Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn., Town Talk column: Town Talk [Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn.]

May 13--"There is inherited wealth in this country, and also inherited poverty."

-- John F. Kennedy

HEARD ON THE TOWN

THE TENNESSEE Aquarium's education department offers a variety of programs and activities for area youngsters. The programs are aligned with the National Science Education Content Standards as well as state science curriculum standards for Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, said Thom Benson, Aquarium spokesman.

"Programs are offered free to school groups with their visit to the Tennessee Aquarium, IMAX 3D Theater or River Gorge Explorer," said Tim Baker, the Aquarium's director of education, in a news release. "These sessions are educational, but they're also lively and a lot of fun."

Mr. Benson said that last year, the Aquarium admitted nearly 17,000 students free of charge through the Supporting Deserving Students program.

"Approximately 2,600 of those students were from Hamilton County public schools. Unum is providing $20,000 in funding to ensure students in Hamilton County needing financial support will once again gain vital environmental education at the Tennessee Aquarium during the upcoming 2010-2011 school year," he said.

"This partnership allows us to support two causes that are important to Unum, and that's education and the environment," said Bob Best, chief operating officer for Unum, said in the release.

The Supporting Deserving Students program is one piece of the $1.3 million worth of programs and services the Aquarium is able to give back to the community every year, Mr. Benson said.

"Community partners like Unum are vital to the Aquarium's mission," said Aquarium president and CEO Charlie Arant. "The broad community support given to the Aquarium helps us provide more educational programs and foster future success stories."

FUNDRAISER

MORE THAN 300 people attended the Prison Prevention Ministries' annual banquet held recently at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

According to the organization's director, Jeannette Fox, among the speakers were students from Hamilton and Catoosa County who had recently been on a prison tour sponsored by Prison Prevention Ministries. Ms. Fox said the teenagers spoke about the impact the tour had made on them, especially when an inmate shared personal experiences about prison life.

Guest speakers were Dillon Burroughs, author of nearly 30 books on issues of faith and culture, and Burning Bush Baptist Church youth minister Billy Christol.

Music was provided by The Bondservants.

Local attorney Paul Leitner was presented the Ambassador of the Year Award for 2010.

Among those attending were Glenn and Lounelle Draper, Ron and Vicka Durby, John Zeiser, Jackson and June Wingfield, Vance and Charlynne Fry and Vernon Cox.

E-mail Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com. Submitted photographs will not be returned.

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