SAVANNAH, Ga. — Cora Bett Thomas, founder and CEO of Cora Bett Thomas Realty & Associates, will serve as the chair of the Savannah College of Art and Design’s 2007 Scholarship Gala, which will be held on February 3, 2007.“The Scholarship Gala truly makes a difference in the lives of creative young students who need financial assistance,” said Thomas, a leader in the luxury real estate market along the Creative Coast and a long-time SCAD supporter. “I’m delighted to contribute my time and energy to help make the 2007 Scholarship Gala a tremendous success.”The Scholarship Gala provides valuable support for SCAD student scholarships. Due to the vast need for financial assistance among SCAD students and the rising cost for a private arts college education, securing funds to establish additional matriculated scholarships is a top priority of the college.SCAD’s Scholarship Gala is one of the highlights of the college’s social activities each year. The gala provides a festive atmosphere to enjoy food from many of Savannah’s well-known restaurants, as well as a lively silent auction with original artwork from SCAD alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the college.In 2006, the event attracted approximately 500 attendees and raised more than $100,000 for student scholarships.Thomas owns Savannah’s leading real estate company and oversees a talented team of sales associates and property management experts. Through her efforts, Cora Bett Thomas Realty & Associates serves as an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s Great Estates, covering an area which runs from the South Carolina Lowcountry all the way south to the Florida border. In addition to her work on the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, she also serves on the Wachovia Advisory Board, the Savannah College of Art and Design Board of Visitors, the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, The Creative Coast’s Advisory Council, and the Savannah Economic Development and Renewal Authority’s Board of Directors and Advisory Board. She is also an active member of Christ Episcopal Church, Historic Savannah Foundation and the Telfair Museum of Art. For more information about the 2007 SCAD Scholarship Gala, please visit www.scadgala.org online.ABOUT THE SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGNNamed “Hottest for Studying Art” among America’s 25 Hottest Colleges by Kaplan/Newsweek, the Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Ga., and in Lacoste, France. Accredited degree programs also are offered online through SCAD e-Learning. The college offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Architecture, Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts and Master of Urban Design degrees. For more information about the college, visit www.scad.edu. ABOUT CORA BETT THOMAS REALTY & ASSOCIATESWith listings for the area’s finest residential and commercial properties, Cora Bett Thomas Realty & Associates is an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s Great Estates and a longtime member of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, The Board of Regents, Leading Estates of the World, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (formerly RELO) and Luxury Portfolio. The firm dominates the luxury real estate market along the Georgia and South Carolina coast, with offices based in Savannah, Ga. and Bluffton, S.C. Under the leadership of founder and CEO Cora Bett Thomas, the company features an expert team of agents who specialize in historic homes, luxury condominiums, commercial real estate, investment property, land and waterfront property. Connect Savannah readers recently voted Cora Bett Thomas Realty & Associates the “Best Real Estate Company.” For additional information, please visit www.CoraBettThomas.com online or call 912.233.6000 for the Savannah office or 843.757.6002 for the Bluffton/Hilton Head office.