These awards are part of the Foundation’s annual discretionary grant disbursements that are gifted to help non-profit organizations further key projects, programs or community initiatives.
Organizations receiving grants this year include:
| Agency | Project | Grant Award |
| Adults Protecting Children | Sexual Abuse Prevention Training Workbooks | $5,000 |
| Annandale Village | Facilities Expansion of Center for Continued Care | $5,000 |
| Artworks! Gwinnett | Website and Marketing Resources | $5,000 * |
| Barrow County Habitat for Humanity | Purchase of Shelving System & Lift Truck | $4,322 |
| Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta | Outpatient Surgery/Pre-Op Waiting Room Resources | $5,000 |
| Creative Enterprises | Purchase of Electric Pallet Jack | $5,000 |
| Eagle Ranch | Furniture for Glory Home Family Room | $5,000 |
| Family Promise of Gwinnett | 8 New Computers for Homeless Recovery Program | $5,000 |
| Friends of Disabled Adults & Children | Pediatric Home Medical Equipment Purchases | $5,000 * |
| Friends of Gwinnett County Seniors | Scholarships for Dialysis Patients & Driver Training | $5,000 |
| Georgia Piedmont Land Trust | Renovation/Repairs to Mary Kistner Home | $5,000 |
| Good Samaritan Health Clinic | Open Door Laboratory Program | $5,000 |
| Greater Atlanta Christian School | Renovation of Collaborative Classrooms | $5,000 * |
| Gwinnett Ballet Theatre | Sensory Friendly Performance Program | $5,000 |
| Gwinnett Children’s Shelter | Onsite and Facility Signage to Reflect New Brand | $5,000 * |
| Gwinnett Coalition for Health & Human Services | Support for Veterans Resource Center | $5,000 |
| Gwinnett Council for Seniors | Volunteer Development Program Resources | $3,000 |
| Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation | Field Trips for STEM Healthcare Certificate Program | $5,000 |
| Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center | STEM Scholarships for Teacher Immersion Program | $5,000 |
| Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation | inVision Vestibular Rehabilitation Equipment | $4,895 |
| Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center | Equipment for Children’s Advocacy Services | $5,000 |
| Gwinnett Tech Foundation | Gwinnett Advancement Program – Phoenix High School | $5,000 |
| Hi Hope Service Center | Purchase of Wheelchair Accessible Van | $5,000 |
| Lekotek of Georgia | Adaptive Toys & Technology Equipment | $3,000 |
| Mercy Care Foundation | Capital Support for New Clinic Construction | $5,000 * |
| New Beginnings Counseling Center | Volunteer Development Program | $5,000 |
| Northeast Georgia Boy Scouts | Commercial Grade Kitchen Equipment | $5,000 |
| Path Project | 12 Passenger Van Purchase | $5,000 |
| Peachtree Christian Hospice | Heart2Heart Patient Care Program | $5,000 * |
| Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine | Diagnostic Equipment for Clinical Learning | $5,000 |
| Rainbow Village | Education & Financial Literacy Program | $5,000 |
| Salvation Army | Technology Equipment Purchase | $5,000 |
| Uniting Hope 4 Children | Furnishings for Foster Care Hope Room | $5,000 |
The Foundation’s grant process began in January when a call for grant applications was issued. At the end of February the grant cycle closed with 47 applications presented for consideration. The Foundation’s grants committee went to work in March giving many hours of thoughtful consideration to each grant application. After giving committee members 8 weeks to pour over the applications, the grants committee came together in May and made the final decisions. Julie Keeton Arnold, 2015 Grants Committee Chair shares, “Our goal was to award at least 30 grants to honor the Foundation’s 30th anniversary, but we had to stay within our granting budget. Ultimately these 33 grants rose to the top and the committee is very pleased with the final decision.” Arnold continues, “It is always humbling and extremely educational to go through this granting process. It shines light on real needs in our community that many of us don’t know exists. While it’s never an easy task to decide where our limited resources should go, it is so rewarding to know that our dollars are invested in ways that make a real impact in the lives of so many across our community.”
Randy Redner, CFNEG Executive Director shares, “This is an exciting year because were able to invest in and help forward the mission of so many worthy organizations. Sustaining grants like these are the lifeline to the day-to-day work of these non-profits. We are always excited when we can infuse the Foundation’s resources back out the community because we directly impact lives and enhance quality of life for us all.” Redner continues, “Sometimes people think you have to give millions away to be impactful. The Foundation strives to show that any giving, whether big or small, can have a powerful impact. This $160,217 will bring exponential return back to our community and will change the course of many lives for the better.”
Six awards (marked with astericks above) this year were issued as challenge grants, which allows those agencies the opportunity to leverage their grants with other giving to double their fundraising efforts via a dollar-for-dollar match. Redner explains, “As part of the grant application each agency was asked if their project lent itself to a challenge opportunity. Those projects we felt best fit were given this opportunity.” Redner continues, “Challenge grants are very impactful as they motivate organizations to seek out new support and enable them to show their donors a greater return on investment. The $30,000 we are granting these organizations will be the catalyst for a total of $60,000 in giving back to our community.”
The Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia was founded in 1985 by a group of community-minded citizens to receive and disburse charitable funds for an improved quality of life across northeast Georgia. The Foundation focuses on serving the needs of 10 counties – Gwinnett, Barrow, North Fulton, Forsyth, Clarke, Jackson, Madison, Greene, Oconee and Walton. CFNEG manages funds held in trust, donated by individuals, organizations and businesses. Over the past 30 years the Foundation has given over $56 million back to the community. The Foundation will celebrate its 30th anniversary later this summer on August 22nd at the Gwinnett Center. To learn more about the work of the Foundation, visit www.cfneg.org.
