A seventh round of grants was deployed from The COVID-19 Community Response Fund, hosted by Athens Area Community Foundation in partnership with United Way of Northeast Georgia. This round sends $80,000 to nine Family Connection collaboratives in Northeast Georgia.

Georgia Family Connection is the only statewide network in the country dedicated to the health and well-being of families and communities. Funds from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund can be used for the needs relevant to each Georgia Family Connection partner and its residents. Though each Family Connection is locally focused and organized, they all share a collective mission: to create the highest quality family learning community so underserved children and parents together become the drivers of their own success. 

“Our organization is the hub for any issues facing children and families in our community. We make sure that families in the community are well aware of the resources available and have access to resources. Financial resources since COVID hit a year ago are very limited and a number of the organizations that we were able to refer families to for financial assistance are unable to assist at this time,” said Greene County Family Connection Commission Inc. “[With] grant funds, we will be able to serve about 70 students with registration for Boys & Girls Club, hearing and vision screening, and [the] Backpack program.” 

The COVID-19 Community Response Fund focuses on providing immediate relief aid and recovery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to organizations working on the ground with Northeast Georgians. To date, donors have contributed more than $569,000, and the fund has made seven distributions to 78 organizations and school systems totaling $498,000.

The Athens Area Community Foundation and United Way of Northeast Georgia are grateful for the financial contributions of more than 380 individuals, organizations, and businesses including contributions from Alice and Noah N. Langdale, Jr. Foundation, anonymous donors, AT&T, Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation, CareSource Foundation, First American Bank & Trust, Foundation for the Carolinas, George A. Ramlose Foundation, Georgia Power Foundation, Ross & Leigh Campbell with Georgia Skin Cancer & Aesthetic Dermatology, Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation, South State Bank, The Caterpillar Foundation, The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, The Huffer Foundation, The Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Family Foundation, Truist, Zeist Foundation, and Athens Area Community Foundation Fundholders.

The fund is still open and accepting donations. Anyone can help by making a donation to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund. To make a donation, please visit www.athensareacf.org or mail a check to AACF, PO Box 1543, Athens, GA 30601 with COVID-19 Fund in the memo. Funds are granted to organizations based on greatest need according to data, community insights, and assessments. The funding is not restricted to current United Way of Northeast Georgia or other collective nonprofit-funded organizations.