Community Foundation of Central Georgia gives $342,500 in grants to nonprofits across Middle Georgia

The Community Foundation of Central Georgia has awarded $342,500 in spring 2025 grants to 21 nonprofit organizations across Middle Georgia.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Community Foundation of Central Georgia has awarded $342,500 in spring 2025 grants to 21 nonprofit organizations across Middle Georgia.

One grant recipient is Middle Georgia Justice, which received $23,000. Middle Georgia Justice provides free civil legal services to low-income residents in Bibb, Houston, Peach, Crawford, Jones, Twiggs and Monroe Counties.

“We’ve got the laws, ” said Amy Griffith Dever, the Executive Director of Middle Georgia Justice. “They protect everyone, but if you don’t have access to legal resources to use them, then they don’t really protect you.”

The organization’s services include family law, probate cases, and criminal history relief, and helps individuals who earn 300% or less of the federal poverty line. Dever says this helps everyone across Middle Georgia, as issues like community blight can arise from unresolved ownership of property after the death of a family member.

“All members of the community, even those that can afford legal representation, benefit when other members of the community have access to legal representation,” Dever said. 

First Choice Primary Care’s $18,000 grant will be used to renovate a new office opening on Shurling Drive in East Macon. Katherine McLeod, the CEO of First Choice Primary Care, says this will combat rising construction costs and provide care for an underserved community.

“Everyone knows that transportation is a big challenge for a lot of people in Macon,” McLeod said. 

Mcleod says East Macon patients usually go to the office at the old health department on Emery Highway, but that location will soon be closing due to county redevelopment. The new office will feature the services enjoyed at the clinic’s current locations: a doctor, nurse practitioners, support staff and labs. But McLeod says there will be more.

“We will add some behavioral health services that we don’t currently offer at the Emery Highway location,” McLeod said. “So that will be a new service in East Macon.”

• Be Eccentrich Inc DBA Eccentrich Displays Inc – $2,500
  For transforming the old Peach County High School into the county’s first Arts and Culture Center.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Georgia – $21,500
  For supporting the 2025 season of the Macon RBI baseball and softball program.
• Children 1st Community Development Services – $16,500
  For expanding foster care support in Houston County for youth with special needs.
• Communities in Schools Milledgeville Baldwin County – $8,500
  For the Neighborhood Leaders Program in Oconee Heights.
• First Choice Primary Care – $18,000
  For renovation of a new care facility on Shurling Drive in East Macon.
• Genesis Joy House Homeless Shelter, Inc. – $22,500
  For outreach and support services to veterans experiencing homelessness.
• Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, Inc. – $12,500
  For the Direct Delivery Outreach Program in Bibb County.
• Houston County Habitat for Humanity – $8,000
  For site preparation of two homes in Perry, GA.
• Loaves and Fishes Ministry – $13,500
  For critical 2025 facility upgrades.
• Middle Georgia Center for Academic Excellence – $21,500
  For the STEM Scholars: Workforce Preparation Program.
• Middle Georgia Community Food Bank – $15,500
  For matching funds for a direct mail appeal during Hunger Action Month.
• Middle Georgia Justice – $23,000
  For providing civil legal services to low-income residents across seven counties.
• Mt. Zion Baptist Church – $14,000
  To establish a satellite food pantry for Upson County.
• Museum of Arts and Sciences – $22,500
  For educational and cultural programming serving 80,000+ annually.
• Next Level Community Development Center Inc. – $23,000
  For the purchase of two vans to support student transportation.
• Otis Redding Foundation – $25,000
  For senior music classes including choral, piano, and guitar sessions.
• Rebuilding Together Warner Robins – $13,000
  For free home repairs for seniors, veterans, and disabled homeowners.
• Rose Hill Preservation & Restoration, Inc. – $10,000
  For reconstruction of the historic C.B. Lewis Brick Wall.
• Visit Macon Inc. – $15,000
  For developing Marche de Noel, a European-style holiday market in Downtown Macon.
• Warner Robins Little Theatre, Inc. – $19,500
  For building renovations to ensure safety and code compliance.
• YouthUp, Inc. – $16,500
  For delivering Social Emotional Learning and conflict resolution programming in Bibb County schools.