ATLANTA – To commemorate the Fourth of July, Georgia Power is hosting a patriotic themed luncheon and awards ceremony honoring local law enforcement officials on June 29. The keynote speaker for the event is W. David (Dave) Wilkinson, President and CEO of the Atlanta Police Foundation.

The luncheon will honor Atlanta Police Department Investigator Ed Christian and Sergeant Vic Lawson for their tireless efforts in giving back to Georgia’s communities. These officers go above and beyond the call of duty by showing exemplary dedication to their county, state and local communities through service organizations and other volunteer work.

Christian is the founder and current president of the Blue Knights, a non-profit fraternal organization of active and retired law enforcement officials who enjoy riding motorcycles. The group’s goal is to bring law enforcement officers and the community together by supporting and helping children’s charities and the families of slain law enforcement officers. Over the last five years under Christian’s leadership, the Blue Knights have raised more than $465,000 to assist underprivileged children. Christian also works with Special Olympics Georgia and the Georgia Center for Children.

Lawson is an adoptive and foster parent. In 1986 Lawson and his wife, already parents of one child, adopted a child and welcomed their first foster child into their home. To date the Lawsons have officially adopted 11 children, “unofficially” adopted an additional 15 children, and have taken in more than 1000 foster children.

“Georgia Power is pleased to acknowledge these two officers that are not only dedicated to police work, but who also take that same dedication from the job and give of themselves to their community,” said Georgia Power’s President and CEO Mike Garrett. “It is important that we recognize their efforts and extend our thanks for the valuable services they provide.”

The officers will receive $500 to be used for personal equipment and/or training and $1000 will be donated to the Atlanta Police Foundation in their honor.

Garrett will also present the second 2005 Southern Style Excellence Award which honors an exceptional Georgia Power employee who exemplifies the aspects of Southern Style in both his/her professional and personal life. The three tenets of Southern Style, the company’s quality principles, are unquestionable trust, superior performance and total commitment.

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation’s largest generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility, serving customers in 57,000 of the state’s 59,000 square miles. Georgia Power’s rates are well below the national average, and, its 2 million customers are in all but six of Georgia’s 159 counties.