Local nonprofits awarded Community Impact Grants

PCAH and VFL among 16 nonprofits to get help advancing their missions

The North Georgia Community Foundation (NGCF) recently awarded more than $46,950 in grants to fund 16 programs at nonprofit organizations in Northeast Georgia. Two of the programs are in Habersham County.

In a news release announcing this year’s recipients, NGCF says it awards the grants to nonprofits that are engaged in “smart, innovative work” to strengthen the community.

“We believe one of the best ways to improve the community is to invest in nonprofits working on projects that support and improve the North Georgia region,” says Michelle Prater, NGCF president & CEO. “Each of the selected projects will make a positive impact on meeting the important needs of our community.”

Community Impact Grants are awarded annually through a competitive process open to nonprofit organizations located in the Foundation’s 15-county North Georgia service area. That service area includes: Banks, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White counties.

This year’s recipients are…

Forsyth County
  • Mentor Me to provide mentoring and tutoring through a school-based support system to students identified at risk to drop out of middle school and high school.
Habersham County
  • Prevent Child Abuse Habersham to provide supervised family visitation for children whose parents are going through parental substance abuse, family violence or domestic conflict.
  • Volunteers for Literacy Habersham focus on teaching English and Civics to non-English speaking citizens in Habersham County.
Hall County
  •   Action Ministries to support three different programs that will provide stable housing for homeless families.
  •   The Way Homeless Ministry to provide basic tangible needs for the homeless community.
  •   The Guest House to provide fresh quality and balanced meals for their senior guests.
  •   Rape Response programs to work collaboratively with school systems to provide ‘Let’s Talk’ prevention education classes.
  •   Georgia Mountain Food Bank to expand outreach and provide prescription food boxes for low income oncology patients.
  •   Children Center for Hope & Healing programs to provide children between the ages of 3 and 17, who have been sexually abused, with counseling from licensed therapists.
Jackson County
  •   Humane Society of Jackson County to provide spay and neuter services for pets of families living in low-income households.
  •   Atlanta Mission to provide transformational recovery programs for men residing in Jackson County.Habersham County
Lumpkin County
  •   Georgia Forest Watch programs to engage and provide education for the public of North Georgia so that they may gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the last remaining unprotected forest.
  •   Holly Theatre to provide programs to enrich opportunities for local children and teens, 5 to 18 years old, so that they may cultivate future performers and audiences.
  •   Rainbow Children’s Home to support the Beyond Basics program, which gives young ladies the resources to break free from the cycle of poverty and abuse.
Union County
  •   Whiskers Project to provide spay and neutering services for cats that are homeless or pets living with low income families.
  •   First Baptist Church of Blairsville to expand their Feed the Hungry program from one time a month to twice monthly.

NGCF’s Community Impact Grant Program is made possible through a community endowment. To learn more about the program and the North Georgia Community Foundation, visit www.ngcf.org or call (770) 535-7880.