Five local projects were selected to receive a total of nearly $40,000 in awards from an endowment established by Athens native and UGA alumna Bobbi Meeler Sahm. The fund, held by the UGA Foundation, ultimately benefits Athens-Clarke County residents, university faculty and students focused on service and outreach into the community.

“This award is a visible and powerful representation of the bond between UGA and the Athens-Clarke County community,” said Jennifer Frum, vice president for UGA Public Service and Outreach. “I look forward to the many success stories that will emerge from these partnerships as a result of the generosity of Bobbi Sahm and with additional support President Morehead.”

The fund was established in 2021 by Sahm, who made a significant contribution to UGA Public Service and Outreach, to provide financial support for collaborations between the university and the Athens-Clarke County community. Inspired by the gift and the impact it will have on the local community, Morehead directed a $100,000 contribution to this fund using discretionary funds provided to him by the UGA Athletic Association.

The 2023 Bobbi Meeler Sahm Service and Outreach Award recipients include:

• UGA Office of Service-Learning Campus Kitchen on Wheels/Downtown Ministries: To expand and formalize a program providing hot meals and fresh vegetables to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity as well as underwrite a pilot program at ULEAD Athens.

• UGA Mary Frances Early College of Education Speech and Hearing Clinic/Athens Area Parkinson’s Support Group: To allow speech-language pathology faculty and students to provide education and free screenings for participants in the Athens Parkinson’s Disease Support Group. Educational programs will be recorded for future use.

• UGA Chapter of Habitat for Humanity/Athens Area Habitat for Humanity Ramp Project: To help low-income residents with mobility issues stay in their residences by building access ramps.

• UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel Summer Academy Community Camp/Alps Road Elementary School: To expand the Summer Academy Program to reach underserved Athens-Clarke County youth by providing a camp for rising third- and fourth-graders to explore career pathways and build confidence in multiple academic areas.

• UGA School of Social Work HEALTHYouth/Farm to Neighborhood: To build sustainable healthy eating habits in elementary and middle school youth by providing nutrition education that teaches hands-on skills along with healthy meal planning and budgeting tips.

A committee of representatives from UGA and the Athens-Clarke community selected award winners. Applications for the next round of funding will be accepted beginning fall of 2023.