Giving Starts From The Heart But Is Fueled By The Hands Of Many
G.S. Proctor & Associates’ Annual Turkey Drive Aids Over 1,600 Families With Nearly Two Dozen Supporting Groups, Companies
G.S. Proctor & Associates: Steve, Tray (at cenTer, rear) and Dianne. PHOTO: RAOUL DENNIS // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA
By Tiffany Young
When the pandemic hit the county, rising covid cases went through the roof and several negative effects came about as a result. First, residents became in-need after losing jobs and income. As a result, finances dwindled as people fought to stay afloat.
Many organizations throughout the county who had the resources to help, put their skills into overdrive and donated. Now, as America is facing year two of the pandemic, many are fearing that devastating losses can happen again.
“Because of Covid, the need was the greatest that it’s ever been,” says Steve Proctor, president and CEO of G.S. Proctor & Associates, Inc., a lobbying firm based in Upper Marlboro. The firm is recognized as one of the top 10 firms in Maryland and is in the top three African American-owned lobbyist companies.
More than 40 organizations supported G.S. Proctor & Associates’ Annual Turkey Drive. The drive has been providing this service in the county for more than 25 years (click here to see: “Gobble Up With The Gift of Giving”). Proctor, recently said in an interview that it takes a village to reach everyone and it’s because his village of organizations willing to give, makes the turkey drive a success.
Sharon Akers
There were those that passed out turkeys and there were those who wrote a check. And here were those who did both. Sharon Akers, Executive Director of Special Projects and Community Outreach. St. John’s Properties, donated generously to the occasion and she participated in the December 21 giveaway event.
Proctor said the Covid-induced need produced a higher level of response and engagement than the annual drive had ever received in previous years - making it a very special year for giving in the county. Some 40 companies, groups, agencies and non-profits answered the call when GSP sought additional input.
“What we are most thrilled and pleased about is the number of business partners and community leaders that stepped up was even greater than we and anticipated,” Proctor said. “In fact, everyone that we reached out to not only gave in terms of writing a check, but they also gave of their time.”
St. John’s Properties presented a $15,000 check at this year’s service event. One of the Mid-Atlantic region's largest and most successful privately held commercial real estate firms, St. John’s Properties became a major donor. Akers, who was there with her sleeves rolled up alongside Proctor and dozens of other volunteers and donors said the work is as important as the donation. “We feel it's tremendously important to be part of the communities in which we have a presence,” said Akers, noting that St. John’s Properties has several projects developing in the county and wanted to support the Turkey Drive this year. When asked what it’s like to work with the Proctor team, Akers says St. John’s partners with G.S. Proctor in part due to to the lobbying firm’s stellar reputation and connection with the community. “They have a tremendous reputation and a tremendous ability to pull people together,” Akers says of G.S. Proctor & Associates Inc. “Anything that they have been involved with has been of high quality, great reputation and we’re proud to partner with them. It has been terrific working with them,” the executive says. LISTEN TO FULL INTERVIEW (Click “Sharon Akers, St Johns Properties” above).
Several organizations throughout the county, both in the public and private sector covering education, politics, business and health services recently partnered with G.S. Proctor & Associates Inc. for its annual Turkey Drive to support communities in-need. The support came in the form of volunteering and financial support and it started with a simple question: “How Can I Help?”
Friendship Charities Foundation was on the grounds. Boxing and loading turkeys into vehicles. The nonprofit’s work is part of a broad commitment to improve the quality of life for all county residents, and especially for those who are least able to help themselves.
The Proctor Family
“Having experienced personal loss, I know the challenges of rebuilding your life. With faith and determination, I’ve been able to re-establish myself and give back,” said Wanda, who has been supporting District 8 for years in the Turkey Drive and is a resident of Oxon Hill.
“Every year it's different. We were honored to accept the help of the fraternity and Friendship
Charities. “This is Wanda's passion,” said Shawn P. Hay, a spokesperson for Wanda’s Hope Kloset.
Some volunteers have been helping since the beginning. The firm’s clients Michael Gardiner and Timothy Branch, LLC. are 20+ year donors along with Don Pleasants, CEO of Pleasants Construction.
The 2021 Turkey Giveaway was special as 1,050 dinners were prepped for families for Thanksgiving and another 600 dinners were prepped and sent to families for Christmas.
The following organizations were donors and volunteers for the 2021 effort to help feed families:
PATRIOT Construction, LLC May Riegler Properties
The Wills Group
Passport Auto Group
CMI General Contractors Generation Properties, LLC Lierman Advisors
Walton Development
Holly Ridge Development, LLC Chaney Enterprises
KCG SSP Capitol Heights GP, LLC
Christine Wray (President of MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital)
Mission of Love-Deborah Martinez
Citizens Encouraging Community Revitalization-Angela Holmes)
Prince George’s County Councilman Rodney Streeter
Prince George’s County Council Chairman Calvin Hawkins
-Ervin Reid
-Kerry Whitehead
-James Rogers
State Delegate Andrea Harrison, District 24
College of Southern Maryland
-Karen Smith-Hupp
MJC & Associates, Inc. PennTex Ventures
St. John Properties Patuxent Companies Timothy Branch, Inc. UnitedHealthcare
The Traffic Group, Inc. Pleasants Construction Pepco Holdings, Inc.
Misty Allen (Vice President of Government & Regulatory Affairs for Comcast’s Beltway Region) New Community Church of God in Christ (Rev. Willie Hunt)
Crossland High School
State Senator Joanne Benson, District 24
Pin Oak Village Apartments
-Denise Tyler
City of District Heights Mayor Jonathan Medlock
Metropolitan United Methodist Church
State Delegate Edith Patterson, District 28
Prince George’s County Police Department
-Cpl. Wayne Thomas #3637
-Cpl. Donald McGuiggan #3869
-Cpl. Julia Dixon #2928
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 89
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 112
-Will Milam, President
-Garry Yancy, Vice President
-Ron Oliver Jr, Vice President
-Michael Flick
Velocity Companies
-Alex Lyles
RSRVD, Inc.
-Cedric Baker
Old School Boxing
-Buddy Harrison
