A dedication ceremony will be held Oct. 6 for an alcohol education center at UGA that was created by a gift from a couple whose teenage son died in an alcohol-related car collision.
The dedication of the John Fontaine Jr. Center for Alcohol Awareness and Education will be at 4 p.m. in the University Health Center. The ceremony will include the unveiling of a plaque at the entrance of the health center’s health promotion department, where the Fontaine Center is located.
The Fontaine Center was created by a $2 million gift from Jack and Nancy Fontaine of Houston, Texas, in memory of their oldest son, John, who was killed in 2000 when the car he was riding in was involved in a wreck. Both John and the teen driver had consumed alcohol and the driver, who survived, were found to be legally drunk.
The Fontaines established the center to inform UGA students about the risks of alcohol consumption and the dangers of alcohol abuse. The center focuses on education and advocacy, and provides intervention, counseling and support for students dealing with alcohol-related problems.
Jack Fontaine attended UGA and a younger son is now a UGA tudent. Jack’s brother, George, and his son, George Jr., are UGA graduates.
Speakers for the dedication will include UGA President Michael F. Adams; Rodney Bennett, vice president for student affairs; and Julien Norton, a senior pre-med major from Conyers who is a member of the Student Health Advisory Committee. A reception follows the ceremony.
