The Athens Foundation: A Novel Approach to Supporting Communities

BY PY Tsikata

The Athens Foundation is a nonprofit community foundation created in 1980 by eight Athens women with great vision.

What started with fifty dollars from each of the women, has blossomed, like an acorn seed with a modest beginning, into an impressive financial portfolio currently estimated at 3 million dollars.

True to its mission, The Athens Foundation has supported myriad of charities, religious organizations and other community based groups in its efforts to improve the quality of life for the Athens community and its trajectory. Since its inception, it has disbursed over one million dollars of grant money to 140 local charities.

It recently brought together the leaders of nonprofit organizations to discuss ideas about how to assist their communities in keep their heads above “the economic downturn”. It also organizes leadership classes with the aim of helping groom community leaders who will provide leadership on community issues. Its access to Health Care for senior citizens initiative launched in 2007 is a spectacular way it connects with its senior citizens. All these services and others in support of education and other welfare services underscore its relevance to the community in these harsh economic times.

Community based charities and organizations which are finding it difficult to fund projects they consider very crucial to the well-being of their communities may consider contacting the Athens Foundation with their proposals for considerations.

Individuals and companies who feel connected in one or the other to the Athens Foundation’s values and wish to donate their widow’s mite to its course can also contacts the foundation for directives.

The Sunday Creek Watershed Group Works on Water

BY Cara Fitzgerald

The Sunday Creek Watershed Group, headed by coordinator Kaabe Shaw, is a non-profit organization that works with environmental agencies and communities members to improve water quality throughout Southeast Ohio. This is a series of photos taken at the group's headquarters in Glouster.

Chili Abounds at Brown Town

BY Nicki Yowell

On a brisk, sunny October day, dozens of famished chili fans crammed into the backyard of “Brown Town,” a private residence at 35 Brown Avenue in Athens that plays host to community group the Action Committee. Lining the countertop of the estate's kitchen was an array of bean-laden and hearty concoctions, some 14 individual chili recipes in all. While it may have looked at first like a group of enterprising pals doing nothing more than ladling steamy stew, the “That's What's Up Chili Cook-Off” was in fact a community event whose obscurity was only rivaled by its creativity.

Contrary to Athens mayor Paul Wiehl’s suggested belief, Brown Town was not chosen due to its unique position as a west-Athens "suburb," but because the event was hosted by the Brown Town-based Committee, a group devoted to community involvement and camaraderie through music and other artistic endeavors. Andru Okun, one of the members of the group and a Brown Town dweller, helped organize the event, bringing in Wiehl and local musicians Jesty Beatz and Josh "Pencil" Hatfield as chili judges.

In the end, two chunky, savory recipes were chosen as winners, one selected by the judges, the other selected by the nearly 80 attendants. Pulling in favor from the judges was Justin Cousino's entry, while the throngs of tasters opted for Piper Avalokita's tasty bowl. The event was considered an overwhelming success for the Action Committee, having enabled the group to raise an ample amount of funds through donations during the afternoon. Jesty Beatz even treated the sparse remainder of the audience to an impromptu performance after the judging and sampling was complete.

Judges Josh "Pencil" Hatfield, left, and Jesty Beatz came prepared with their chili bowls.

The "That's What's Up Chili Bowl Cook-Off" crowd at "Brown Town"