TBS Superstation Celebrates the Spirit of Volunteerism with New TBS SUPERSTATION PATHFINDERS Honors.

Entertainment Editors/Business Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2003

The spirit of volunteerism takes center stage as TBS Superstation launches the dynamic new TBS Superstation Pathfinders program, honoring individuals in the Atlanta metropolitan community who volunteer their time and efforts to make a difference in the lives of others.

Thursday, June 5, the Superstation will celebrate the work of 12 honorees at a gala event to be held at the Conservation ARC at Zoo Atlanta.

"The TBS Superstation Pathfinders program shines a much-deserved spotlight on generous people in Metro-Atlanta," said Michael Watchulonis, director of public affairs for TBS Superstation. "These people, who give of themselves to make a meaningful difference in the lives of fellow citizens, are truly inspiring to all of us, and TBS Superstation is proud to recognize them and tell their stories."

TBS Superstation Pathfinders are honored for their achievements in six categories: Health, Family & Children, Education, Environment, Public Safety and Poverty Issues. All 12 TBS Superstation Pathfinders will be profiled locally this fall on a prime-time special and in public service announcements, as well as during the Superstation's new public affairs program, TBS Superstation XCU.

Nominations for the TBS Superstation Pathfinders honors are submitted by people from the Atlanta community. After reviewing all of the honorees, a Turner Entertainment Networks panel of judges will vote to give three special grants for $20,000, $10,000 and $5,000, in three TBS Superstation's Pathfinders' names, to the non-profits of their choice.

Viewers can log on to WTBS.com to learn more about this year's TBS Superstation Pathfinders and their community initiatives.

The following is a complete list of this year's TBS Superstation Pathfinders:

Lyn Wasserman--Director, Founder of Breast Friends, Inc.

Lyn Wasserman, a three-time cancer survivor, created Breast Friends, a one-to-one peer support group that has developed into a full service breast cancer network. Breast cancer survivors, friends and families of breast cancer patients and professionals in the community comprise the staff of Breast Friends. A toll-free support line is available locally and nationally. The non-profit also provides transportation services to and from treatment, free of charge.

Bruce Williams--Volunteer, Friends of Disabled Adults and Children, Too!

Bruce Williams is a senior citizen who volunteers 30 to 35 hours a week with the non-profit organization Friends of Disabled Adults and Children, Too! Inc. (FODAC). FODAC provides disabled people such free services as building wheel chair ramps for the housebound and refurbishing existing wheelchairs for those in need. Williams, who is disabled as the result of a stroke, repairs and refurbishes power wheelchairs and scooters, free of charge.

Donald Wester--Founder, Executive Director, Friends of Prison Families

Nine years ago, seminary student Donald Wester did a favor for an elderly woman desperate to see her imprisoned son. He drove the distraught mother to the prison where her son was incarcerated. Word of that simple act of kindness got out, and before long, Friends of Prison Families was created. Wester, along with several Metro Atlanta families, transports nearly 70 people each weekend to prisons all over Georgia. He believes it is this interaction with the families and their incarcerated inmates that helps reduce recidivism.

Virginia Wood--Volunteer, Cobb County CASA 

Virginia Wood is a Cobb County court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteer. A CASA is a trained community volunteer who stands alongside and speaks on behalf of children who are abused and neglected as they go through the courts, which decide where the young people will be placed. In 1990, the U.S. Congress encouraged the expansion of CASA with passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act. Today more than 900 CASA programs are in operation with 62,000 women and men like Wood serving as CASA volunteers.

Sloane Cannon--Volunteer, Atlanta Children's Shelter

For the past three years, Sloane Cannon has been a volunteer at the Atlanta Children's Shelter, a non-profit program for homeless children and their parents. The Shelter provides free daycare for children while their parents are busy finding safe shelter and employment. Sloane is a volunteer in the daycare program, providing love and support to children from one month to five years old. She has also donated more than $4,100 to the shelter by baking and selling her homemade carrot cakes. What makes Sloane's accomplishments so remarkable is the fact that she is only 16 years old and has motivated other young people to join her.

Perry and Roxanne Felts--Founders, Everlasting Arms Ministry Inc.

Every weekend, Perry and Roxanne Felts gather members from their church, Zion Hill Truth Center, to purchase, prepare and pack individual meals into the trunks of their cars and vans. In caravan-style, they travel from their hometown of Douglasville to downtown Atlanta, sharing these meals with homeless men and women. In 2001, Roxanne Felts felt a calling to formalize the non-profit organization into what is now the Everlasting Arms Ministry. If a homeless person seems especially open to help, and helping others, the Felts will take the person into their own home. The couple is currently housing and ministering to an ex-gang member and former prison inmate.

Lillian Kepler--Volunteer, Catholic Social Services, Inc.

Lillian Kepler is a volunteer for Cobb County Catholic Social Services, an outreach ministry of the Archdiocese of Atlanta with a special concern for those most in need and most vulnerable. She serves the Hispanic community by volunteering as an ESOL (English as a second language) teacher. A native of Costa Rica, she understands the frustration and fear that immigrants can sometimes feel when living in a new country and uses those experiences as teaching tools in her classroom.

Victor Mbaba--President, The Africa's Children's Fund, Inc.

Victor Mbaba created the African Children's Fund, Inc. (AFC) in 1997. Born in war-torn Nigeria and orphaned at the age of 10, Mbaba has dedicated his life to aiding underserved children both in Atlanta and Africa. Four times each year, he ships thousands of used books to children in Africa. To date, more than 80,000 books have been shipped to these children. In Georgia, Mbaba tutors and mentors students through his after-school program, Project Excel.

Allison Adams--Founder, President Citizens for a Livable DeKalb

In 2000, Allison Adams founded Citizens for a Livable DeKalb, a volunteer organization that seeks to improve the quality of life by promoting environmentally friendly transportation. In addition to regularly commuting by bicycle to her job at Emory University, she volunteers with the Oakhurst Community Garden, a non-profit, hands-on gardening program dedicated to teaching environmental awareness to local students.

Ben Statham--Founder, Little River Valley Association (LRVA)

Ben Statham has been very active in the protection of the environment, particularly water issues. Together with his wife and another couple, he has formed the Little River Valley Association in 1998. LRVA is a grassroots community organization designed to preserve and protect the rivers, streams and creeks in Northwest Fulton County and beyond.

Michael Rhyne--Executive Director, National Council for the Prevention of Impaired Driving, Inc.

About one third of Georgia's annual 1,500 traffic deaths can be blamed on impaired drivers. With that grim statistic in mind, Michael Rhyne organized and developed the mission of the National Council for the Prevention of Impaired Driving, Inc. (NCPID). As executive director for the non-profit organization, he has recruited more than 40 bars and restaurants to partner with NCPID to provide free rides to those under the influence.

Linda Allen--Volunteer, Crime Victims Advocacy Council (CVAC)

In 1988, Linda Allen became a widow when her husband was robbed and murdered. Four years earlier, she had been the victim of rape. She coped with these deeply traumatic events by getting help from the Crime Victims Advocacy Council, one of the few ministries in the nation for victims of crime. CVAC provides group counseling for people who have experienced the same form of grief. Allen has served as volunteer treasurer and secretary for the organization. Through her advocacy in state government, she worked to get a bill passed that ensures victims are notified when an offender is released from prison.

TBS Superstation, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s flagship entertainment network, is watched by more people than any other network, a position it has held for 26 consecutive years. Reaching 87 million households, the Superstation offers viewers a wide mix of programming, including action-packed original movies, groundbreaking original series, hosted movie showcases, world broadcast premieres, popular sitcoms, Major League Baseball and college football. The Superstation's Web site is located at TBSsuperstation.com.