Collaborative News

$50k Grant Will Help Cobb Community Collaborative and Faith-Based Partners Continue to Serve the Needy

The Cobb Community Collaborative and its community partners received a $50,000 grant, funded over a one-year period, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Compassionate Capital Fund Initiative. This funding, awarded to 420 faith-based and community organizations across the country, is designed to help grass-roots faith-based and community organizations enhance their ability to provide a wide range of social services for those in need, including aid for the homeless, at-risk youth, and rural communities, and initiatives to empower youth and promote healthy marriage.

"The Compassionate Capital Fund grant has the potential to have more impact than anything we've ever done before," said Joan O'Connell, executive director of the Cobb Community Collaborative. "At-risk youth in our community are one of our key focus areas. The grant will help us implement new programs and services to foster safe school environments and promote healthy youth development."

Since its inception in 2002, approximately $206 million have been given to more than 4,300 organizations, including sub-awards from intermediary grantees. The primary purpose of the Compassionate Capital Fund Initiative is to help faith-based and community organizations increase their effectiveness, enhance their ability to provide social services to serve those most in need, expand their organizations, and create collaborations to better serve those in need.

"These awards are central to President Bush's agenda of compassion toward those in need," said HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt. "By partnering with faith-based and community organizations, the Bush Administration is strengthening social services for millions of citizens."

Building on the initiative's collaborative framework, the Cobb Community Collaborative mission brings together students, parents, educators, mental health agencies, politicians, law enforcement, and faith organizations to talk about social services issues in the community. This award is designed to enhance the capacity building efforts of the parent organization as well as its members. The Cobb Community Collaborative shares ideas, expertise and resources, and is committed to improving the quality of life for all residents in Cobb County. Collaborative members work to coordinate services that address community needs and issues.

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