--- title: SR 661. Jack and Jill of America, Inc.; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr661 cite_as: SR 661, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr661 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr661.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr661/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72607 date: 2026-02-02 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr660.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr662.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr661.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 661 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-02 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Sonya Halpern - Tonya Anderson - Kim Jackson - Donzella James - Jaha Howard - Randal Mangham - Kenya Wicks - Nikki Merritt - Michael Rhett - David Lucas - Ed Harbison - Derek Mallow - Freddie Sims text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR661/2025 upstream_id: 2102326 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Jack and Jill of America - Senate resolution - community organizations - Georgia chapters - youth leadership --- # SR 661. Jack and Jill of America, Inc.; commend ## Text Senate Resolution 661 By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Anderson of the 43rd, Jackson of the 41st, James of the 28th, Howard of the 35th and others A RESOLUTION Commending Jack and Jill of America, Inc.; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Jack and Jill of America, Inc., is a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2-19, dedicated to nurturing future African-American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving, and civic duty; and WHEREAS, the late Marion Stubbs Thomas founded Jack and Jill of America, Inc., on January 24, 1938, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when 20 mothers came together to discuss creating an organization to provide social, cultural, and educational opportunities for youth between the ages of two and 19 and in 1946, ten chapters were involved in the national restructuring process where a constitution and bylaws were drawn up and the organization was incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware; and WHEREAS, today, this organization has 262 chapters nationwide, representing 50,000 families in seven regions with each chapter planning annual programming activities guided under a national theme, and through service projects, it creates a medium of contact for children to stimulate their growth and development; and WHEREAS, the Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Inc., is the philanthropic arm of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and since its inception in 1968, the Foundation has distributed millions of dollars to communities all across America; and WHEREAS, Georgia is part of the Southeastern Region and home to the 28th National President Darlene McGhee Wittington and the National Legislative Chair Dorothea "Dee" Dawkins-Haigler; the other members of the Regional Executive Board include Regional Director Lisa Ivory, Regional Treasurer Shannon Chambers, Regional Secretary Sha’Rhonda McRae, and Member-at-Large Leila Jerome Clay; and WHEREAS, the Georgia chapters and their respective presidents are as follows:Albany - Alfreda Sheppard, Athens - Cheryl Sewell, Atlanta - Felicia Nickerson, Augusta - Melissa Johnson, Buckhead Atlanta - Brianca Cooper, Columbus - Crystal Shahid, Dunwoody-Atlanta - Terris Ross, East Suburban Atlanta - Tami Thomas, Fayette County Area - Tash-Marie Cheney Golden Isles - Shontae Buffington, Greater Lake Allatoona - Lisa McLeod, Greater Metropolitan Atlanta - Tiaudra Shaw, Greater North Atlanta - Tracy Jimerson, Lake Spivey - Sandea Harris, Macon - Shandra Yarbrough, North Suburban Atlanta - Dawn Parker, Savannah - Tia Curtis, Southern Crescent - Neanda Andrew, Stone Mountain - Joy Hall, Valdosta - Jonessa Williams, and West Georgia - Kimberli Brown. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body commend the outstanding work of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and extend their sincere best wishes for the continued success of this invaluable organization. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Jack and Jill of America, Inc. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution formally commends Jack and Jill of America, Inc., a national mothers' organization supporting Black youth, and its Georgia chapters for their community work. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It praises Jack and Jill of America, Inc., a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2 to 19 that focuses on leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropy, and civic engagement for youth. The resolution recounts the organization's founding in 1938 in Philadelphia by Marion Stubbs Thomas, its growth to 262 chapters and 50,000 families nationwide, and the work of its philanthropic arm, the Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Inc. It names Georgia's regional leaders and lists the presidents of each Georgia chapter. The Senate resolves to commend the organization's work and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to the organization. ### What it does - Formally commends Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and wishes it continued success, without creating any new law or funding. - Recounts the organization's 1938 founding history and its growth to 262 chapters representing 50,000 families nationwide. - Names Georgia's regional leadership and lists the presidents of each Georgia chapter of the organization. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Jack and Jill of America, Inc. ### Who it affects This resolution directly affects Jack and Jill of America, Inc., its Georgia chapters and their leaders, and the organization's philanthropic foundation. It does not impose obligations on the public, state agencies, or any other Georgians. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal or regulatory effect; it does not change Georgia law, create funding, or impose requirements. Its practical effect is symbolic recognition, giving the organization and its members an official acknowledgment from the state Senate of their community and philanthropic work. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe the organization's mission, 1938 founding, national growth to 262 chapters, and its philanthropic foundation established in 1968. - The resolution names Georgia's Southeastern Region leadership, including the National President and National Legislative Chair, both based in Georgia. - The resolution lists the presidents of each Georgia chapter by chapter name. - The resolving clause has the Senate commend the organization and directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to it. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-02) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-02) - Sponsors: Sonya Halpern, Tonya Anderson, Kim Jackson, Donzella James, Jaha Howard, Randal Mangham, Kenya Wicks, Nikki Merritt, Michael Rhett, David Lucas, Ed Harbison, Derek Mallow, Freddie Sims - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72607 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr661.md?full=1