In honor of

the more than 170 Fayette businesses that partnered with the county's

28 elementary, middle and high schools in 2002-2003, the school system

along with the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce sponsored the fourth

annual Partners Recognition Breakfast April 17 at the LaFayette Educational

Center.

The highlight

of the breakfast was the presentation of the small business and corporate

business partner of the year award.

Chick-fil-A

at Towne Center was named the 2003 small business partner of the year.

The restaurant was nominated by five of its partner schools.

Throughout

the year, Chick-fil-A hosts spirit nights where students and their families,

faculty and staff are invited to eat dinner at the restaurant with 10

percent of the profits being donated to the school. Additionally, the

restaurant donates food and assists schools with other fundraising activities

throughout the year.

"Chick-fil-A

has proven time and again their support of our local school system. Because

of their positive and friendly attitudes, and their can do approach, they

fulfill the role of a partnership in every respect," said Jeanie

Miller, principal of Cleveland Elementary.

Cooper Lighting

of Peachtree City was award the 2003 corporate partner of the year for

its work with Starr's Mill High School. The company has been involved

with the school since it opened its doors. One of the initial contributions

was a donation of $1,600 to help with landscaping needs.

The Panther

Athletic Booster Club has also been the recipient of monetary contributions

over the years. In 2001, Cooper Lighting donated the lighting for the

school's baseball field.

Most recently,

Cooper partnered with Starr's Mill to formulate a program which qualified

for a Project Pace grant. Project Pace is a program sponsored by Cooper

Industries and is aimed at supporting vocational and technical programs

in high schools, vocational schools and community colleges. The grant

consists of three annual $10,000 payments, which are used by the school

to enhance educational programs. The first check for $10,000 was presented

in 2002.

Cooper Lighting's

generosity does not extend only to Starr's Mill; each year since 1997

the company has purchased Science Screen Report for the Fayette County

Board of Education. This program, which costs $2,500 annually, is made

available to all Fayette County schools for use in science education.