After speaking with Meghan Barwick, the Public Informations Officer in the City of Valdosta, we have come to the conclusion that the city does not have enough time or people to assist me in gathering all of the information that I will need in order to make my documentary happen.
Once I found this out, I moved to my next documentary idea and went straight to the Harley Langdale Jr. Foundation to see if they would be willing to participate in a documentary about the Foundation and about what they do in and for the community of Valdosta. I previously knew about this Foundation from a Selected Topics in Mass Media course that I took during the Spring and Fall semesters in 2022. The Foundation gave VSU a grant to encourage students to take this course to produce educational lesson videos for students in K-12th grade.
I did some research to find out more about the Foundation and here’s what I found:
The Harley Langdale Jr. Foundation, formed in 1958, works to advance and assist the community in education, health, research, and service. The foundation’s mission is to provide support for education, health, research, and service to Valdosta, surrounding communities, and Georgia or other areas deemed appropriate that will empower organizations, individuals, and families to improve their quality of life and improve the health of our forests. The Foundation also seeks to support programs that promote the entrepreneurial spirit which Mr. Harley Langdale, Jr. exhibited throughout his life. Harley Langdale, Jr. dedicated over 70 years of his life to providing employment opportunities through The Langdale Company & Affiliates, while constantly seeking ways to improve the health and sustainability of the working forest. There are numerous programs that benefit from the foundation’s support such as Options Now, the Boys and Girls Club of Valdosta, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Reach Program in Georgia to name a few.