FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6/18/26
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Contact Bethany Greeley
203-584-0499
AMERICUS, Ga. — Heart of Sumter, an established nonprofit organization serving Sumter
County, is pleased to announce the appointment of Farah Jones, 38, of Americus, as its first
Development Director.
Jones will lead the organization & newly launched fundraising initiative, Count Me In, which
invites local businesses and their employees to invest in the future of Sumter County through voluntary payroll giving.
All of us know it is time to make the safety of children a central goal of the Sumter County
community, said Bethany Greeley, president of Heart of Sumter.
Count Me In invites working people to support programs that keep our children and our
streets safe.
Greeley points to the tragic 2025 deaths of two Americus children, ages 5 and 17, who were
caught in gang-related gunfire as the ultimate motivator.
And Farah has the exceptional heart and soul to lead this campaign, Greeley added.
Under Jones direction, business owners and their employees will be invited to enroll in Count Me In and make a modest payroll deduction each payday. Funds collected will be awarded annually by Heart of Sumter to individuals and organizations dedicated to serving children and youth throughout Sumter County.
We would love to see some more after-school programs, free family entertainment on the
weekends, and even a safe place for kids to fish in Sumter County, said Jones, noting that
Heart of Sumter is open to proposals for future program funding.
Assistance with the purchase of sporting equipment, band uniforms, and educational field trips is also possible.
Several local initiatives already benefit from Heart of Sumter support, including the Luxe
Scholarship Pageant, led by Jameisha Brown, and T-31 Studio- A Stitch in Time program,
operated by Elene Carne Lorenze.
The organization also offers Read to Grow, a free Thursday evening reading tutoring program at the Lake Blackshear Regional Library, and free adult English as a Second Language (ESL) classes during the school year at Calvary Episcopal Church.
A mother of five and longtime advocate for children and families, Jones is an accomplished
community outreach professional, digital creator, web designer, and photographer with more than a decade of experience capturing and sharing stories that inspire connection and engagement. She and her husband own Jones Enterprises and Services, LLC, a company focused on wellness and community building.
Jones brings extensive experience in nonprofit engagement and program development, having created wellness events for veterans in partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project and collaborated with Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, to develop staff wellness initiatives.
Drawing on years of experience supporting community-based programs, she is passionate
about creating opportunities that strengthen families and improve outcomes for children across Sumter County.
To learn more about Heart of Sumter or to request a visit from Farah Jones at your office, store, school, or factory, visit heartofsumter.com.
Join others across Sumter County who proudly say, Count Me In!
Together, we can increase recreational and educational opportunities for children and youth
throughout Sumter County.
Isn't it time?
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