![City Star: Roanoke City, Mayor David Bowers welcomes the members of the National Mole Organization during the 65th annual Conclave at Hotel Roanoke. He presented Mole National President Doris Asbury with the ceremonial City Star and read a proclamation drafted for the occasion which declared Saturday, June 20, 2015 National Mole Day in the City of Roanoke.](https://mountainmedianews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2015/07/David.Bowers.MoleDay.web_.jpg)
The Moles, a National Organization composed of 30 chapters located across 16 states and the District of Columbia, awarded its annual monetary gift of $2,000 to the Renaissance Academy during the 65th Annual National Conclave, held June 18-20, at Hotel Roanoke Conference Center. The monetary gift was presented during the annual Saturday luncheon affair.
Since the inception of the organization, The Moles have enriched lives of others and made outstanding contributions to society in a wild range of fields, including education, law, medicine, public service, science, and the performing arts. The group is mandated to live, love, and laugh. Its Motto, “Enjoy Yourself, It’s Later Than You Think!”
![Renaissance Academy award presentation (from left) Carolyn Patterson, Jerel Rhodes, Dontese Johnson, and Doris Asbury.](https://mountainmedianews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2015/07/Moles.Renaissance.web_.jpg)
The Roanoke Chapter of the Moles recommended The Renaissance Academy, a Greater Roanoke Valley Community Organization designed to engage elementary, middle, and high school, African-American males, to receive the award. The money will be used for college trips, community service project, career shadowing, workshops and events promoting academic, social and financial skills. Jerel Rhodes, Renaissance Academy founder, spoke on behalf of the Academy and thanked Mrs. Patterson, local chapter president and the Roanoke Chapter for working to make this award possible. Rhodes said, they, (the Chapter) just did not talk about supporting, the group went about getting it done.”