung heroes” will be honored at the Heart of the Community gala “An Affair of the Heart”. The event will be held at The Forum. For 38 years AdventHealth Redmond has sponsored these awards to recognize and honor individuals whose commitment through volunteer service has made this community a better place in which to live, work and raise a family.
The 2024 recipients include:
Ann Pullen, Deana Perry, LaDonna Collins, Mimi Richards, Phillip Gaines, River Remedy Brewing Co., and Terrence Hight, Sr.
A native of Rome, Terrence Hight, Sr. was educated at West Rome High School, Coosa Valley Technical College, and Shorter College. Terrence began his intentional work of investing in his home community of Rome — right out of high school. Since that time, he has continued to serve as a leader in sports, youth mentorship, healthcare, education, music, and the arts.
Community Service Activities:
• Leadership Rome Alumni
• 100 Black Men of Rome
• Originator and former Chair of the annual John Stevenson Classic Golf Tournament
• Former Wellness Chair for the Health Initiative for Men, dramatically increasing community participation and including women in the event
• Former Board Member and current Advisory Board Member of the Free Clinic of Rome
• Former Board Member of Communities in Schools
• Former Board Member of the Family Resource Center
• Board Member at Vital Grace
• Former Recreation Department Youth Football Coach — 20 years
• Founded a Jazz production company to highlight local musical talent
• Founder of Hight for Sight, Inc., a non-profit organization providing financial assistance for youth to obtain glasses and other visual aids
Terrence “Poppa T” Hight has one son, Terrence Hight, Jr., and four grandchildren.
Nominator: “Terrence Hight, Sr. is an outstanding example of why Rome is such a great community. His willingness to lead by example for youth in our community ensures that the future of our community continues to be bright.”
A native of Rome, Phillip Gaines graduated from West Rome High School and opened Hi-Tech Signs in 1993. He and his wife Tammy have been married for thirty years. Their son, Aidan, is a senior at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Community Service Activities:
• Kevin Harper Gun Violence Awareness Event
• Served on Rome Floyd Chamber’s Membership Campaign and TRC Elevate Campaign
• Provided opportunities for student athletes and other students in need
• Has a passion for helping kids as their mentor, father figure, and friend
• Major contributor in the success of the Rome High Football program, supporting many players by inviting them into his home and taking them on college visits.
• Helps individuals who are challenged with substance abuse, helped people gain citizenship, and helped those who simply needed help “paying their bills”
• Friend and supporter of the Rome-Floyd YMCA
• Donated to over 65 organizations in the past year including: The Sexual Assault Center, Living Proof, Free Clinic, Restoration Rome
Nominators: “Phillip is one of those quiet heroes who goes about helping countless young people, families, and organizations in our community.” “Our world needs more people like Phillip Gaines.”
A native of Rockmart, LaDonna Collins earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science from Columbus State University and is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist.
LaDonna has served as Executive Director of The Rome Floyd County Commission on Children and Youth for four years. She has also served as the local director for a GED Program, a middle and high school educator, a Public Health Educator, and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. LaDonna is also the owner of Pinnacle Developmental Services, a youth development and mentoring organization in which she holds contracts with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice.
Her Community Service Activities:
• 2023 SPLOST Committee
• Rome City Commission Candidate Forum Moderator
• Floyd Against Drugs Board
• Northwest Georgia Hunger Ministry Board
• Rome Floyd Chamber Leadership Rome Class of 41
• Rome Noon Optimist Club Member
• Rome Children’s Museum Board
• Rome Youth Detention Center Board
• Shorter University Ledbetter College of Business Advisory Board
• Rome Floyd Chamber Total Resource Campaign, Elevate, Volunteer
• Toys for Tots Volunteer
• 2023 Rome Celebrity Dance Challenge Participant for NWGA Sexual Assault Center
Nominator: “LaDonna Collins a leader, a go getter, and a motivator. She is one who takes a vision and makes it a reality through her creative ability of bringing people together.”
Ann Pullen has lived in Rome since 1994. She and her late husband, George (a long-time City Commissioner and faculty member at Georgia Highlands College) worked to develop living spaces in a building on the Cotton Block and were some of the earliest “loft residents” downtown. She is retired from Kennesaw State University, where she was a Professor of History and Department Chair; she received her undergraduate degree and MA from UGA and her Ph.D. from Georgia State University.
Her volunteer activities in Rome have centered around downtown development/preservation and the arts. She has one son, two stepchildren and nine grandchildren.
• Rome Area Council for the Arts, past Co-President, Board member since 2003
• Rome Area Heritage Foundation, past Co-President, Board member since 2004
• City of Rome activities: Historic Preservation Commission 2005-2011; Downtown Development Authority, 2012-2017; DDA Design Committee (past chair), 2012-present; City of Rome Landmarking Committee, 2020-present; DDA Volunteer of the Year, 2010
• Fairview-ES Brown Heritage Foundation Board, 2022-present
• Rome International Film Festival, original board member through 2018
• Rome/Floyd International Association, lead coordinator; since 1996 this group has organized student exchanges with Kumamoto City, Japan, Rome’s sister city; it also sponsored the Rome International Festival, held in various years 2004-2017
• St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Breakfast Team Captain, 2014-present
A group of locals (some born and raised here, while others are transplants who call Rome home) came together to start a brewery. They knew they had to do more than just make beer. They wanted to be able to give back to the community as part of their business model. From there, River Remedy established several ways they give back to our community. They donate a portion of their sales to a variety of charities in our area. These charity partners rotate each quarter and range from groups that support shelters for various causes, the homeless population, the local environment, the arts, and more.
In addition to quarterly charity partners, River Remedy also hosts smaller pop-up charity events throughout the year. One of those pop-ups, Food Truck Fridays, partners with local non-profits to highlight their organizations. They also frequently open their parking lot for use by various non-profit events. Most recently, they supported ESP and Java Joy so that the group could hand out hot chocolate for donations during the Christmas Parade and line up.
Since opening in late 2021, River Remedy has raised over $18,000 for local charities through these partnership activities. Some of the local charity organizations that have benefitted from these activities include:
• The Davies Shelter
• PAWS: Public Animal Wellness Services
• Coosa River Basin Initiative
• Exchange Club Family Resource Center
• Hospitality House for Women
• The Jamie Hughes Fund
• TRED: Trails for Recreation and Economic Development
• RIFF: Rome International Film Festival
