CHERAW - The Greater Cheraw Chamber of Commerce met last week during a "Lunch and Learn" meeting held at the Country Kitchen Restaurant, to review and discuss the progress of this years Jazz Festival and other community related events. Cheraw Chamber First-Vise-Chairman, Sam Hancock, highlighted on the recent South Carolina Jazz Festival Golf Tournament, which raised funds for the Dizzy Gillespie Scholarship. “We are not here to hold fundraisers for our budget. We are here to promote businesses and hopefully draw in new businesses into our community," said Hancock. Cheraw Visitor's Bureau Director Phil Powell said, "The golf tournament was held in conjunction with the South Carolina Jazz Festival and successfully raised $500 for the Dizzy Gillespie Scholarship Fund. The Cheraw Rotary Club administers the fund. Clarence Long, a Cheraw native who resides in Kathleen, GA., organized the event at the Cheraw State Park Golf Course." Powell stressed that over 36 golfers throughout the Southeast gathered Friday morning before the festival to raise funds to benefit Cheraw area students. Organizers of the event said that they are looking forward to a more successful event next year. Cheraw Arts Commission Director Lindsey Bennett and Cheraw Parks and Recreation Assistant Director, Lisa O'Neal, also presented a power-point presentation of this year's Jazz event. "We are already planning ahead for future events and ongoing activities for the youth and the community," said Bennett. According to a recent press release, Cheraw hosted over 20 regional musical performers and attracted visitors from 14 states and 20 towns and cities from throughout South Carolina over the three-day course of the festival. "The 2009 South Carolina Jazz Festival was the result of ten months of planning and hard work by a team of dedicated volunteers," said Powell.

In the release, the Jazz Festival Committee would thanked many of the sponsors, business partners and volunteers who assisted with the music and arts festival. Also, Special recognitions went to Lindsay Bennett and Lisa O'Neal, who served as the festival's Performance and Artistic Directors. The Cheraw Arts Commission particularly recognized Chairman Reba Brooks, Penny Angle and Robin Bersinger, for Arts Alley, Madonnari, sidewalk chalk art, and related children events. Other key volunteers were: Margaret Reid, Rev. Diana Charles and Wesley United Methodist Church for the Musical Dialogue program; Mary Burr, tickets and information area; Diane Rieg, volunteers; Lenora Powe, Bebop Parade; Sherri Leviner, Artist Hospitality; Joyce Hickey, restaurants/merchants; Beth Wicker-Walters, Cotton Trail artisans; Paul Wood and the First United Methodist Church, Jazz Mass; Clarence Long, golf tournament; Cindy Beard, color contest; Cheraw area student's artwork; the directors and staffs of the Cheraw Recreation, Parks, Police and Fire Departments. Powell also praised several of this year's Jazz Festival sponsors and volunteers who helped in the process.