Governor Awards $101,000 in Grants for Volunteer Programming

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue today awarded $101,000 in state challenge grants to 14 Georgia communities dedicated to establishing community based volunteer management programs. Each community is required to match the grant award with local funds of equal amount, bringing the total award to $202,000.

"Since its inception, Hands On Georgia has worked with communities across the state encouraging Georgians to participate in volunteer service," said Governor Perdue. "These challenge grants and the matching local funds will help further the volunteer efforts that exist throughout the state."

This is the third time that state challenge grants have been awarded.  Including today's grants, the total amount of funding from the state and local match has been $600,000. 

The following communities received a grant of $10,000, the largest grant available:  Atlanta; Dooly County; Fannin County; Milledgeville; Newton County and Wayne County.

Increasing volunteer capacity is the primary goal of all of these recipients.  Hands On Atlanta plans to further its reach in the metro area to include more service opportunities in Cobb County.   Wayne County will continue the significant progress it has already made in partnering with other social service agencies.

The remaining recipients were awarded grants ranging from $4,500 to $7,500. These recipients include: Coastal Georgia (Glynn and McIntosh Counties); Columbus; Cook County; Cordele/Crisp County; Eatonton; Reidsville; Tifton and Webster County.

Webster County plans to incorporate a multi-generational approach to volunteerism.  Youth and senior citizens in the community will be the initial target groups to implement volunteer programming throughout the county.  Hands On Coastal Georgia will better coordinate volunteer opportunities in the two counties it serves. 

Each community must participate in Hands On Georgia projects and events and report impact numbers to the statewide network.

Today's announcement marks the second round of grant awards for Fiscal Year 2007.  The first round of $99,000 in funding was awarded in October 2006.

Hands On Georgia is a statewide network that supports innovative volunteer approaches to meeting Georgia's critical needs through service and civic engagement.  Hands On Georgia calls upon the citizens of Georgia to help tackle tough issues in our state through volunteer service and engaged citizenship. Hands On Georgia currently has 18 affiliates including the communities of Adairsville; Athens/Clarke County; Atlanta; Coastal Georgia (Glynn and McIntosh Counties); Columbus; Dalton; Dooly County; Forsyth County; Hall County; Harlem; Liberty County; Macon; Milledgeville; Rome/Floyd County; Savannah; Statesboro; Thomas County and Wayne County.

For more information about Hands On Georgia call 404.979.2888 or email info@handsongeorgia.org.