Buz Stone Award

The Buz Stone Award was created in 2012 to recognize Buz for 25 years of leadership and stewardship of the Lake Rabun Foundation. The award is presented each year to a member or members “who reflect the spirit of Buz Stone and the goodwill of the Lake Rabun Association in serving the welfare of Rabun County.” The award carries with it a $2500 grant from the Lake Rabun Foundation to a Rabun charity selected by the recipient.

Past recipients of this award include Buz Stone, Barbara & David Cantrell, Jacqueline & Charles Groover, Dorothy Ann King, Joe Hamilton, Kirk & Kathy Knous, Leckie Stack, Anita & Robert Pittman, Denny Webb, Clay & Al Battle and Dr. Laura West This is a lineup of LRA legends!

By the way, although Buz was recognized 11 years ago, he is still at work doing good in Rabun County. He was pictured in the Clayton Trib leading an effort to treat Hemlocks on Lake Burton.

I am very pleased to announce that Tommy & Collin Lines have been selected to be the recipients of this year’s Buz Stone Award. This couple absolutely meet the criteria of serving the welfare of Rabun County—always doing so in a quiet, humble manner.

In recent years, both Tommy & Collin have become actively involved with FAITH (Fight Abuse in the Home). Tommy serves as a board member—but is better known as a DOER! He has been involved in renovating the FAITH Thrift Store in town, as well as making much needed repairs to the FAITH shelter—providing experience and insight to save thousands of dollars.

Soon we will be hearing about a plan to relocate FAITH’s Power House, which serves victims of sexual violence, from its outdated facility in Toccoa, to the cream colored metal building with the big FAITH sign 2 miles South of Hollywood on HWY 441. Tommy played a key role, along with LRA members Greg Rhodes and Tom West, in identifying the site and developing plans for a new facility– which will dramatically increase FAITH’s ability to serve victims.

As Greg points out, “what most never see is Tommy’s generosity with his time and resources to assist those struggling from hardship or illness.” Over the years, Tommy has conducted wellness visits, delivered firewood, and with Collin, provided meals for some of the underserved in Rabun County. Tommy and Collin do not look on these as acts of charity, but rather, just taking care of our neighbors.

A few years ago, Tommy organized and funded a dinner to recognize first responders and fire fighters who protected our homes and property after those fires ravaged Rabun County. The civic center in town was packed!

And I know there are many other situations we are not aware of.

As many of you know, Collin and Tommy created Zinnia Happiness Farm seven years ago. It was featured on the Today Show. Do yourself a favor and find the U-Tube video. It will brighten your day! The idea was inspired by family and friends of Collin who had endured Breast Cancer. Sales of flowers raised money for breast cancer research. I am told there was a matching grant from an LRA family and an additional grant from a Foundation resulting in thousands of dollars for breast cancer research. That mission continues to flourish today–all from a flower garden tucked away in Rabun County. Tommy, of course, drives the tractor and does the heavy lifting to support this wonderful effort.

Collin is a member of the Mountain Ivy Garden club, which maintains the grounds at Clayton’s Rock House. She has led the club’s effort to fund scholarships through the garden club’s plant sale. Collin is also very active with FAITH-spending countless hours sorting donated items at the downtown Thrift Store. She was also involved in the renovation of the store. Last year Collin was named its Volunteer of the Year. Collin also volunteers with Foxfire. She and Tommy are passionate about Foxfire’s work in preserving the rural heritage of these mountains. Collin can also be found participating in the teaching kitchen at the Food Bank.  Collin and Tommy are both regular helpers with Rabun Gap Presbyterian’s food distribution program. A friend described Collin as “spirited, generous with her enthusiasm, and one who deflects praise by crediting others.”

Collin and Tommy have been long time supporters of our Foundation’s Scholarship effort and have established a named scholarship to support our students.

This delightful couple have quietly impacted countless lives in Rabun County. Tommy could not be with us, but I would like for Collin to come forward. It was suggested that when Tommy heard about this award he left town to avoid the spotlight!

Happy to present a check for $2500 to FAITH in honor of Collin & Tommy Lines.