ATHENS, Alabama — TVA started their community care fund program in April 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, said TVA Community Relations Specialist Keeuntae Stone. Stone said TVA wanted to come up with a way to help communities affected by the pandemic. "...and so, we partner with local power companies like Athens Utilities to be able to help them identify nonprofit organizations that provide goods and services to help the community through the pandemic," Stone explained.
The funded projects will impact students reading below grade level, people who need transportation for job training and those who want more access to the arts.
Athens Limestone Community Association is one of the local nonprofits benefitting from the $55,000 donation total. "Well, these funds will really benefit the board. We are planning on doing some renovation to the building. We're putting in video, audio video system. The floors are bad, and we need to redo the floors. And plus, we are, our doors are always open to anyone in the community, like any organization that need to use the building. We always provide them with a place to meet," said ALCA President David Malone.
Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks believes this is a great opportunity to give back to the community. "So, this year it was wonderful. It was $27,500. We matched that and gave away $55,000 to nonprofit organizations in our community that provide the services that so many people need," he stated.
Athens Arts League President Garth Lovvorn said they truly can't thank benefactors enough, and they will use this money for a myriad of various projects. "One of which will be the scout house, which is a project that's known pretty well here in limestone county, which will be a building that's basically a music building. And then, of course, there are different programs throughout our organization that will use, whether it's for art education in schools or things that we do at our main building, which is called High Cotton Arts over on Washington Street," Garth said.
The funded projects will impact students reading below grade level, people who need transportation for job training and those who want more access to the arts.