Governor Perdue Announces Hands On Challenge Grants

Funding made available to mobilize volunteers

ATLANTA– Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the availability of $115,000 in funding to communities interested in implementing or expanding volunteer programming in their local cities and towns. 

“In the three years the Hands On Georgia State Challenge Grants have been offered, I have been pleased with the innovative ways in which Georgia’s communities have used the funding to implement engaging and accessible volunteer opportunities,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.   “Across the state, local communities face daily challenges to meet the needs of their citizens.  This funding allows community leaders to offer viable solutions to fulfill those needs.” 

Hands On Georgia and The Georgia Department of Community Affairs jointly distribute the grants to local governments that partner with community agencies with plans to engage volunteers in service.

The available funding represents the second round of grants made available to Georgia communities.  The first round of grants totaling nearly $85,000 was awarded in November at the Georgia Summit on Volunteerism.  The grant requires each recipient to match the grant award with locally raised funds, dollar for dollar, bringing the total leveraged amount of statewide community funding to $400,000.

Hands On Georgia Challenge Grants totaling $400,000 were awarded to 25 communities in the past three years.   Cities receiving grants include: Athens; Atlanta; Columbus; Dalton; Eatonton; Harlem; Macon; Milledgeville; Reidsville; Rome; Savannah; Tifton and Statesboro.  County-wide grants have been awarded to: Cook County; Cordele/Crisp County; Dodge County; Dooly County; Fannin County; Forsyth County; Glynn and McIntosh Counties; Newton County; Thomas County; Wayne County and Webster County.

Hands On Georgia is a statewide network that supports innovative volunteer approaches to meeting Georgia’s critical needs. The program 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 19 affiliates in the communities of Adairsville, Athens, Atlanta, Coastal Georgia (Glynn and McIntosh Counties), Columbus, Dalton, Dooly County, Forsyth County, Harlem, Hall County, Liberty County, Macon, Milledgeville, Newton County, Rome/Floyd County, Savannah, Statesboro, Thomas County and Wayne County.

Download an application for the Hands On Georgia and The Georgia Department of Community Affairs State Challenge Grant at www.handsongeorgia.org.  For more information about Hands On Georgia email info@handsongeorgia.orgor call 404.979.2910.  

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