The CSRA Classic's intent to educate disadvantaged children was fulfilled Friday as the money that former state Sen. Charles Walker was forced to repay was distributed among more than a dozen nonprofits dedicated to helping youths.
U.S. District Court Senior Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. accepted the recommendation of a three-member commission he drafted to find a way to distribute nearly $500,000 Mr. Walker was ordered to pay in restitution to the Classic after his 2005 conviction in federal court.
R. Lee Smith Jr., Zack O. Daffin and Patrick J. Rice studied the CSRA Classic's charter. They decided the event's goal of educating and training disadvantaged children, particularly underprivileged black children, was laudable, Mr. Smith said Friday.
The members were overwhelmed by the need in the community, Mr. Smith said. They heard from many worthy charities, but they focused on those geared toward education.
"This is just the beginning,'' Mr. Daffin said.
The commission set aside funds for school scholarships and for charitable organizations such as MACH Academy which focuses on children who live in government housing. Money was set for 100 Black Men of Augusta which has a youth development and mentor program, and the Springfield Village Foundation devoted to black history and preservation of the first black church in the United States, Springfield Baptist Church on Reynolds Street.
The groups sharing the money will be required to provide reports to the court every six months detailing how they use the money.
Under Mr. Walker's leadership, the CSRA Classic funded only about $15,000 in student scholarships, according to prior coverage in The Augusta Chronicle .
Mr. Walker was convicted of 127 counts of mail fraud, conspiracy and tax crimes for defrauding campaign contributors, two public hospitals, two businesses that bought ads in the Augusta Focus , Mr. Walker's newspaper, and CSRA Classic's contributors. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, fined $150,000 and ordered to pay $698,000 in restitution.
After Mr. Walker lost the appeal of his conviction last year, he paid the restitution with interest.
Mr. Walker was once one of the most powerful political leaders in Georgia. He spent 20 years in the state House and Senate and rose to become Senate majority leader. Although he lost his Senate seat in 2002, he regained Senate District 22 in 2004 while under indictment.
Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.
GROUPS RECEIVING CSRA CLASSIC MONEY
Paine College $80,000
Augusta Technical College $50,000
Augusta State University $50,000
Heritage Academy $50,000
Medical College of Georgia -- Georgia Health Sciences University Foundation $40,000
Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce and Richmond County Board of Education for Education Resources of Augusta $40,000
Boys and Girls Clubs of Augusta $25,000
MACH Academy $25,000
Southside YMCA $23,475
Shiloh Comprehensive Community Center $15,000
Golden Harvest Food Bank -- Children's Harvest Program $15,000
New Bethlehem Community Center $15,000
100 Black Men of Augusta $15,000
Springfield Village Foundation $10,000
Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History $15,000
Georgia Legal Services $10,000
Comments
We remember who Charles Walker is and the things he was convicted for, but, just as he was elected while under indictment, he'll be looked on as a local hero for helping all of those charities while locked up. If he wishes, he'll be returned to the state congress. Converging cultures "...you wouldn't understand"
(Q) he'll be looked on as a local hero for helping all of those charities while locked up(UQ) Anyone want to contribute a Motive as to why he kept helping while incarcerated?
A. He's a really great guy who cares about his fellow man.
B. He knew when it was his time to stand in front of the Parole Board, his good deeds would help his chances of being released.
Am I missing something, here? Doesn't the article say he was ORDERED to repay this money? This is charity money he stole - that's why he's in prison. He didn't give this money out of kindness.
You wrote: "... you wouldn't understand." You are correct, I don't get it Patricia. I would like to however.
Can you explain it?
If I could , TJH&F I would. I don't understand either. Converging cultures.
The ONLY reason his money is going to charity is the order by the federal court and not by the goodness of his heart. If he had a good heart he would have given these funds as he said he would and he would not be locked up in a federal pen. I am certain too that the day after he is released he could be elected and returned to office by his people. A lot of his people see him as the victim and that is sad.
Since when is MCG a charity? And why didn't the Augusta Museum get matching funds to what the Laney Museum got? I thought that was the way things were supposed to be done, even though that is ridiculous that the Laney Museum should get the same amount of money at Augusta Museum at any time for any reason. And color is not the reason, look at sheer size and patronage to see the difference. The Food Bank should have gotten a lot more than they got. Does anyone know what Springfield Village Foundation is and what they do with their money? Who is in charge of that? Please tell me it does not go to maintain that waste of prime land on Reynolds Street with the awful sculpture...a place no one uses.
Nothing to the "Walker Group"?
These people have food, clothing, shelter and educational opportunities which they squander. They even reject the proper use of their native tounge. They are not disadvantaged they are sorry! Now tell me what is everyone calling "disadvantaged" ...Is it the quality of their food, clothing and shelter that they are provided?
why not take a new picture of Charles Walker, aren't you tired of seeing the same ole grinning picture....is this really the way he looks in prison..come on an update please....
The cross was also put up by a past State Senator who was a lawyer with the Sanders, Hester Holly law firm that went to jail. Hester was a traffic court judge in Augusta, Carl Sanders was the Governer and has a very large law firm in Atlanta and Holley scammed alot of people.
Actually this money wasn't his to give. He stole the money so why the big write--up about how he "gave" the money to these places. I read this as the commission set up funds for these charities. Where did the rest of the money go?? SusieQ
He was ordered to repay $698000, this only adds up to$478475-is something missing????SusieQ
SusieQ, the accounting system wasn't too good. They passed out the money to the charities in paper bags and skimmed a little trying to keep the spirit of Walker going.
I shop in Evans to get away from the loud coarse throaty gibberish of the many Augustan's who use sub standard English. The addition of this ugly sound makes any environment unpleasant. Apparently, Obama isn't a role model to these speakers. They need to understand that their speaking is offensive, divisive , politically and grammatically incorrect. Perhaps some of this grant money should go towards speech therapy for them. I truly believe this is why so many people are moving to Evans.
fd1962..Compared to those who use standard English.
SMT, unless "Sargent" is a family name, the correct spelling of the name of the para/military rank is spelled "Sergeant." If "Sargent" is not a family name, you would be well-advised to improve your spelling before you criticize others' grammar.
Fd1962..aren't you actually implying that many Augustans are substandard? ..No not at all. Although their language does keep them from growing educationally.It also keeps them on a lower cultural level. Moneyed educated people tend to avoid them. Think about it. If a person is being shunned by people who have money, power and influence, don't they have an incentive to change their speaking ability?
Craig Spinks SargentMidTown is a contrived screen name. The spelling is as unique as is SargentMidTown.Main Entry: contrived Function: adjective Date: 15th century : artificial , labored...make up.. Next?
These poor disadvantaged people are more likely to litter. Why?
SargentMidTown, you should have put a comma after Craig Spinks above. There was no reason to take the thread the way you did.
SargentMidTown asks: baroness ..When did you last have privy to a boardroom?
Posted by SargentMidTown on Fri Mar 6, 2009 10:18 PM
Answer: I was the receptionist/switchboard operator and a secretary for the executive floor of a corporate office here in Augusta. I didn't have to be IN a boardroom to know what was going on. Just like I don't have to be IN a ghetto or remain in a degenerating subdivision to see what's going on. So what's your point?
They should give the money to students for generous scholarships, instead of the token ones he gave out of $500 or so, when he was running the show. Give it to good students that have the right grades and self-discipline to get through college. We are losing too many good students who don't finish college because they are being nickled and dimed to death by the hidden costs of college. Give them more than the bare bones of the HOPE scholarship.
BTW. Regarding your 9:08am today. The word is not tounge, it is tongue.
fd1962, you yourself admitted you did ot know what the scultpure on Reynolds even meant. One piece, while puzzling, is not so bad as far as its construction. The other looks like it was done by a beginner sheet metal welding class, and that's insulting the class. My bigger point is, what is this property used for, who controls it, and who oversees the Springfield Village Foundation?
I wish they would make the HOPE scholarship payable at the end of the first 30 hours IF the students kept their GPA at or above 3.0. That would solve the problem of the students who earned it in high school, but then lose it as soon as they begin college. If they earn a 3.0, then tuition could be refunded. It sure would save a lot of money wasted on students who do not meet the requirements.
The money is not wasted. There is no crystal ball saying who will survive the first 30 hours and who will not. People that need the HOPE scholarship need it up front or they will not even have the opportunity to try. I wish we could weed out the students that don't NEED the money. There are brilliant young people that find they don't do well in an academic college, yet thrive in another environment, like a technical college (some accept HOPE) or online courses. At least the HOPE gives them the chance to check out HOPE applicable education even if they lose it the first 30 hours. Sometimes there are unexpected things that happen during a school year, such as transportation complications, an illness, a death in the family, an interruption of study time, a part-time job that unexpectedly interferes with study time or labs (if you quit the job, there goes your book money, if you keep the job, you miss some classes and get behind). If they earned HOPE in high school, they should get it, if college is not a good fit for them, it is a lesson learned, not money wasted. They certainly will have learned more than they would have if they didn't have the opportunity to try.
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