ATHENS-Students recently prioritized healthcare, quality of life projects and education when debating what projects to fund in Athens with grants.
The Dekko Foundation provided the Athens Mayor’s Youth Commission with a grant and additional funding, which the Youth Commissioners allocated for their community grant program. The Youth Commissioners, students in grades 10-12, accepted grant proposals from non-profits that had programs, projects or events that would benefit Athens. They received over $7,000 in requests which exceeded the amount of money they had to provide as grants.
“This is one of my favorite meetings with the students because you hear what they think are the important issues facing our city and what they believe deserves investment,” Mayor Ronnie Marks said.
The Youth Commissioners met in May in small groups to set their priorities and then debated as a whole on which ones to fund and how much to fund.
The Youth Commissioners chose the following projects:
- Athens-Limestone Hospital Foundation – $1,000 for lead aprons for Surgical Services and Radiology
- Learn-to-Read – $500 for organizing student spaces for after-school tutoring
- Make A Way Foundation – $500 for a sensory path hallway at Athens Elementary that’s designed for children with spatial or learning disabilities.
- Athens Family Resource Center – $500 for its teen program where teens and parents/guardians address issues facing teens.
- Athens Main Street – $500 for a kiosk to provide updated information for the farmers, artisans and customers who utilize the Athens Farmers Market, in particular customers with low- to moderate-incomes without access to social media.
- Hospice of Limestone County (Camp Hope) – $350 for feeling pillows and bracelets made by children and their camp buddies as they learn how to deal with grief.
The Youth Commissioners did opt to issue a small amount of funding and a challenge to the other organizations that submitted proposals. The Youth Commissioners allocated $125 each to the following organizations if they can use that support to raise the additional funds needed to complete their projects:
- Alabama Veterans Museum – For the preservation of historical documents, in particular World War II propaganda posters.
- Athens-Limestone Public Library Foundation – For Launchpads to enable children to have additional avenues of interaction and learning, with the Launchpads focusing on language and literacy for preschoolers.
- Athens-Limestone Community Association – For sound and video equipment for the Pincham-Lincoln Community Center at historic Trinity/Fort Henderson, to promote more cultural and educational activities.
- Athens-Limestone Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Essay/Art Contest – For prizes given to the student winners of the annual essay and art contest that focuses on the Civil Rights Movement based on King’s speeches.
The groups must submit invoices to the Youth Commission for reimbursement, and if possible, invite the Youth Commissioners to volunteer with the project or activity.
“On behalf of the Make A Way board, I thank you for your investment in the lives of those with special needs,” Make A Way Founder and President Stacey Givens told the Youth Commissioners. “Your money will help us continue to serve them and their families here in Athens and Limestone County.”
Caroline Canestrari, director of the hospital’s foundation, said, “We appreciate the support from the Athens Mayor’s Youth Commission so very much. This grant enables us to provide better quality care for our community. We are so grateful.”
