With the new school year only weeks away, the Coastal Baldwin Educational Enrichment Foundation, Inc. started off a new year with a new name, new leadership and new members at its July meeting.

Formerly known as the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Educational Foundation, the organization has awarded scholarships to graduating seniors from Gulf Shores High School and grants to teachers in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores public schools for more than a decade. “We wanted to start off a new year with a fresh new attitude along with our new members,” New CBEE Foundation Chairman Yolanda Devine Johnson said. “Our new name goes right along with that attitude.”

CBEE Foundation member Jason Holt said he thought the new name had meaning on several different levels. “Its acronym can be stated as ‘Seabee’.  This fits great with the location and purpose of our foundation,” he said. “The Seabees stand for the Construction Battalions of the Navy.  They are responsible for building and improving bases, hospitals and other construction projects after the U.S. military has landed. Of course we are on the coast and the foundation is here to improve and build on the success of the island’s schools.”

The new slate of board members includes Johnson, Vice-Chairman Fred Peninger, Recording Secretary Renee Eberly, Corresponding Secretary Christie Shannon, Treasurer Bob Grant, Scholarship Chairman Iris Ethridge and Past Chairman Mike Diehl. “I look forward to another successful year for our foundation,” Diehl said. “Now I have the best title of all - past chairman.”

New foundation members include Elizabeth Jones, Traci Fisher, John Knight, Dr. Rachel McDaniel, Tracie Sweat, John Marcus Price and Robin Nelson.

“I’m excited about this new year,” Johnson said. “I look forward to working with our new and returning board members along with the other educational foundations in the county to help make our schools the best anywhere.”

Photo by Clayton Wallace

Anyone who is interested in making a difference in our schools is welcome to become a part of CBEE. For more information on the foundation, see its website at cbee.la, or contact Johnson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or 205-613-0001.