Helmet Safety Program Receives Grant in Gainesville/Hall County (6/18/08)

JEFFERSON - Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County has been awarded a $1,000 grant by the Jackson EMC Foundation to help launch its Helmet Safety Campaign.

Bonnie Jones of Jackson EMC said Gainesville-Hall County Safe Kids Coalition has taken the lead in educating parents, teachers and childcare professionals about injury prevention. Heading a coalition of agencies that includes local fire and police departments, Safe Kids provides safety training for the home, biking, boating, driving, playgrounds and schools. For families that cannot afford them, Safe Kids Coalition distributes smoke alarms, child safety seats and life jackets. The organization provides education to teachers and other professionals in more than 20 local schools.

During Safe Kids 2008-09 Helmet Safety Campaign, the agency will use 50 volunteers to educate more than 2,500 second grade students in 25 schools, and will distribute helmets to children whose families cannot afford them.

Funded by Jackson EMC members, who contribute through the Operation Round Up program, the Foundation has awarded more than $2.45 million to date through 215 grants to organizations and 101 grants to individuals. Operation Round Up rounds up electric bills of participating members to the next dollar amount, using the spare change to do charitable work.

Any individual or charitable organization in the 10 counties served by Jackson EMC (Clarke, Banks, Barrow, Franklin, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison and Oglethorpe) may apply for Foundation funding by completing a grant application, available online at http://www.jacksonemc.com/Guidelines-for-Funding.106.0.html or at local Jackson EMC offices. Applicants need not be a member of Jackson EMC.