The Greene County Democrat

Tag: grantees

  • BBCF Greene County Community Associates hosts their first annual grantee showcase

    BBCF Greene County Community Associates hosts their first annual grantee showcase

    Greene County’s Black Belt Community Foundation Associates: Mr. Johnny
    Williams, Fatima Robinson, Mollie Rowe, Darlene Robinson, Nancy Cole,
    Johnnie Morning, Mollie Gaines, Geraldine Walton and Samantha Lenbetter
    By Maya Quinn, editor

    The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF)  Greene County Community Associates filled the Eutaw Activity Center’s main auditorium on Saturday, September 19th, to honor past and present grantees. Chairperson Darlene Robinson led the program, which featured a variety of Greene County organizations that used their grants to fund projects and build organizations committed to meeting the needs of Black Belt citizens. 

    A man in a suit speaking into a microphone at an event.
    Commissioner Elect Wesley Hodges describing how BBCF funded organizations such as the 21st Century Scholars impacted his life and the lives of others in Greene County

    Darlene Robinson began the program by allowing Mayor Corey Cockrell of Eutaw to extend his appreciation for the organization’s work, seen and unseen. “We’ve been doing this for 20 years,” Darlene explained. “Our goal every year is to fund more grantees.” The BBCF Greene County Community Associates hold various fundraising events throughout the year to have the ability to do so. Some funds are matched by the board, but the vast majority comes from cookouts, raffles, yard sales, and other creative ways to raise money.

    After a selection by the Greene County Mass Choir, BBCF Member Fatima Robinson addressed the crowd with a spoken word piece to describe what the foundation is and embodies. “We are the heart of Central Alabama,” she stated in one of the lines, and “We pour love back into our communities” in another. The work also described a desire for improved infrastructure and connection. The BBCF community associates have been continually working towards these goals by “putting resources where they are most needed.”

    A smiling man with glasses sitting next to framed certificates, wearing a blue plaid shirt, in a room with a light-colored brick wall.
    Terrance Fletcher from BOSS TIES LLC came to bless the program and attendees. He described how BOSS TIES prepares students for careers in agriculture and entreprenuership.

    Following Fatima’s piece, the grantees were each given the microphone to describe what they were able to accomplish with their grants. A menagerie of projects and businesses attended to give testament to what it means to be in the Black Belt community. Many dedicated themselves to teaching financial literacy, carpentry, agriculture, civics, volunteer firefighting, senior engagement, and more. The entire showcase  illustrated the foundation’s motto of “taking what we have, to make what we need.”

    A display board for Lower Gainesville Road Volunteer Fire Department featuring photographs of fire safety equipment, including helmets and hoses, along with a miniature fire truck and safety cones on a table.
    A smiling elderly woman wearing an orange t-shirt with 'Boligee Seniors' printed on it, sitting at a table decorated with yellow sunflowers in vases and a promotional flyer for the Boligee Senior Rail Experience.
    A woman standing by a display board celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Federation of Greene County Employees and the Federal Credit Union, wearing a black shirt with green text and a lotus design.
    A group of three individuals standing in front of a table with a blue tablecloth featuring the Eutaw Housing Authority logo. They are surrounded by informational materials about the organization and its initiatives related to health and community support.
    Display board for Boy Scouts Troop 945 from Macedonia CME Church featuring photos and information about troop activities, with a red and white tablecloth.
    A presentation board featuring the logo 'Release the Earth' in the center, surrounded by images of people working in agriculture, animals, and community engagement. The slogan 'Growing Food. Growing People.' is prominently displayed.
    A man stands beside a table featuring a banner for the 'Justice the Beaver' Criminal Justice Reform and Intervention Forum. The banner includes a cartoon beaver character in a superhero outfit, and the table displays informational materials.
    A man and a woman stand in front of an informational display featuring community programs, with text about 'Operation TBOC' and 'L&G Hope for All'. The man wears a black t-shirt with a religious message, while the woman wears a shirt with 'I Still Win'.
    A woman smiling beside a display board that reads 'MINISTRY' and 'PEOPLE' in bold letters, with printed documents and decorations on a table in a community event setting.
    Group of six individuals, including adults and children, posing in front of a display board at an event, with a table covered in black cloth.
    Two women sitting behind a table with a black tablecloth featuring the logo and services of Woman-to-Woman, Inc., including suicide prevention, diaper bank, GED program, fatherhood program, and computer lab.
    A woman in a black t-shirt with 'Greene County Community Association' printed on it, speaking into a microphone. She is standing beside a display board titled 'Baskets of Love' featuring images of gift baskets. In the background, other individuals are engaged in community activities.