The annual meeting was held Tuesday afternoon at the Restoration Rome facility at 1400 Crane Street. Restoration Rome was created for the specific purpose of trying to reduce the number of children going into foster care and developing the resources to support those who are taken away from their birth parents, at homes in Rome.

George Pullen Community leadership awards were presented to Story Vernon, a senior at Pepperell High School and Frank K. Jones, owner of the F.K. Jones Funeral Home.

Floyd County Commissioner Allison Watters (left) joined Ann Pullen in the presentation of the George Pullen Community Leadership Award for Youth to Story Vernon, a senior at Pepperell High School. The presentation came during the annual meeting of the Rome-Floyd County Commission on Children and Youth Tuesday. (Photo by Doug Walker, RN-T)

Floyd County Commissioner Allison Watters said Story demonstrates tremendous joy and enthusiasm while juggling school, extracurricular activities and work, where she feeds and tutors over 50 hungry children each day at the North Broad Youth Academy as well as here at Restoration Rome.

Rome City Commissioner Bill Collins made the presentation to Jones.

“Over the years he has helped children and youth by serving as a business partner at Main and Anna K. Davie Elementary Schools,” Collins said. “He helped through efforts at The Rome Transitional Academy-Phoenix Learning Center and the Boys and Girls Club.”