Mayor Ronnie Marks showing off his shoe size
ATHENS-Answering a question about shoe sizes is not the typical way cities receive grants, but that’s what happened to the City of Athens.
In December, Dekko Foundation Program Director Sharon Smith sent Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks an email stating her boss did not believe she could get her list of grant seekers to provide up-to-date information. Smith quipped she would not only get their up-to-date information, she would also get their shoe sizes.
Dekko Foundation, located in Indiana, provides grants to empower youth in communities where Dekko’s founder had an interest. Dekko Industrial Park is located in Limestone County, and Limestone County is the only county in Alabama eligible for Dekko grants.
Mayor Marks sent his contact info and shoe size to Smith along with the contact info and shoe sizes of his administrative assistant and grant coordinator/communications specialist.
Today, Monday, Feb. 15, a purple wrapped box from Dekko arrived in the mail. Inside was a card that said, “Congratulations Mayor Ronnie Marks. It’s our birthday, but you get the present.”
The box contained a pair of shoes in his size, and a $3,500 grant check. The card stated the grant is, “To keep up your good work with young people. Most mayors would be too pre-occupied with city business to take the time to mentor teens. Not you, Mr. Mayor. You knock our socks off.”
The Mayor’s Office, with mentors from city departments and a local youth advocate, oversee the Athens Mayor’s Youth Commission. The Youth Commission serves students in grades 10-12 from Athens to teach them local government’s role and their role as citizens. The students learn about the city’s departments, funding, volunteer opportunities, career paths, and more. They have served food at the community Thanksgiving meal, helped give out gifts during a tree lighting event, and are planning to participate in the upcoming Elk River Clean-Up event in April.
Dekko has supported the Athens Mayor’s Youth Commission in the past with a grant to help tornado victims after the 2014 deadly tornado hit Athens and Limestone County. The Youth Commissioners will be involved in how the birthday grant money is to be spent.
Per Dekko’s request, Mayor Marks took a photo of his new shoes, a photo of his legs and feet in his new shoes and shared it for all to see.
“We appreciate Dekko’s support of our community and for sharing their 35th birthday with us,” Mayor Marks said. “This grant will be another lesson for our Youth Commissioners as they decide the best way to utilize the funds.”
