Georgia CommonsSR 714: Cole, Jesse and Emily; honor
Last action February 6, 2026 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution honors Jesse and Emily Cole, the founders of the Savannah Bananas and Banana Ball, for creating Bananas Foster, a nonprofit raising awareness about foster care needs.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate recognizing Jesse and Emily Cole, creators of the Savannah Bananas baseball team and its Banana Ball format, along with their nonprofit Bananas Foster. The resolution notes that the Coles are foster parents themselves and started Bananas Foster to celebrate the foster care community and encourage others to become foster parents. The text cites the team's popularity, its recognition in national media outlets like the Today show and Sports Illustrated, and Georgia's need for foster parents, noting the state has 9,500 children in foster care. The resolution formally thanks the Coles for using their platform to spotlight foster care needs, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to Jesse and Emily Cole, Banana Ball, and Bananas Foster. It does not create any new law, funding, or program.
What the bill does
- Formally honors Jesse and Emily Cole and their Savannah Bananas/Banana Ball organization for their public visibility and success.
- Recognizes Bananas Foster, a nonprofit the Coles created that highlights the foster care community and selects a 'Bananas Foster Family' at each game.
- Expresses the Georgia Senate's gratitude for the Coles' efforts to raise national awareness of foster care needs.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the honorees.
Who it affects
The resolution directly names Jesse and Emily Cole, the Savannah Bananas and Banana Ball organization, and their nonprofit Bananas Foster. It also references Georgia's foster care community and the roughly 9,500 children currently in the state's foster care system.
Why it matters
This resolution carries no legal or funding effect; it is a symbolic honor. Its practical significance is limited to public recognition of the Coles' charitable work and a reminder of Georgia's ongoing need for foster parents, which the resolution highlights but does not address with new policy or resources.
Key provisions
- The resolution's whereas clauses describe the founding of the Savannah Bananas in 2016 and the creation of Bananas Foster nonprofit by Jesse and Emily Cole.
- It states Georgia has 9,500 children in foster care and a continuing need for foster parents.
- The resolved clause formally honors and expresses gratitude to the Coles, Banana Ball, and Bananas Foster.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the honorees.
From the bill
“the members of this body honor Jesse and Emily Cole, Banana Ball, and Bananas Foster; celebrate the achievements and success of their campaign to raise awareness of the need for foster care parents”
“the State of Georgia has 9,500 children in foster care, and a need for additional foster parents clearly exists”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
- Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
- Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
- Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
- Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
- Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
- Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
Topics
- foster care
- Savannah Bananas
- Banana Ball
- Senate resolution
- charitable recognition