Hawkinsville organization raises money to renovate historic school

HAWKINSVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – After two years, The Deacons and Stewards Association is almost ready to turn the Lumpkin Street School into a community center.

They need 50-thousand dollars to do it. In April, the Charles Johnson Foundation told the organization, if they raised half of their goal, they will match the rest.

The Lumpkin Street School was once a separate but equal school during times of segregation. The Deacons and Stewards Association wants to turn the abandoned building into a community center to preserve its history.

They’re working with the Archway Partnership to raise the money. In April of 2014, the Charles Johnson Foundation gave Deacons and Stewards a 25-thousand dollar challenge grant.

Charles Johnson is a football player for the Carolina Panthers. He grew up in Hawkinsville and he wants to see his community prosper.

The foundation promises to match 25-thousand dollars of the Deacons and Steward Association’s fundraising efforts.

“We would love for more funders to come to the table to help support this project. We would love to see this historic building revitalized to be the communtiy hub that it once was,” explained the Executive Director for the Charles Johnson Foundation, Jennifer Dobossy.

The organization received a 15-thousand dollar grant from the Community Foundation of Central Georgia. They plan to raise the additional 10-thousand dollars through similar grants.