Helene Grant Recipients

hurricane helene community crisis fund logo

In response to the significant impact of Hurricane Helene on our community, the Community Foundation for the CSRA established the Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, we were able to make rapid relief grants to dozens of nonprofits that were on the front lines of administering critical aid. Through this fund, we have granted over $7.7 million to support immediate relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene. This initiative is providing critical assistance to the affected communities, ensuring they receive the necessary resources to rebuild and recover.

The Community Foundation is steadfast in its commitment to empowering nonprofits during these challenging times. Our second phase of granting, focused on the longer-term recovery and stabilization of our community. We recognize the critical role these organizations play in enriching and supporting our communities. To help them navigate the current landscape, we have offered targeted financial assistance in the following key areas:

  • Lost Revenue
  • Relief Reimbursement
  • Increased Operating Costs
  • Infrastructure Needs
  • Recovery Programming

In this phase of funding, organizations had UP TO TWO opportunities to submit a grant request.

“Nonprofits, schools, churches, and civic organizations can still apply for support for long-term recovery projects and unmet needs. Those interested in learning more should contact the Community Foundation Programs team to discuss funding proposals. Requests for support will be considered on a case-by-case basis until remaining funds are exhausted.”

The generous funding provided in response to Hurricane Helene is offering essential support to communities in need across multiple counties. Each grantee is actively and tirelessly working across diverse service areas to make certain that relief efforts effectively reach those who are most affected.

Through the collaborative efforts of these dedicated organizations highlighted below, the Hurricane Helene funding is making a significant impact in restoring hope and rebuilding lives.

Recovery Programming

The Recovery Programming grant is designed to fund programming and activities initiated or expanded in response to the impact of Hurricane Helene.

Nonprofits that received funding in this category:

  • ACTS of Aiken
  • Adventure Bags
  • Aiken Senior Life Services
  • Augusta Dream Center
  • Augusta Faith Leadership Consortium
  • Augusta Heritage Academy
  • Augusta Locally Grown
  • Augusta/CSRA Habitat for Humanity
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta
  • Broad Street Ministry Center
  • Cancer Support Services
  • Child Enrichment
  • Easter Seals East Georgia
  • Edgefield County Youth Empowerment Center
  • Golden Harvest Food Bank
  • Greater Augusta Arts Council
  • Home Builders Greater Aiken-Augusta Region
  • James Henry Sweat Foundation
  • Kids Restart
  • Leadership Augusta
  • Mental Health America of Aiken County
  • North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church
  • Overflow Foundation
  • RISE Augusta
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta
  • Sand Hills Garden Club
  • SC State Guard Mission & Operations Support Foundation
  • St. Vincent de Paul Society Georgia
  • The Dr. Paulette P. Harris Literacy Center
  • The River
  • The Salvation Army Augusta Area Command
  • The Salvation Army of Aiken
  • Toxic Elite Dance Company
  • Unity Outreach Church
  • Wholesome Wave Georgia

Increased Operating Costs

This grant is structured to provide a dollar-for-dollar match, which means the grant amount will be equal to the funds raised by the organization from other sources. The goal of the matching grant is to support organizations in covering additional program costs or managing financial obligations related to Helene services.

Nonprofits that received funding in this category:

  • 143 Ministries International
  • Aiken Senior Life Services
  • Apparo Academy
  • Aquinas High School
  • Augusta Heritage Academy
  • Augusta/CSRA Habitat for Humanity
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta
  • Briarwood Academy
  • Cancer Support Services
  • Edgefield County Youth Empowerment Center
  • Episcopal Day School
  • Family YMCA of Greater Augusta
  • Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch
  • Gamechangers Foundation
  • Garden City Rescue Mission
  • Georgia-Carolina Council, BSA
  • Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art
  • Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia
  • Golden Harvest Food Bank
  • Hitchcock Woods Foundation
  • Home Builders Greater Aiken-Augusta Region
  • McDuffie Care
  • MelodiousOne Educational Institute
  • Miracle Making Ministries
  • Paine College
  • Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church
  • Safe Homes of Augusta
  • Sand Hills Garden Club
  • Soar Academy Augusta
  • SORBA-CSRA
  • St. John United Methodist Church
  • The River
  • The Salvation Army of Aiken
  • Via Cognitive Health
  • Walter L. Shepeard Community Blood Center
  • Wholesome Wave Georgia

Infrastructure Needs

This grant is designed to support publicly accessible spaces such as parks, trails, and outdoor public gathering areas. The goal is to aid spaces that have suffered damages with a noticeable negative economic impact on both the organization managing the space and the surrounding community.

Nonprofits that received funding in this category:

 
  • Aiken Steeplechase Association
  • Augusta University Foundation
  • Bath Gardens Foundation
  • ENOPION Theatre Company
  • Family YMCA of Greater Augusta
  • Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch
  • Girl Scouts of Historic GA
  • Hitchcock Woods Foundation
  • Mead Hall Episcopal School
  • Phinizy Center for Water Sciences
relief reimbursement photo

Relief Reimbursement

Relief Reimbursement grants were granted for emergency relief efforts provided from September – December of 2024.

Nonprofits that received funding in this category:

    • 143 Ministries
    • Belle Terrace Presbyterian Church
    • Concerned Women
    • Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons
    • Good Neighbor Ministries
    • Living in Purpose
    • Mental Health America of Aiken County
    • Miracle Making Ministries
    • Murphy-Harpst Children’s Centers
    • Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church
    • RISE Augusta
    • Saint Luke United Methodist Church
    • The James Brown Family Foundation
    • Westabou Montessori School

Lost Revenue

The Lost Revenue grant provided financial assistance for organizations that experienced a loss of revenue due to canceled events, fundraisers, or other sources of earned income.

Nonprofits that received funding in this category:

  • Apparo Academy
  • Aquinas High School
  • Augusta Canal National Heritage Area
  • Augusta Locally Grown
  • Augusta Mini Theatre
  • Augusta Museum of History
  • Burn Foundation of America
  • Brown Girls Code
  • Christ Community Health Services Augusta
  • CSRA Business League
  • Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons
  • Easterseals East Georgia
  • Goodwill of Middle Georgia
  • Georgia-Carolina Council, BSA
  • Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art
  • Good Neighbor Ministries
  • Guiding Path Enrichment Center
  • Historic Augusta
  • Hope House
  • Le Chat Noir
  • Mead Hall Episcopal School
  • Oaks Ministries
  • Pregnant Choices
  • Project Refresh
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta
  • Sacred Heart Cultural Center
  • Safe Homes of Augusta
  • Saint Luke United Methodist Church
  • The Augusta Players
  • The Center for New Beginnings
  • The James Brown Family Foundation
  • The Salvation Army Augusta Area Command
  • Via Cognitive Health
  • Walter L. Shepeard Community Blood Center
  • Westabou Montessori School
  • Westobou Festival
  • Woodlawn United Methodist Church Preschool
american red cross

Questions?

We welcome your questions and comments. Please contact Lasima Turmon, Director of Programs, here or 706-724-1314.

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