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 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] |
