Chatham DA awards $10,000 to organization helping domestic violence survivors

by Shakuria Smith

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A Chatham County nonprofit that has spent more than 25 years helping survivors of domestic violence rebuild their lives has received a major honor and funding to continue its work.

During Friday’s Chatham County Commission meeting, District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones presented the Second Annual Spencer Lawton Award and a $10,000 grant to Dr. Karen Denise Alston, founder and executive director of 4 The Jewel N U Global.

The organization began in 1999 after a group of single mothers came together to discuss their experiences with domestic violence. Those conversations revealed how exposure to abuse was affecting their children, inspiring a mission to provide education, healing and support for survivors and their families.

Today, 4 The Jewel N U Global offers nine weekly empowerment classes, monthly survivor support groups, educational outreach and community awareness programs. According to the organization, it has provided more than 2,500 opportunities to educate, empower and support people seeking freedom from abuse. All services are offered free of charge.

The $10,000 award was funded through the District Attorney’s Local Victim Assistance Program (LVAP), which uses a percentage of criminal fines collected in Georgia courts to support organizations serving victims of crime.

“Dr. Karen Alston took one difficult conversation and transformed it into a movement that has changed countless lives,” District Attorney Cook Jones said. “Through education, advocacy and unwavering compassion, 4 The Jewel N U Global has given survivors hope and reminded them that their story doesn’t end with abuse.”

The Spencer Lawton Award was established in 2025 to honor the late Spencer Lawton, who served as Chatham County District Attorney from 1981 to 2008. Lawton created Georgia’s first District Attorney Victim-Witness Assistance Program, setting a model for victim services across the state.

Each year, the award recognizes an individual or organization demonstrating a lasting commitment to supporting victims of crime with compassion, dignity and justice.