News
Spring 2010 Grants -- Athens Area Community Foundation Awards $25,000
The Athens Area Community Foundation announces grants totaling $25,000 from its Community Impact Fund. The grants will support eleven local organizations as they address needs in the areas of youth development, economic & workforce development, access to health care, and building community.
The grants, ranging between $1,000 and $4,600, are part of a discretionary grantmaking program funded through AACF’s Community Impact Fund. Donors to the Community Impact Fund seek to address ever-changing community needs by allowing AACF to identify opportunities and target dollars where they will be most effective. This Spring cycle was made possible by donations earmarked for grantmaking including a significant gift made anonymously. “We’re only in our third year, but we certainly hit the ground running,” says Delene Porter, AACF’s President/CEO. “This round of grantees improve quality of life by valuing work, education, and service to the community; these are the kinds of investments that payoff immediately and in the future,” Ms. Porter adds.
“The Community Foundation makes grants with an eye toward increasing quality and reducing inefficiency in the organizations that address community issues,” states Steve Jones, AACF Chair. He adds that “a Community Foundation allows donors to pool their resources and steward community assets for the benefit of future generations.”
AACF is a vehicle for philanthropic investment, meeting critical needs, and engaging families and businesses in strategic grantmaking. Since incorporation in January 2008, AACF has granted over $95,000 from Donor Advised Funds as well as through the Community Impact Fund. AACF currently has 8 Donor Advised Funds for local families and has begun building an operating endowment to ensure the organization is self-sustaining in perpetuity.
The Spring 2010 awardees include AIDS Athens; Athens Justice Project; AthFest AfterSchool, InSchool, & Keys for Kids Programs; The Cave Community After-School Program; Children First (Formerly Athens-Oconee CASA Program); Community Connection’s HandsOn Northeast Georgia Volunteer Center; The Cottage- Sexual Assault Center; Freedom from Bondage; Project Responsibility; Winder-Barrow Coalition for Adult and Continuing Education; and the YWCO Girls Club. Following is a brief summary of how the grants will be used:
Youth Development (with secondary emphasis in Arts, Education, Crime Prevention, and Family Development)
- AthFest AfterSchool, InSchool, & Keys for Kids Programs -- $2,500.00
AthFest is working with Athens youth through its AfterSchool (2000 kids), InSchool (4,000 kids), & Keys for Kids (100 kids) programs. The AfterSchool program recruits musicians to perform for students in existing afterschool programs, with Leisure Services public housing community centers, YWCO, CCSD middle and elementary schools. The InSchool program recruits musicians to perform for students during school- over lunch with time for Q&A after. And, the Keys for Kids coordinates instrument drives for local students. AACF’s grant will leverage funds for musician fees and instruments.
- The Cave Community After-School Program -- $2,333.00
Since 2006, The Cave Community After-School program has grown from a small Friday gathering of 11 students at Covenant Presbyterian to a major weekly event of approximately 134 middle and high school students. Within walking distance of three schools, The Cave is a major attraction and is working hard to meet the increased demand. AACF’s grant will help The Cave replace its sign-in sheets with an on-site digital check-in system and help them develop of more structured activities.
- Children First (Formerly Athens-Oconee CASA Program) -- $2,500.00
Children First administers the Court Appointed Special Advocates program providing child victims of abuse and neglect with court advocates. It also provides supervised visitation and parent-skill building through the Family Time Community Visitation program. This program creates meaningful visitations that provide comfort for children, but also increases the competency of the parent to better prepare them for when the children are returned home (like visits to grocery stores, etc.). The primary obstacle to visitation is transportation. Parents are able to use the bus, but Children First needs a van with child seats to transport children to the visit location. AACF's grant will help leverage $8,000 awarded by ACTION Inc for the purchase of a van.
- Project Responsibility -- $1,200.00
Project Responsibility is a research-based program targeting high-risk, 5th grade boys at Barnett Shoals Elementary School. The program is run by Dr. Bryan McCullick through UGA’s Kinesiology department and teaches social responsibility skills through physical education. Over the past 5 years Project Responsibility has served 65 youth. Also addresses shortfall in quality physical education required by Georgia law and National Guidelines. AACF’s grant will help purchase re-usable sports equipment for nontraditional sports.
- YWCO Girls Club -- $3,000.00
The YWCO Girls Club serves over 200 girls from low-income families each summer. This summer, the Clarke County School District has donated software and 10 computers for a Computer Based Learning Enrichment project. AACF’s grant will fund additional supplies, hardware, and tech support to get the computer lab up and running.
Economic & Workforce Development (with secondary emphasis in Education and Removing Barriers to Work)
- Athens Justice Project -- $1,767.00
A criminal history, unlike other barriers to employment (like a lack of education) is not something that can be removed solely by the diligence of the individual attempting to obtain employment. In addition to mental health services and workforce training, Athens Justice Project helps clients overcome barriers to employment through legal aid. AACF’s grant will allow the staff attorney to access research materials (Westlaw) for continuing education in expungement practices, positioning AJP to help “clean up” clients’ criminal records to accurately reflect charges that resulted from their convictions.
- Winder-Barrow Coalition for Adult and Continuing Education -- $1,000.00
WBCACE offers Adult Basic, GED, and ESOL classes and will serve 850 people by the end of June 2010. In an effective partnership, staff is employed by Lanier Technical College and the executive director paid for by the Barrow County School District. WBCACE also recruits students and volunteers through local organizations and businesses. AACF’s grant will help purchase instructional materials and supplies for adult learners in Barrow.
Access to Health Care (with secondary emphasis in Peer-to-Peer support and Housing)
- The Cottage- Sexual Assault Center -- $3,000.00
The Cottage provides adult and child advocacy in sexual assault situations (served 186 children and 98 adults last year), operates a 24 hour crisis line (received 678 callers last year), and offers community outreach/education programs (reached 956 last year). AACF’s grant will help support the creation of a free, ongoing support group for non-offending parents whose children have been victims of sexual abuse.
- AIDS Athens -- $1,700.00
AIDS Athens is the only AIDS Service Organization in the area. Case managers connect clients to resources through out the community. AACF’s grant will be used to support two days of programming and outreach- the THRIVE! program includes a full day of presentations, discussions and peer-led support groups, and the separate Men and Women's Days of Support focuses on topics specific to men's and women's health. These trainings focus on increasing self-worth and self-sufficiency as well as giving back to the community. AACF money will help leverage funding from local pharmacies, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and national foundations.
- Freedom from Bondage -- $1,400.00
Freedom from Bondage offers structured, supportive living environment for women in recovery from substance abuse and addictions. FBB receives referrals from local law enforcement, Athens Drug Court, and other mental health agencies. It is expanding its capacity from 17 women to 24 women. AACF’s grant will help purchase mattresses for the new and current residential units.
Building Community (with secondary emphasis in Volunteer Recruitment)
- Community Connection’s HandsOn Northeast Georgia Volunteer Center -- $4,600.00
HandsOn Northeast Georgia provides a single point of entry to connect volunteers with volunteer opportunities. It is also the official entry point for OneAthens volunteers to engage in community service. HandsOn currently supports more than 5,000 volunteers (up 38% from 2008); recruits for more than 100 agencies; organizes the MLK Day of Service, Global Youth Service Day, and Athens Volunteer Expo; and supports AmeriCorps members. AACF’s Grant will support the purchase and migration of data to an upgraded software system that will help meet increased demand for HandsOn services and enable HandsOn to share information with UGA and partner agencies.
AACF is a 501(c)(3) public nonprofit serving Athens-Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Madison, Oglethorpe, and Jackson Counties.