ATHENS-High school students participating in the Athens Mayor’s Youth Commission are investing funds into their
community to address needs they deem priorities for Athens families.
The students in grades 10-12 began by setting a list of priorities:
No. 1 priority – Assistance to families.
No. 2 priority – Healthcare and Recreation/Trails tied.
No. 3 priority – Teen programs.
No. 4 priority – Beautification and Educational Opportunities tied.
No. 5 priority – Community Events, Hunger, History/Culture/Arts and Downtown Enhancements tied.
“The projects they are funding will impact families in some manner,” said AMYC Mentor and Organizer Holly
Hollman. “In addition, most of the projects are providing the students a chance to volunteer and learn about
services our local non-profits are providing.”
The students voted to offer one $500 grant and voted on providing that grant to Sleep in Heavenly Peace. SHP
is going to purchase mattresses for the beds they are building for children in need. This project scored highest,
receiving about 43 percent of the students’ votes.
“This is huge,” SHP BEDS Limestone Co. President Bill Dunnavant said. “More kids can get off the floor and into
their own beds every night.”
Dunnavant is inviting Youth Commissioners to a June build-a-bed event so they can see how their money is
making a difference.
The other projects receiving funding are:
Camp Hope – $300 to fund materials for grieving youth campers to make feeling pillows.
Athens-Limestone Community Association – $200 for teen career prep programs with local business
leaders.
Athens-Limestone Hospital Foundation – $200 for car seats for babies delivered at the hospital to
families in need.
Make A Way Foundation – $200 for summer opportunities for families with special needs, such as pool
parties, STEM camp, Kiddie Carnival, etc.
Athens Arts League – $200 to fund youth art/music classes, including a Youth Commission painting
class.
MTM Educational Enrichment – $200 for technology for students in need, such as computers, hotspot
devices, etc.
Boys and Girls Club of North Alabama – $200 to help pay the registration fee for the First Lego
League Robotics Competition.
Athens-Limestone Community Association is hosting its first teen career prep program on Saturday, May 23.
The event is going to teach teens about workplace etiquette, creating a resume and how to interview for a job. A
couple of Youth Commissioners are planning to volunteer at this event.
“We sincerely appreciate the Youth Commission mini-grant,” said ALCA Board member Carolyn Williams.
“These students help us each year through volunteering and investing.”
Stacey Givens, founder of Make A Foundation, said, “Please extend our sincere gratitude to the Youth
Commission. Their decisions make a huge impact on the people all of us serve.”
Dekko Foundation provided donations to Youth Commission in 2025 and this year, and the students are utilizing
the $2,000 to support these non-profits.
“When we trust students with setting their priorities and funding those priorities, they develop a deeper bond with
their hometown,” Hollman said. “They become emotionally invested, and hopefully, if they go out of area for
college or to start a career, they will one day come back to Athens to share their talents locally.”
About Athens Mayor’s Youth Commission
The program is for Athens High School, Athens Bible School, Lindsay Lane Christians Academy, Athens
Renaissance and home-school students in grades 10-12 in Athens. The mission is to teach students about local
government’s role and their role to be engaged and information citizens.
