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Senate honors Savannah Bananas founders and Bananas Foster nonprofit
Summary
The Georgia Senate adopted a resolution recognizing Jesse and Emily Cole and Bananas Foster for work supporting foster families. Jolie Chabala, head of Bananas Foster, told senators the nonprofit has celebrated more than 200 foster families and inspired over 500 people to learn about foster licensing since 2023.
The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 714 honoring Jesse and Emily Cole, the founders of the Savannah Bananas, and the couple’s nonprofit, Bananas Foster, for work promoting and supporting foster families.
Senator from the 19th presented the resolution and spotlighted the nonprofit’s effort to bring foster families and children to games and raise awareness of needs in the foster-care community. "In our state, we have 9,500 children in foster care," the senator said during the presentation, describing private-public partnership as central to serving those families.
Jolie Chabala, who leads Bananas Foster, told the chamber the nonprofit formally launched in 2023 and has "celebrated over 200 foster families" and inspired more than 500 people to learn about becoming licensed foster parents. She described the group’s goal as celebrating and supporting foster families and elevating foster-care needs on a national stage.
The Senate adopted the resolution without objection and invited the group to distribute a small token to senators afterward.
Why it matters: The resolution is ceremonial recognition of private efforts to support foster families and signals legislative gratitude; it does not modify state foster-care policy or funding.
Source: Floor reading and remarks on the Senate floor.
