STAR Foundation Inc, started in 1997, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In the fall of 1996, Wally and Katie Orrel and Ellen Murphy approached Don McGlamory, Director of the City of Brunswick Housing Authority (BHA) with a proposal: offer computer training to the residents of public housing to better equip them to obtain higher paying jobs. He agreed to the plan on a trial basis, and the STAR Foundation was born in January 1997.

For the first 3 years all the students in the STAR program were from BHA, but now the program is available for all people who meet certain criteria. In the ensuing years, STAR has been fortunate to receive distinctive funding from the Department of Labor; (1 of 20 nationwide for a pilot program); a grant from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation in Atlanta and recognition from HUD (1 of 2 in the state).

AWARDS

• The only group in Georgia awarded a Grant for Small Grassroots Organizations from the U.S. Department of Labor
• Selected by HUD as the top national Best Practices and Technical Assistance Program
• Recognized by Georgia’s 2009 Housing and Redevelopment Authorities for improving the lives of Glynn County families
• Named an “exemplary non-profit” by The Coastal Bank of Georgia for its contribution to the community and strong partnership with local businesses
• Co-recipent of a national grant from the FINRA Foundation to teach Financial Literacy in Glynn County