Grace Christian Academy has undergone many changes over the course of its fourteen year history. The GCA Foundation has been one of the most recent additions.
The GCA Foundation Board: front - Bill Burke, Lee Harris, Emily Griffin, Cile Warr. Back - Ron Henderson, Randy Soden, Todd Mills, Mike Harrell, Mallory McRae.
With enrollment increasing every year, the need for more classrooms, teachers, larger facilities and transportation prompted the Grace School Board to take action. Seeing immediate needs within the school, the Board tapped two successful, business-minded individuals. Mike Harrell, of Southwest GA Oil, and Cile Warr, then President of the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce, were asked to create a board of like-minded, Christian leaders with a vision of what Grace Christian Academy strives to achieve.
Sharing their thoughts and dreams with a vast array of individuals, Mr. Harrell and Mrs. Warr decided on seven people they felt would help add to the work they had already started: Bill Burke, Lee Harris, Emily Griffin, Ron Henderson, Randy Soden, Todd Mills and Mallory McRae.
After receiving input from teachers, parents, and students, the GCA School Board formulated a five year plan for the school which was shared with the Foundation. The new Foundation board was thrilled with the plan.
Their primary purpose became providing additional funding for the school's objectives including: increasing salaries, capital improvements, teaching materials, and technology either through direct funding or increasing enrollment. As Chairman, Mr. Harrell knew many of the tasks at hand would be more involved than a board, meeting once a month, would be able to handle.
As a first step, the Foundation board requested the hiring of a Director of Development funded by the Foundation to spearhead fundraising and public relations. After completing the search, an outstanding individual, Cile Warr, was selected for the new position.
Mrs. Warr has twenty years experience in chamber work, including thirteen years as President of our local chamber. She is well acquainted with working for a non-profit organization,. Her expertise lies in raising funds to meet and surpass budget needs, organizing successful community projects, and marketing products and services in excellence.
The Director of Development is a new position at GCA created by the Foundation. As the Director of Development, Mrs. Warr's responsibilities will be leading fundraising, spearheading communication efforts such as annual giving, major gifts, endowment campaigns, corporate and foundation grants, running the parents' association and alumni relations, publishing newsletters and school brochures, as well as public relations and advertising.
Mrs. Warr is a graduate of Valdosta State University and has studied at the University of Georgia. She is married to Woodie Warr of Bainbridge. They have two children who attend GCA. Brent is a 6th grader at Grace, and his sister, Mary Glenn is in K4.
