Fayette Fund recognizes local nonprofits: July 10, 2012

The Fayette Fund, a local fund of The Community Foundation, has awarded more than $29,000 in grants to seven local nonprofits making a measurable difference in the Fayette County community. Organizations were recognized on June 20 at a grantee reception held at The Fayette County Public Library in Fayetteville.

This year’s grant recipients are: Exceptional OPS, FACTOR, Fayette Care Clinic, Fayette County Council on Domestic Violence dba Promise Place, Fayette Youth Protection Homes, Real Life Center and Square Foot Ministry.

During the event, each organization shared how they will use the grant dollars, and the impact that the Fayette Fund has had on their organization. According to Vanessa Mottley, executive director of Promise Place, “The Fayette Fund has helped to strengthen our organization, not just through funding. Because of the encouragement of The Community Foundation, we now have a strategic plan. The plan helped us assess our strengths and weaknesses, and we are now working as a team towards a common goal. It has truly helped us become a healthier and more effective organization as we work to better our community,” says Mottley.

Several agencies spoke about how collaboration between nonprofits has helped their organization to better serve their clients. “The other day, a young woman approached us for help,” said Cathy Berggren, executive director of Real Life Center. “She was really falling apart, and needed help.  Because of our collaboration with some of the other organizations in this room, I was able to pick up the phone and call one of our partner agencies. She was able to get assistance that day. Working together, we were able to make a difference in her life, and that’s what it is all about.”

“I can attest to the difference these organizations make, especially now that so many of them are working together,” says Steve Forsyth, chair of the Fayette Fund. “I’ve been in their facilities and seen how hard they work to make our community a better place for all of us. We are a better county because of the work they do.”

Since 2001, the Fayette Fund has granted more than $250,000 to Fayette County nonprofits responding to the changing needs of the community. Additionally, since 2001, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has awarded nearly $2.5 million to more than 60 organizations in Fayette County.