South Cumberland Community Fund has approved grants to 14 organizations across the Plateau totaling just over $94,000. With this year’s grants, SCCF has awarded more than $692,000 since 2012. Both new and past grant recipients were recognized at the Celebration for the Plateau held at Dubose Conference Center on July 1, 2018.
"We are proud that the 14 applicants chosen for this round of grants will mainly focus on building our sense of community, strengthening the economy, and conserving our local history," said Jeff Sholey, SCCF grants committee chairman. "We hope funding these organizations will not only bring our communities together socially but also promote economic growth across the Plateau."
The following organizations received grants in the 2018 spring cycle:
Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic – $9,846 for a dental chair and compressor for their new dental suite, the first and only in Grundy County
BetterFi – $9,932 to expand their financial assistance program and capacity to lend funds to in-need borrowers by supporting their loan fund and their loan-loss reserve
Coalmont Elementary – $7,023 for multimedia equipment for the school’s auditorium, including a projection screen, projector, and microphones and speakers for their PA system
Grundy County Department of Education – $9,966 for musical instruments to support the music programs at Grundy County elementary schools and professional development for teachers who want to incorporate music into their curriculum
Grundy County Swiss Historical Society – $9,820 for seven replacement windows for the historic Stoker-Stampfli Farmhouse Museum
Life Choices Pregnancy Support Center, Inc. – $8,533 for the “Earn While You Learn” curriculum, a class that teaches parenting skills to new parents
May Justus Memorial Library – $5,600 for a special “Ready to Read” leveled book collection at the library to support building early, independent reading skills for children
Monteagle Elementary – $5,562 for multimedia equipment for the school’s auditorium, including a screen, LCD projector, and cart
Morton Memorial United Methodist Church – $9,050 for an electric pallet jack to allow volunteers for the church's food ministry to move 12,000+ lbs. of food safely and efficiently for monthly distribution
Mountain Goat Trail Alliance – $10,000 for design planning, engineering, and inspection for six miles of trail between Ingman Farm and DuBose Conference Center, the third and final piece of MGTA’s Go Grundy County campaign
Mountain Heritage Preservation Society – $2,457 for an all-weather roof and lighting and electrical outlets for their outdoor stage
Mountain T.O.P. – $4,020 for “Home Ownership Mastery Education” workshops for homeowners focused on weatherizing their homes, home safety issues, financing their homes, and DIY home inspections
S Double A Ranch – $1,200 for gardening supplies and tools to begin a community garden for the sober living program
Sewanee Community Chest – $1,100 for musical instruments, art supplies, and wobble chairs for Sewanee Elementary School.
SCCF, in partnership with the student Philanthropy Internship Program at the University of the South, will make additional funds available in the fall. All organizations who submitted an application in the spring are eligible to apply for this second round of grants by either extending their proposals or applying for a new project that meets SCCF’s grant priorities.
