Atlanta Betterment Fund awards $3,225 to groups improving quality of life

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[April 28, 2015]  LINCOLN - On Saturday, the Atlanta Betterment Fund hosted a reception at the Palms Grill and handed out grant awards to 10 local organizations. The money was distributed to organizations within the Atlanta Community who are working toward improving the quality of life for all its citizens in Atlanta.

Dale Colaw was the spokesman for the Betterment Fund. He opened up the award ceremony talking about the fund and how it has grown over the three years since its inception. When the Atlanta Betterment Fund was created, it was by a group of concerned Atlanta residents who wanted to see their hometown thrive and improve.

 



Colaw said that the initial goal had been to raise $100,000 in investment capital, and then annually distribute the revenues generated by that capital to worthwhile efforts inside the city. He said they had not only reached, but exceeded that goal. The Fund organizers then decided to invest the money in the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation where it earns a good return.

In the first year, Colaw said the Betterment Fund awarded $600 total, year two $1,800, and this year the Betterment Fund would be awarding $3,225 to 10 recipients.



Greg Meyer with the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation was on hand and spoke briefly. He talked about the tiny town in Iowa where he is from, and how that it is dying today. He said he wished that some of the Atlanta folk could be moved there to help rejuvenate that town the way Atlanta is rejuvenating its own. He said the people of Atlanta distinguished the difference between a bunch of buildings and a real community. He said that Atlanta should be an inspiration to other communities, and thanked them for their commitment.

When Meyer finished, Colaw went right into presenting checks to the ten recipients.



The first was $100 to Atlanta Flower Buds. The check was accepted by Shelley Brooks. Brooks said the money would be used to help with the plantings around the city. The group maintains 38 pots all around town and five gardens.



Randy Brooks accepted the award to the Atlanta Public Library. The library elevator had been inspected last year, and a list of a dozen issues were going to have to be addressed in order for the elevator to pass its next inspection. The $500 awarded by the Betterment Fund, Brooks said would go toward the costs involved in bringing the elevator up to code.

The third award was for $500 and went to the Atlanta Memorial Park District. The check was accepted by Doug Thompson. Thompson said that the money was going to help pay for electrical upgrades in the Community House basement. He said the basement was used by several, including a group of quilters who were having issues with being able to plug in their sewing machines. He said the work had already been done, and new outlets and wiring had been added to accommodate the quilters, as well as others who use the basement.



Thompson also accepted the next award to the Atlanta Rotary Club. The check for $200 he said would be added to a fund being set aside to assist Habitat for Humanity with the next home build in Atlanta. He said at the moment there is no plan for a new home in town, so the money will be held until such time as it is needed.



Laura Simonton accepted a check in the amount of $300 on behalf of the Olympia South PTO. The PTO established and maintains a butterfly garden at the school in town. She said that the dollars received would go toward new black soil for the garden and pea gravel for the walkways. Simonton said the PTO also received funds last year that went to purchase benches for the garden. She said it was a very popular space for the kids. In addition, the PTO provides plants for the containers at the front of the school.

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A check for $100 was awarded to the Atlanta Community Band. The money was accepted by Warren Smith, who said the money will be used to purchase new sheet music for the band as well as contribute to the pay for the band director. Smith said the community band is 26 years strong and still going. He said it was started by his aunt as a college project, so this was near to his heart. He said the band would play this year again on Memorial Day and at the Fall Festival.

Alice Robison accepted a check for $500 on behalf of the Ladies Cemetery Association of Atlanta. She said the money was going to go toward the ongoing restoration projects at the cemetery.

She passed around a photo page showing before and after shots of work that has already been done to restore and repair some of the older monuments. She said there is more work to do, and the funds would aid in those efforts.

Dale Colaw spoke on behalf of the City of Atlanta who was awarded $225. The money will go toward a new coat of paint inside the Atlanta Swimming Pool. He said the paint is a special epoxy that will cost approximately $450.



The Atlanta Historic Commission was awarded $500. The check was accepted by Billie Cheek. She said the money was going to be applied to the cost of restoring a carriage house that had recently been relocated to the Hawes Elevator Museum site.

Cheek explained the carriage house was the last such building standing in Atlanta and had been moved from a private residents to the museum park. There is a great deal of restoration needed on the building, and she said the goal for this year is to get the roof of the building repaired.

The last award presented went to the Atlanta Christian Church and was accepted by Warren Smith. Smith said that the money would go toward sponsorship for Atlanta men to attend a Christian Men’s Conference in Nashville TN in June. He said the event was of great value and a rewarding spiritual experience for those who attend. The church is hoping to take 50 men to the conference this year, and he said they currently have about half that number committed to going. He said that some might wonder how this benefits the community, so he wanted to address that. He said that after the fellowship with Christian men, and the spiritual blessings, these men come home to their families with a new, fresh attitude that makes a difference in their home lives.

At the end of the awards, Colaw said that on the application there was one question asking if there would be matching funds from other sources? All ten had said that, yes, there would be dollars in addition to the grant awards invested in the projects.

He concluded that these were all valuable projects that would offer an “immediate benefit to the community.”

After the presentations, guests were invited to linger and enjoy refreshments provided by the Palms.

[Nila Smith]

 

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