GMC News
Eubanks Organizes Benefit Concert for Cancer Foundation
By Amy H. Mullis – The Union-Recorder
As Make A Difference Day and Breast Cancer Awareness Month rolled around in October, Leia Eubanks wanted to support breast cancer awareness and research but wasn\’t excited by any of the available benefits. So she decided to organize her own.
At 7 p.m. Saturday, the fruits of the high school senior\’s labor will come to fruition with An Evening in Pink, a benefit concert Eubanks called \”a showcase of lots of talented people.\”
The event is being held in the Jenkins Hall Auditorium at Georgia Military College. Admission is $5 and includes refreshments after the performances.
Eubanks, who will be reading one of her original poems, said several other locals will take the stage with original performances. She said there will be singing, dancing, readings and band performances.
Eubanks said, through the help of others, the event has evolved from something small to a big, wonderful event.
\”Because there are so many people in our community willing to lend their extraordinary talents to the promotion of a good cause, my small Make A Difference Day idea has grown into what I think will be a fantastic showcase of the talent and love of the people of Milledgeville,\” she said.
All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Eubanks said when she first concocted the idea of planning the concert, she didn\’t really know what she was in for.
\”I honestly didn\’t know how big of an undertaking it was going to be when I started it,\” she said, adding that she has had much appreciated help along the way. \”There\’s just tremendous community support here, and it wasn\’t that difficult because people just have a desire to do good things here.\”
And Eubanks is a self-proclaimed member of that body of people with a desire to do good things.
\”I have a passion for entertaining others and a passion for making a difference,\” she said.
Eubanks is a member of Black Springs Baptist Church and also attends First Church of the Nazarene in Sandersville. She is both a teacher and student of dance at Studio One School of Dance, and is a cadet major at GMC, making her the school\’s highest ranking female officer.
She also participates in the Rivers of Life program and the annual Relay for Life. Eubanks is also the reigning Baldwin County Junior Miss, which has led her to volunteer work at the Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) and the Tour de Georgia.
As an involved young person and someone who is dedicated to service, Eubanks has a message she hopes organizing this event will send to people her age.
\”There are lots of wonderful young people in Milledgeville, but young people in general, I think view volunteer work with \’What am I going to get out of it?\’ instead of the way that you should think about it,\” she said. \”So I guess if I could give a message out to other young people about volunteer work it is don\’t look for what you can get out of it.\”
Leia is the daughter of Buck and Beth Eubanks. Beth said from an early age, she knew Leia had a special gift.
\”I\’m very, very proud of her,\” she said. \”Every child is special, and every child has a special place in society and I\’ve always just known she was going to do special things.\”
Amy H. Mullis can be reached at (478) 453-1458 or by e-mail at newsroom@unionrecorder.com
