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Community Foundation awards grants

By CAROLYN CARY
ccary@TheCitizenNews.com

Executive Director Barbara Merlie of The Community Foundation for Fayette County announced awards for its 2004 challenge grants.

Coming Clean Ministries intercepts youth who are on destructive paths, helping them to redirect their lives toward becoming contributing members of society. The organization is in the final stages of construction for their Community Outreach Center in Tyrone. Plans for the facility include summer camps, addiction awareness programs, and a “place for kids to just hang out.”

DART, A New Beginning, will help the youth of Fayette County and surrounding areas who suffer from alcohol and/or drug abuse problems to find a solution to their addiction problems. Initially targeted to serve males, the residential treatment program will be available to young people between the ages of 12 and 17 years of age. Partnerships have been formed with Square Foot Ministry for the construction of a facility and Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes for the operations.

The Fayette Samaritans begins its 13th year of operation serving Fayette County residents with emergency and critical needs including food, rent, utility payments, clothing and medical needs. It is an all volunteer organization and its only expenses are for utilities. The organization began serving 50 households per month and now serves 325 households per month.

Life Issues Full Education was formed in 2004 to provide individuals the means and values to make good choices concerning life’s issues. Its goal is to use education, support, and positive experience to give youth the tools to successfully move from adolescence. Its target group are teens that have chosen risky behaviors such as drugs, alcohol, sexual activity and rebellion. It offers a program for both young men and young women.

Offshoot Productions fosters an appreciation for the performing arts by creating a multilevel cultural/education environment in Atlanta’s southern crescent, particularly Fayette County. It educates children, teens, and adults through hands-on experience in the processes involved in theatre.

Promise Place, formerly known as the Fayette County Council on Domestic Violence, recognizes that domestic violence is a crime, and exists to ensure that its victims and their children have a network of people and agencies who understand and act together to alleviate the problem. It has a 34-hour crises line, legal advocacy and counseling, a food pantry, weekly support group with child care, and an extensive referral system.

“The Community Foundation for Fayette Count was established to promote philanthropy in Fayette County, as well as to meet the currents needs of the community,” said Merlie. “It is a tax-exempt public charity.”