COMMUNITY
CAC H E
A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E
CENTRAL ALABAMA
C O M M U N I T Y F O U N D AT I O N
SPRING 2015
Strengthening
Our Community
Famous Church to Erect Statue
of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Bring Your Lunch!
Upcoming Community Conversations
------------
Cover Photo -© Holley Lorain Photography
Foundation Awards $340,000
to River Region Nonprofits
A HISTORICAL
LANDMARK
Run for the
Wiregrass
From our Chairman
New CACF Board Members
Cassandra Crosby McCullough
Managing Partner
Crosby Drinkard Group
“Life’s most persistent and
urgent question is: ‘What are you
doing for others?’” – Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.
The Central Alabama
Community Foundation
strives daily to do more for
others throughout central and
southeast Alabama and our
experiences throughout 2014
reflect these efforts. In response
to community feedback, CACF
sought to positively curb
violence in the community
through our award last year of 2
focus grants totaling $100,000 to area organizations. Additionally,
CACF continued its critical funding support of central and southeast
Alabama with its annual grant awards totaling more than $340,000
to 77 organizations.
To do even more for others, CACF must remain good stewards
of the resources entrusted to us. In 2014, CACF leadership
strengthened our investment policies and concluded 2014
with record charitable funds exceeding $53 million under our
care. CACF also continued successful efforts to develop new
resources through events like #GivingTuesday and our community
conversation series that raise funds and awareness of CACF in the
community and other new outreach efforts.
CACF’s commitment to doing more for others is led by an
energetic Board of Directors and leadership team that desires
positive change in the communities we serve. Such positive
change was seen in 2014 through CACF’s efforts in our
communities and we expect – no, demand – much more of the
same in 2015 and beyond.
CACF sincerely appreciates the gifts of your time, talents and
resources as we all work to do even more for others.
Cassandra is one of the founding
partners of the Crosby Drinkard
Group. She serves as Chairman of
the Capital City Board of Governors,
Executive Committee of Child
Protect, 2nd Vice President of
Montgomery Zoo Board, and on
the Leadership Montgomery board
of directors. She is married to the
retired MPD B.J. McCullough.
Daniel Harris, Jr.
Vice Chairman, District 1
Montgomery County Commission
Dan Harris has been Vice Chairman,
District 1 since 2012. In addition to
his duties as a commissioner, he is
a practicing attorney. He and his
wife Deborah are proud parents and
grandparents. He enjoys reading,
jazz, golf, travel, and all spectator
sports.
Helena T. Duncan
Executive Vice President
First Tuskeegee Bank
Helena has over 30 years’ experience in the banking industry,
most of which is executive management level. Helena is married to
Clarence Duncan and they have two sons, CJ and Collin. She is
also the Chairman of the Board for Saint James School.
Riley Roby
2015 “Curbing the Violence” Focus Grant Finalists
CACF announced its 2015 focus grant finalists Wednesday, March 18 live on WSFA. These groups will submit their full proposals
and awards will be made the beginning of September. Read how the 2014 recipients Common Ground Montgomery and the Helping
Montgomery Families Initiative have accomplished several goals with their $50,000 grant money on the next page.
1. Common Ground Montgomery - CGM Life on Life Mentor Program
2. YMCA Montgomery - Power Scholars Academy
3. Central Alabama CrimeStoppers - Gang Prevention/Intervention Initiative
4 . Boys and Girls Clubs of the River Region - Teen Recruitment Program
5. Hope Inspired Ministries - Providing a Lasting Cure Program
2
Church Establishes Campaign to Erect Statue of King
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the
Selma to Montgomery March this March, the historic
Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in
Montgomery will erect a memorial statue of Rev. Dr.
Martin L. King, Jr. as tribute from the only church he
ever pastored (from 1954 to 1960).
The “Forward March: Legacy Center Campaign”
donations will be housed within the Central Alabama
Community Foundation (CACF). The memorial
statue will reside on the grounds of the Legacy
Center--the church’s auxiliary facility.
“We are proud to be a part of this meaningful
project which is so important to Montgomery’s history
and people,” said Burton Ward, President of CACF.
Dexter Avenue Baptist Church was designated
as a National Historic Landmark in 1974. In 1978
the official name was changed to the Dexter Avenue
King Memorial Baptist Church, in memory of Dr.
King, who helped to organize the Montgomery Bus
Boycott in the church’s basement.
In addition to the statue, campaign organizers are
seeking funding for the Legacy Center for outreach,
education and community development.
Individuals and families interested in donating to
the project may do so online at cacfinfo.org, click the
“Giving” tab at the top, click “Donate Now” on the
right, and choose “Dexter Legacy Campaign” from
the drop down menu. Or by check to: CACF, DAKM
Legacy Campaign, 35 S. Court Street, Montgomery,
AL 36104.
More information can be found on their webpage
www.dexterkingmemorial.org and on their Facebook
page “Forward March Legacy Campaign.”
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about
things that matter.” -- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Legacy Center
Following Up With 2014 Focus Grant Recipients
Last August, the CACF presented two
$50,000 “Curbing the Violence” focus
grants to Common Ground Montgomery
(CGM) and to Helping Montgomery
Families Initiative (HMFI). CGM and HMFI
will be using these grant dollars in an effort
to help reduce the amount of violence by
identifying and combating the long-term
causes.
The committee identified that common
risk factors between youth and violent
behaviors were truancy, lack of a high
school diploma and positive role models.
By selecting these two programs, CACF’s
grant money was used to impact more
youth during vulnerable times in school
and after-school hours.
HMFI works with families to observe
the youth’s home environment and family
interactions that hinder the student’s
ability to attend school or achieve
academic success. HMFI collaborates with
community partners in fields of abuse,
domestic violence, education, healthcare,
and law enforcement.
Common Ground Montgomery works
with youth in the Washington Park and
Gibbs Village communities in Montgomery
by providing mentors and after school
activities. We followed up with the groups
to see their progress.
CGM’s mentoring program:
• CGM hired a Mentor Program
Coordinator to oversee the program and
ensure that it is properly implemented. The
Coordinator recruits mentors, provides
intensive training, tracks the overall well
being (educational and behavioral) of the
matched youth and evaluates the success
of the program.
• CGM expanded its mentoring program
focusing heavily on the young men in the
program. The specific focus on young men
is rooted directly in their involvement with
gang activity, violent crime, truancy and
criminal system involvement.
HMFI results are:
• HMFI wanted to increase the
protective factors in a pilot group of
5th grade students thereby decreasing
their propensity to become involved in
negative and illegal activities. I-LEAD
was implemented in September 2014
in three 5th grade classes. Brewbaker
Intermediate, King and Nixon where
selected by MPS as the pilot schools.
Three I-LEAD teams were formed which
consist of DA prosecutors and MPD
officers. There are approximately 70
students participating in I-LEAD.
• Another goal was to reduce the overall
number of unexcused absences for the
district by 5%. The reduction for this school
term will be determined at the end of the
school year. MPS typically completes the
final report no later than the 2nd week in
June.
• According to Montgomery Public
Schools (MPS) suspension data, the
overall number of suspensions for the first
semester was down by 12%.
3
Looking Forward. Giving Back.
CACF’s 27th Annual Grants Presentation took place Tuesday, December 2 at the First United Methodist Church
in Montgomery. More than $215,000 was distributed to nonprofits serving Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Macon and
Montgomery counties.
Specialized Alternatives for Families
and Youth of Alabama, Inc.
Rebuilding Together Central Alabama
SHELTER
• Nellie Burge Community Center-$5,000
• Rebuilding Together Central Alabama-$5,550
• Renascence, Inc.-$5,550
FAMILY WELLNESS
• Child Protect, CAC-$6,150
• First Choice Women’s Medical Center-$5,000
• Lighthouse Counseling Center, Inc.-$6,175
• Montgomery S.T.E.P. Foundation-$6,175
CA
CF
Community Trust Grants
ARTS
• Alabama Shakespeare Festival-$4,000
• ClefWorks, Inc.-$5,000
• Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts-$5,800
• The Cloverdale Playhouse-$5,800
COMMUNITY BUILDING
• Bridge Builders Alabama- $6,000
• Common Ground Montgomery- $8,500
• Montgomery Habitat for Humanity-$5,950
FOOD
• Edmundite Missions-$5,550
• Montgomery Area Food Bank, Inc.- $5,550
• The Salvation Army-$3,000
EDUCATION
• Central Alabama Laubach Literacy Council-$5,000
• Hope Inspired Ministries-$12,250
• House to House -$13,250
4
SOCIAL SERVICES
• Ala. Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, Inc.-$5,150
• Gift of Life-$10,150
• Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth of
Alabama, Inc.-$5,000
MEDICAL
• Hospice of Montgomery-$6,000
• K-9s 4 Heroes & K-9s 4 Kids-$5,000
• Medical Outreach Ministries-$500
• Medical AIDS Outreach of Alabama Inc.-$8,100
• Montgomery Cancer Wellness Foundation-$6,100
CA
CF
Technical Assistance Grants
• Central Alabama Crimestoppers-$1,400
• Glenwood, Inc.-$2,500
• Montgomery's Downtown Business Association-$2,500
• Elliot's Light-$1,000
• Renascence, Inc.-$2,320
• Boys and Girls Clubs of the River Region-$2,000
• Neighbors In Christ-$1,000
• The Cloverdale Playhouse-$950
• Springboard Education Foundation-$1,000
• Alabama Shakespeare Festival-$750
• HandsOn River Region-$2,500
• Montgomery Education Foundation-$1,000
• Hospice of Montgomery-$2,500
• Mid Alabama Coalition for the Homeless-$2,500
• Impact Alabama: A Student Service Initiative-$1,080
Community Trust Grants
EC
CF
ELMORE
COUNTY
COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION
Community Trust Grants
LOOKING FORWARD. GIVING BACK.
• Alabama Shakespeare Festival-$400
• Bridge Builders Alabama-$800
• Alabama Wildlife Federation-$600
• Heritage Training and Career Center-$1,000
• Montgomery Area Family Violence Program Inc.
d.b.a. Family Sunshine Center-$2,000
• Montgomery Area Food Bank-$400
• Hospice of Montgomery-$1,600
• Hemophilia and Bleeding Disorders of Alabama-$300
• Prattville/Autauga Humane Society-$500
K-9s 4 Heroes & K-9s 4 Kids
• Communities Improvement Association-$1,000
• Wetumpka Gateway Development Corp and
Wetumpka Impact Crater Commission-$1,000
• Alabama Wildlife Federation-$600
• Easter Seals Central Alabama-$500
• Eclectic Public Library-$800
• Elmore County BOE HIPPY-$1,700
• The Learning Tree, Inc.-$1,650
• Elmore County Food Pantry-$600
• Episcopal Church of the Epiphany-$700
• Hospice of Montgomery-$1,300
• Hemophilia and Bleeding Disorders of Alabama-$175
• 65+ Heritage Quilters-$350
• A Good News Place For Seniors-$450
• McCraney-Cottle Arts Council-$650
Elliott's Light
Kid One Transport
5
New Fund Supports the Arts in Memory of Local Artist
“I got out my watercolors, covered my tiny little nook of a dining
room, and did some paintings for the nursery,” the mother of three
says. “The pieces looked like real fish, real butterflies, but with
whimsical colors and a twist.”
--From Southern Living, February 2008
The M. Bagwell Foundation has been established in memory of Mandy Bagwell. Her
three children, family, and community were very special to her. To honor and celebrate
Mandy's life, her parents and sister would like to support families in need, children, and
the arts through grants and scholarships using the generous donations from friends and
family.
“Mandy was always so generous with her time and talent and was passionate about
the things that were near and dear to her heart,” said Mandy’s sister, Mary Beth Greene.
To contribute, go to cacfinfo.org, click “Giving,”
the “Donate Now” Button and designate your gift
to the M. Bagwell Foundation.
Hundreds Come Out for Half Marathon in Dothan
More than 250 runners laced up
their running shoes Saturday, Feb.
7 for the fourth annual Southeast
Alabama Community Foundation
(SACF) Half Marathon & 5K
presented by Flowers Hospital. The
event raised $25,000 for nonprofit
grants in the Wiregrass.
Dan Enos was the male half
marathon winner with a time of
1:27:01. Aleasha Liddle was the
fastest female runner at 1:35:57.
5K winners were Julio Garcia
(male) at 20:31. Garcia won last year
as well. Abby Rogers was the top
female finisher at 20:49.
This year the event included a 1
mile fun run. The fastest male and
female (under 12) was Eli Butler and
Sofia Langford.
“The Foundation would like to
thank all of the sponsors, board
members, race participants, and
volunteers which made this event the
most successful to date,” said Millie
Armstrong, Event Coordinator and
SACF Affiliate Manager.
Post-race festivities included
complimentary massages for runners
by Massage Envy, food by Fatback’s
of Dothan, drinks from Coca-Cola,
Buffalo Rock and Adams Beverages.
The race was managed by About
Time Events out of Wetumpka.
6
Pictured left to right, top to bottom: Aleasha Liddle representing Team Red, White & Blue wins Female 5K, runners
start 5K, SACF Affiliate Manager Millie B. Armstrong presents award to top finisher in age group, Eli Butler and
Sofia Langford win fastest male and female in 1 Mile Fun Run, and crossing the finish line with friends.
Well-Rounded Teen Continues Legacy Through Scholarship
“Kyle had a tremendous positive impact on those around him. Helping them with school, pushing them harder
on the football field and inspiring them to be better Christians. We feel awarding the scholarship to other
students who exemplify these qualities will continue the legacy he had just begun.”
Devi and Donavan Leonard wanted
to create a legacy for their son Kyle,
who passed away in September 2014
in Dothan. They recently established
the Kyle Leonard Memorial Scholarship
-Donavan Leonard, Dothan Eagle, Dec. 26, 2014
within the Southeast Alabama
Community Foundation (SACF) to
memorialize their son while making an
impact in students’ lives.
The Kyle Leonard Memorial
Scholarship is based on academic
achievement, school and community
involvement. SACF will award $3,000
to a deserving Wicksburg High School
senior in May.
Kyle began attending Wicksburg
High School in 2013 where he was a
straight-A student and member of the
JV and varsity football teams. He was
also an active and involved member of
Bay Springs Baptist Church, playing the
guitar and the drums while helping his
brother lead youth worship.
Friends and family will remember
Kyle’s friendliness, playfulness, and
kind-heartedness. He leaves behind
his brother, Kevin Leonard, and sister,
Contessa Devereaux.
Family Establishes Scholarship for Local Football Coach
For someone who spent 20 years of
his life teaching students in the classroom
and on the football field, establishing a
scholarship in memory of Coach Grady
Rowe could not be more fitting. William
“Grady” Rowe passed away February
23 while working on his farm in Eclectic.
Rowe taught his football players Amazing
Grace and they sang it as a tribute to him
at his memorial service.
His family established the Coach
Grady Rowe Scholarship Fund at the
Elmore County Community Foundation
(ECCF) to provide $1,000 to a derserving
boy and girl senior at Elmore County High
School.
Applicants must have a minimum 3.0
GPA; must have participated in a AHSAA
sponsored sport at ECHS; church and
community service required; consideration
given to students who have proven the
ability to provide leadership or motivation
to excel in school or extracurricular
activities; letter of recommendation by
two adults; essay from student outlining
hopes and goals for college and career;
need based; and scholarship to be paid
upon written proof of full-time enrollment
by letter, E-mail, or fax.
Rowe also was a retired lieutenant
colonel in the Alabama National Guard.
Rowe leaves behind his wife, Gloria
Rowe, and two sons, William and Luke.
To contribute go to cacfinfo.org. After
selecting the “Donate Now” link on the
Foundation’s homepage, when prompted
please designate your gift to the Coach
Grady Rowe Scholarship Fund.
Checks can be made out to ECCF,
Coach Grady Rowe Scholarship Fund, 35
S. Court Street, Montgomery, AL 36104
and maybe also be taken to any First
Community Bank.
7
CA
CF
CENTRAL
ALABAMA
COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION
NONPROFIT ORG.
U. S. POSTAGE
PAID
MONTGOMERY, AL
PERMIT NO.
560
Looking Forward. Giving Back.
CACF Staff
Burton Ward
President
Lynne Broach
Financial Officer
Megan Stevens
Communications Director
Sandra Carlton
Executive Assistant
Millie B. Armstrong
SACF Affiliate Manager
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photos Credits: Cover Photo -© Holley Lorain Photography and Aleasha Liddle photo on page 6, Family of Kyle Leonard, Family of Mandy Bagwell, M. Bagwell
Facebook album, Legacy Center Campaign, alabamacivilrights.ua.edu, Family and Friends of Grady Rowe.
35 S. COURT STREET
MONTGOMERY, AL 36104
Community Conversation Series
Again this year, River Region residents are invited to a series of free, brown bag discussions
hosted by the Central Alabama Community Foundation (CACF). All events are FREE and open to
the public. Bring a brown bag lunch if you wish. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to (334) 2646223 or [email protected]
“Meet Montgomery’s New Police Chief Ernest N. Finley, Jr.”
Wednesday, April 8 from 11:30 to 1:00 p.m. at Montgomery Area Council on Aging’s (MACOA)
Archibald Senior Center, 115 E. Jefferson Street, Montgomery
Join us for an informal meet and greet with Chief Finley. Hear about his plans for continuing to
make Montgomery a safe city and come prepared with your questions.
“Learn About the New Valiant Cross Academy”
With Principal Anthony Brock and Bryan Kelly of Common Ground Montgomery
Wednesday, May 6 from 11:30 to 1:00 p.m. at Montgomery Area Council on Aging’s (MACOA)
Archibald Senior Center, 115 E. Jefferson Street, Montgomery
Valiant Cross Academy is an all-male school that will begin its first year (this fall) with 6th grade
boys. The Academy will be a private school with a Christian curriculum and will be located in West
Montgomery, Alabama.
“CACF’s Focus Grant Top Finalists”
Wednesday, June 24 from 11:30 to 1:00 p.m. at Montgomery Area Council on Aging’s (MACOA)
Archibald Senior Center, 115 E. Jefferson Street, Montgomery
Again this year, CACF will award $100,000 focus grant toward a nonprofit’s project to help combat
violence with area youth. We’ll hear from the top finalists and learn about their organization’s
mission and impact in the River Region.