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Crystal
Gill, Hands On Wayne County, and State Representative George “Hinson” Mosley (right) receive a challenge grant from Governor Perdue.
Governor Sonny Perdue recently awarded $100,000 in state
challenge grants to 12 Georgia communities seeking to build organizational
capacity and implement Hands On programming. Hands On Georgia and the Georgia
Department of Community Affairs received funding for the state challenge grants
from the Georgia General Assembly in 2005 as a challenge to communities across
the state.
“Hands On Georgia provides a great foundation for
statewide community volunteerism,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “The willingness
of local governments to assist with funding is great reinforcement for current
Hands On Georgia affiliates and serves as a model for emerging affiliates
throughout the state.”
Communities receiving a state challenge grant are
required to raise matching funds from a local government or private sponsor. The
matching funds will bring the leveraged amount of funding for volunteer
programming in these communities to $200,000.
Receiving grants in the amount of $10,000 were Hands On
Columbus, Hands On Forsyth, Hands On Macon, Hands On Rome, Hands On Savannah,
Hands On Thomas County and Hands On Milledgeville. All of these recipients have
demonstrated excellent programming. With its grant, Hands On Macon plans to
reach beyond its service area of Macon and Bibb County by bringing Hands On
programming to Jones, Monroe and Twiggs Counties in central Georgia.
The remaining recipients, Hands On Wayne County and the
communities of Cordele, Eaton-ton, Harlem and Statesboro were awarded grants
between $2,000 and $8,000. Each community is required to match its grant award
with an equal amount of locally raised funds, participate in Hands On Georgia
projects and events and report impact numbers to the statewide network.
In addition to supporting the implementation of Hands On
programming, grants may be used in engaging volunteers as leaders in all aspects
of Hands On programming; engaging corporate partners, including employee
volunteer programming; customized project development and management;
development of volunteer leaders, including infusion of civic engagement
strategies and skill-building opportunities for volunteers.
“Hands On Georgia affiliates, both old and new are
dedicated to their mission of community volunteerism,” said Eric Tanenblatt,
board chair, Hands On Georgia. “As recipients of these state challenge grants
and the matching funds, our Hands On Georgia affiliates are on a direct path to
full community engagement of volunteerism.”
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