NGCF lists 2013, 2014 accomplishments; prepares to celebrate 30th anniversary

GAINESVILLE - As the North Georgia Community Foundation (NGCF) joins other such groups around the country in celebrating Community Foundation Week starting today, it is preparing to mark its 30th anniversary next year. <br /> <br /> Community Foundation Week was created in 1989 by then-President George H.W. Bush and recognizes the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems.<br /> <br /> One of more than 700 community foundations in the U.S., the North Georgia Community Foundation serves Banks, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White counties.<br /> <br /> "The first community foundation was set up 100 years ago in Cleveland, Ohio and since that time, foundations haveplayed an important role in communities all over the country," NGCF President Jim Mathis said. "We will be celebrating our 30th anniversary next year. Our goal over three decades has been to facilitate philanthropy in our region and assist our fund holders in achieving their goals of impacting lives and addressing important community needs."<br /> <br /> Each year, NGCF recognizes philanthropy in our area with its Philanthropy Day Luncheon that honors the foundation's Philanthropist of the Year and Woodrow Stewart Leadership in Philanthropy Award recipients. (This year's awards will be handed out next week.) The foundation also provides support for nonprofits through a Lunch & Learn series that addresses issues facing nonprofit organizations.<br /> <br /> NGCF's 2013, 2014 ACCOMPLISHMENTS<br /> <br /> Through funds created by its donors, the North Georgia Community Foundation made 625 grants totaling $4,389,575 in 2013 to hundreds of nonprofit organizations and has granted more than $2 million through the first six months of this year.<br /> <br /> In 2014, NGCF awarded 113 scholarships totaling $180,950 to North Georgia high school students through 26 scholarship funds established by donors at the foundation. NGCF also awarded $16,500 in Community Impact Grants to nine nonprofit organizations in northeast Georgia to help fund programs designed to improve the quality of life in the north Georgia region.

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