Hope for Hall received a $2,500 grant from the CoBank Success Sharing Program, thanks to a nomination by Jackson EMC. The funding will support Hope for Hall’s third inclusive playground at Lyman Hall Elementary School in Hall County.
“This grant will help us reach our goal of building 20 inclusive playgrounds at Hall County schools,” said executive director Caroline Filchak, who was inspired to build playgrounds “where all children can play together.”
Hope for Hall promotes understanding and inclusion of children with disabilities through play, education, and technology. It builds inclusive playgrounds at local elementary schools, which provides an atmosphere for children of all abilities to play together.
Jackson EMC provided Hope for Hall with a $10,000 donation in 2023. The donation was made possible using margin refunds that had been unclaimed by the electric cooperative’s members for five years. Legislation passed in 2005 permits Georgia’s electric cooperatives to use unclaimed margin refunds for charitable, educational and economic development contributions.
This initial donation made Hope for Hall eligible for a grant nomination from the CoBank Sharing Success Program, which matches contributions — up to $10,000 —made by its cooperative members, including Jackson EMC.
CoBank is a national cooperative bank serving industries and utilities in rural areas of all states. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers.
(Pictured – L-R: Hope for Hall Executive Director Caroline Filchak receives the CoBank Sharing Success check from Jackson EMC Community Relations Representative Karen Ewing.)