Advocacy and Community Involvement

Believing that Savannah was undersold as a convention and tourist destination, the Foundation was successful in promoting the establishment of a Convention and Visitors Bureau within the Chamber of commerce. A speakers bureau was created within the Foundation to tout the economic benefits tourism. Heritage education is emphasized through an annual Georgia Day Celebration dating. On February 12 of each year, the significance of the city's cultural heritage is brought to thousands of school children through costumed colonial characters, town meetings and parades. The celebration actually takes place over a multi week period.



The interest of the Foundation expanded to another Historic District in 1979. The Foundation received a Community Development Block Grant from the City of Savannah to establish a Revolving Fund for use in the Victorian Historic District. The Duffy Street Project led to the purchase and resale of 21 structures. Additional neighborhoods such as Ardsley Park/Chatham Crescent were soon designated as historic districts on the National register through the research efforts of the Foundation. This emphasis on raising the awareness of the benefits of historic preservation in the 20th century neighborhoods has continued with the formation of a neighborhood council and in 2001 the Revolving Fund purchased and resold several building in the Thomas Square Historic District. The hiring of neighborhood and preservation coordinators have under seen this focus.