Gainesville-based non-profit Hope for Hall received a $2,500 grant to build a third inclusive playground at Lyman Hall Elementary School in Hall County.
The organization received the grant from the CoBank Success Sharing Program through a nomination by Jackson EMC.
“This grant will help us reach our goal of building 20 inclusive playgrounds at Hall County schools," executive director Caroline Filchak, said in a release.
Hope for Hall aims to encourage awareness and inclusion of children with disabilities through play by equipping area schools with playgrounds that accommodate and embrace all children.
Hope for Hall was made eligible for the grant nomination through a $10,000 donation Jackson EMC contributed to the non-profit in 2023. The donation was made using margin refunds that were unclaimed by the cooperativ’es members for five years. Electric cooperatives in Georgia are permitted to use unclaimed margin refunds for charitable, educational, and economic contributions, according to legislation passed in the state in 2005.
CoBank is a national cooperative bank serving industries and utilities in rural areas. The bank’s Sharing Success Program matches contributions made by its cooperative members, including Jackson EMC.
No details have been released on when Hope for Hall will begin construction on the new playground, however, the project is projected to be completed in 2025.
