The Albany Foundation will hold its annual “Roast” event on Friday, March 31, 2017, beginning at 7pm
in the Kirkland Conference Center, with a Silent Auction beginning at 6pm in the atrium of the Kirkland
Conference Center. This year’s honored guest is Karla Heath-Sands, Anchor for WALB-News 10.

“Roasters” for this year’s event include: The Honorable Victoria Darrisaw, Dougherty County State Court; Michelle Polk, Retired, Marine Corps Logistics Command; Cade Fowler, Anchor, WALB-News 10; Sandra Parker, Retired, Lee County School System; and Yolanda Amadeo, Meteorologist, WALB-News 10.

Karla Heath-Sands has been at home on stage for most of her life. The Brunswick, Georgia native graduated in 1984 from Mercer University (Macon) where she performed with the Mercer Singers. She has been a participant in the Miss America Pageant system where as Miss Macon, she placed fourth runner-up to Miss Georgia 1982 and as Miss Brunswick-Golden Isles 1985, she placed second runner-up.
Heath-Sands has performed on stage at Six Flags Over Georgia in the Crystal Pistol (1989), was a semi-finalist for Star Search (competition held in Atlanta), and was selected as a Quarterfinalist for the 1997 SAVANNAH ON STAGE International Vocal Competition. She has also performed as a guest soloist with the Macon Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, the Albany Symphony and Opera Albany and was invited to sing the National Anthem in Kurobe, Japan as part of the Cherry Blossom Festival (April 13-23) in 1998. She has appeared on BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel Hour and has been a featured singer with the Bob Cummings Band for almost 30-plus years.

Beginning her journalism career as a Weathercaster and Community Service Director at WMAZ-TV in Macon, Heath-Sands is now co-anchoring WALB-TV’s “Today In Georgia," and WALB-News 10’s 12:00 News. She was also selected as the Georgia Association of Broadcasters’ “GABBY” winner for Best On-Air Personality. She was also King Day "Dream Award" recipient in 2011 and was recognized by the 100 Black Men of Albany, GA for outstanding service in the Media Field in 1999.

Heath-Sands is also involved in her community as a former trustee for Girls, Inc. of Albany, former Board member for Albany Technical College, member of Albany Chapter of Links, Inc., Life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., former Board of Advisors member for The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, and is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Humanities Council. She is a member of Bethel A.M.E. Church, Albany, GA.