Press Release

August 8, 2008 

The Bagwell Foundation Donates $10,000 to Promote Adult Literacy

Cumming, GA, August 8, 2008 – Tommy and Chantel  Bagwell, owners of American Proteins, the world’s largest protein conversion company, have donated $10,000 to the Forsyth County Certified Literate Community Program (CLCP), a non-profit organization that promotes adult literacy.  The donation will help the CLCP to continue delivering free GED tutoring and free English language classes to Forsyth County residents.   Since its inception, the Bagwell Foundation has donated more than $130,000 to promote literacy in the county. 

“We are pleased to support the efforts of the CLCP in our community,” said Tommy Bagwell, Chairman and CEO of American Proteins.  “Raising literacy rates in our county not only benefits current employers, it attracts new business to the area.”  

“The support we receive from American Proteins is vital to the success of our program,” said Carla Beasley, chair of the Forsyth County CLCP.  “We sincerely appreciate their continued generosity.”

 The CLCP’s mission is to increase adult literacy in Forsyth County by delivering free tutoring for illiterate adults, free tutoring for students studying for their General Educational Development (GED) certificate, free English Language courses, free test preparation materials, and scholarships to cover the cost of GED test fees.  The Forsyth County CLCP delivers services through the Adult Learning Center at Lanier Technical Institute in Cumming, Georgia.  Since 2005, the organization has served more than 2,400 residents.  For more information, please visit their Web site at www.forsythcountyclcp.org 

American Proteins, Inc. began in 1949 as the North Georgia Rendering Company, a small family business headquartered in Cumming, GA.  Today, American Proteins operates the largest poultry protein and lipids conversion operation in the world, annually producing more than 850,000 tons of pet food and feed grade poultry protein meal.  The company now operates plants in Cumming, GA, Cuthbert, GA, Alma, GA, and Hanceville, AL.  For more information, please visit their Web site at www.americanproteins.com 

The Bagwell Foundation’s mission is to help individuals become self-sufficient through education.  The foundation provides financial support for adult education and English language programs as well as scholarships to technical colleges.

Contact: 

Lorraine Stewart

Forsyth County Certified Literate Community Program

770-876-2011