Fighting back tears, Doug Pellum stood at the front of a room full of Exchange Club members and guests Thursday at Lion Hills Center and spoke about a fundraiser he hosted for a little girl who had cancer.
Ava Johnson’s cousin approached Pellum last fall about hosting a fundraiser for the 13-year-old to receive an experimental cancer treatment that insurance wasn’t going to cover.
“He told us that St. Jude told her to go back home because there was nothing they could do, but there was an experimental drug in California that’s not approved,” Pellum said. “With it not being approved, insurance wouldn’t pay for it and said they need $9,000. … We ended up raising $20,000 for the girl to pay for her treatment. She passed away several weeks later, but it was a great little deal that we got her.”
Pellum, the owner of Zachary’s restaurant, was recognized Thursday as this year’s Exchange Club of Columbus Book of Golden Deeds recipient.
Each year since 1972, Exchange Club has honored someone in the community “who gives selflessly and quietly to the community, to their city, their state, and the nation,” according to Book of Golden Deeds committee member Ralph Null.
When the time rolls around for the annual recognition, the identity of the winner is kept secret, and only the selection committee knows who will receive the honor. The recipient doesn’t find out until the meeting.
Null spoke about Pellum’s quiet demeanor and willingness to serve the community.
“We as citizens of Columbus and Lowndes County are so fortunate that this amazing person is part of our community,” Null said. “Having chosen a path which has an amazing amount of time commitment for success, he early learned the importance of balancing work, family and time so that he could be the best he could be. This commitment gives him a vision into the important things that best describe him.”
Pellum was born and raised in Starkville and opened Zachary’s in 2001, Null said. Pellum said in March 2017, he held his first fundraiser at the restaurant. Since then, Null said Pellum has raised roughly $250,000 for various organizations, causes and individuals such as the Columbus Arts Council, Hurricane Harvey relief, Hayden Allen and autism awareness.
Pellum told The Dispatch he holds one constant fundraiser each year for the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society and all others are for needs throughout the community as they arise.
“What we try to do is focus on people with illnesses, people who are sick,” Pellum said. “I get about 20 requests a month for fundraisers, so I have to tell a lot of people no.”
Pellum said he likes to make sure the money raised helps someone or something local.
Additionally, Pellum supports the student pilots at Columbus Air Force Base with gift cards when they first arrive and military discounts at Zachary’s. He gives discounts to teachers and law enforcement officers.
Pellum has teamed up with many other businesses and individuals to put together the fundraisers, and he said none of the fundraisers would happen without the support of the community.
“It’s not one person that does all of this,” Pellum said. “It’s a team that does all of this. … Once we see somebody in need, we make a phone call and start putting it in motion.”
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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