Community Foundation of Central Georgia Awards $100,000 to Support Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts

Staff Report

Tuesday, October 8th, 2024

The Community Foundation of Central Georgia (CFCG) is responding to the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Helene with $100,000 in emergency grants to organizations in the areas hardest hit by the storm. 

These five emergency grants are made on behalf of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia through its unrestricted funds. 

“Unrestricted dollars allow us to rise to the occasion when an urgent and significant response is required,” said Kathryn Dennis, CFCG president. “CFCG is supporting the local organizations and leaders who are responding to this disaster which has affected so many people in the communities we serve.”

The five grants include: 

  • $40,000 to CFCG’s Coffee County Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund

  • $30,000 to the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area’s (Augusta) Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund

  • $10,000 to the Greater Valdosta United Way for Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts

  • $10,000 to the Georgia Foundation of Agriculture for “Weathered But Strong” Georgia Hurricane Relief Fund

  • $10,000 to the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund 

In response to the hurricane’s devastation in Douglas-Coffee County, one of CFCG’s affiliate communities, CFCG established the Coffee County Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund to give individuals a simple way to support the community in this extreme time of need. Anyone interested in donating to support relief efforts in Coffee County may donate to the Coffee County Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund online at www.cfcga.org. 

“Coffee County has been devasted by this storm and many are still without power and water,” shared Dennis. “In addition, my colleagues in other hard-hit areas like Augusta, Valdosta and Western North Carolina share that things are desperate. Many Georgia crops have been destroyed, roads are completely washed out, and many people are still stranded. Our neighbors affected by Hurricane Helene need our support now and will continue to need support in the months and years to come as they work to recover from such devastation.”

CFCG is committed to connecting the community to resources and information on how they can help in the areas most impacted. CFCG has compiled a list of community foundations and disaster philanthropy organizations. Those recommended organizations may be reviewed on CFCG’s website. 

Disaster Philanthropy Organizations

Georgia

North Carolina

South Carolina

Tennessee

Florida

Virginia

National/Regional