The Dalton-Whitfield Community Foundation recently announced the awarding of $16,700 in grants to 11 local nonprofit organizations through its fall grant cycle. The foundation has awarded more than $1 million to local charitable organizations through its competitive grants program since it began awarding grants in 2005. 

“Our grants have helped shelter individuals who are homeless or escaping the horror of domestic violence, foster arts and cultural activities in the area, and preserve historical landmarks,” said Dan Combs, chairman of the local affiliate. “These serve the greater good and contribute to the quality of life of everyone who lives or works here in Whitfield County.” 

Three of the organizations receiving grants — DOC-UP, the Ferst Foundation Literacy Program and Junior Achievement — proposed projects focusing on teaching something valuable to clients to help them become more self-sufficient and improve their lives. These grant awards echo the ancient parable: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” 

“We all know that education, training and preparation can be keys to success, and we are impressed to see local organizations embracing projects that arm their clients with these tools,” said Deanna Gray Mathis, who co-chairs the grants committee with Linda Blackman. 

She points to the foundation’s $1,000 grant to help fund DOC-UP’s Grow Bucket Project. The grant will purchase soil, plants and other materials that will transform 5-gallon buckets into container gardens. DOC-UP has partnered with fifth-graders at Brookwood Elementary School. The students, as part of their curriculum to learn about hunger and food issues, will prepare the buckets and conduct a gardening seminar for DOC-UP clients. 

“I love this idea!” Mathis said. “I love the partnership aspect of the project, and the education will benefit those served by DOC-UP, as well as the students.” 

The foundation also awarded a $1,000 grant to DOC-UP to support its ongoing “Cooking on a Budget” classes. 

Other funded projects that provide a solid foundation for success through teaching include the Ferst Foundation Literacy Program’s mission to provide low-income, birth to 5-year-old children with a developmentally-appropriate book each month (awarded a $1,000 grant) and Junior Achievement’s Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship Training Program (awarded a $2,000 grant). 

Other organizations receiving fall grants from the Dalton-Whitfield Community Foundation include: 

• Dalton Arts Project: A $500 grant to help pay production costs for “The Nutcracker” in December.
• Habitat for Humanity of Dalton-Whitfield and Murray: A $2,000 grant to help fund the Hand-Up Repair Program for local low-income seniors.
• Humane Society of Northwest Georgia: A $1,200 grant to help fund a day of neutering in a community on the east side of Dalton.
• Oscar N. Jonas Memorial Foundation: A $4,500 grant to help pay for costs associated with hiring storyteller Carmen Deedy and other performers for presentations at eight area middle schools.
• RossWoods Adult Day Services: A $1,000 grant to help replace the current fluorescent lighting fixtures throughout the facility with LED retrofit kits.
• Town of Cohutta: A $500 grant to help restore Historic Andrews Chapel on Red Clay Road.
• Carter Hope Center: A $2,000 grant to help pay for costs associated with replacing mattresses for its residential facility.

The Dalton-Whitfield Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, conducts two grant cycles each year — one in the fall and one in the springtime. The foundation’s main focus is working with individuals and families throughout northwest Georgia to simplify and enhance giving, estate and tax planning by offering a variety of fund types. The foundation also promotes charitable giving by connecting people to nonprofits and civic projects that may be of interest to them. To learn more about the foundation, contact David Aft, president of the foundation, at (706) 275-9117 or visit www.CommunityFoundationNWGA.org.