The University of Georgia is continuing to deepen its partnership with Athens-Clarke County through the Bobbi Meeler Sahm Service and Outreach Awards that directs nearly $33,000 in new funding to four collaborative local projects for 2026.

Established in 2021 by Athens native and UGA alumna Bobbi Meeler Sahm and her family, the endowment supports joint efforts between university faculty, students and local organizations to enhance quality of life for Athens-Clarke County residents. The fund is held by the University of Georgia Foundation and distributed annually to selected projects that demonstrate meaningful service and outreach impact.

Since its inception, the initiative has strengthened ties between campus and community while investing directly in local solutions. With the 2026 awards, the fund will have directed more than $178,000 into partnerships benefiting Athens-Clarke County.

The creation of the fund reflected a shared commitment to ensuring that UGA’s teaching, research and outreach mission directly impacts the Athens-Clarke County community. Inspired by Sahm’s gift and its local focus, UGA President Jere W. Morehead directed a $100,000 contribution to the endowment using discretionary funds provided by the University of Georgia Athletic Association during the initiative’s inaugural year.

“This award is a powerful representation of the connection between the University of Georgia and the Athens-Clarke County community,” said Stacy Jones, vice president for public service and outreach. “Thanks to the generosity of Bobbi Sahm and the support of President Morehead, UGA’s deep roots of public service will continue to grow locally, and the impact is expanded through the power of partnership.”

Each year, proposals are evaluated based on their collaborative approach, community engagement and potential for lasting impact. The selected projects represent a range of initiatives designed to address local needs while creating experiential learning opportunities for UGA students and strengthening organizational capacity among community partners.

By investing in these collaborations, the Sahm Awards ensure that innovative ideas developed through partnership translate into tangible benefits for Athens-Clarke County residents.

The 2026 Bobbi Meeler Sahm Service and Outreach Award recipients are:

UGA Cooperative Extension/Marigold Collective/City of Winterville: “Get Fresh: Chronic Disease Management and Prevention” — This is a bilingual, family-centered nutrition and gardening program that provides hands-on education and weekly produce vouchers to improve healthy eating, food security and chronic disease prevention.

UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development/Clarke County School District: “Georgia Possible” — This multiyear leadership and college readiness program led by the Fanning Institute equips Clarke County high school students with skills, mentorship and exposure to postsecondary pathways and careers.

UGA Mary Frances Early College of Education/Love.Craft Athens: “Communication in Community: Love.Craft and UGA Speech and Hearing Clinic” — UGA students, under the supervision of licensed speech-language pathologists, provide on-site speech-language services and staff training to help 20 adults with disabilities strengthen their communication, independence, employment readiness and community participation skills.

UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources/Extra Special People Inc.: “Junior Ranger Leaming Lab with ESP” — Warnell undergraduates work with young adults at ESP to provide environmental education experiences that build students’ communication and leadership skills while creating meaningful outdoor learning opportunities for participants.

Award winners were selected by a committee of representatives from UGA and the Athens-Clarke County community. Applications for the next round of funding will be accepted in fall 2026.

Past award recipients include partnerships with organizations such as the Athens Community Council on Aging, Athens FARM Rx, Athens YMCA, Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, HEALTHYouth/Farm to Neighborhood and Sandy Creek Nature Center.

Learn more about the Sahm Award here.