Black Belt Community Foundation awards $2,000 grant to support Okra Festival
Published 4:24 pm Monday, June 20, 2016
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From left, Felecia Lucky, president of the Black Belt Community Foundation presents a $2,000 grant to support the Okra Festival set for Aug. 27 in Burkville, sponsored by Lowndes Citizens United for Action (LCUFA) and the Lowndes County Commission. Receiving the grant award Saturday, June 18 are from left are Barbara Evans, co-founder of the annual Okra Festival, co-founder and board member of LCUFA and Debra Harris, president of LCUFA and BBCF Lowndes County coordinator. Submitted photo.
Special to the Signal
The Black Belt Community Foundation, located in Selma, awarded $60,000 in grants to fund programs throughout 12 counties located in the Black Belt region on Saturday, June 18, including Lowndes Citizens United For Action for the annual Okra Festival this August to bolster efforts in arts program.
According to BBCF, the awards were presented in a ceremony at Hank Sanders Technology Center at Wallace Community College, Selma to recipients who gathered for a day of celebration and fellowship.
Lowndes Citizens United For Action received $2,000 in grant support for its art related program, the annual Okra Festival set for Aug. 27 in Burkville.
“The Black Belt Community Foundation has awarded nearly $3.2 million in grants to our 12 counties since 2005,” said Felecia Lucky, president of the BBCF. “It is gratifying to see the organizations and community leaders who work hard every day to transform our region through the arts gather together and attend the ceremony, which is a vibrant celebration of our mission.”
This past April, community led organizations located in Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Wilcox counties were welcomed to apply for grants to support the arts.
The BBCF awarded $60,000 in grants each to arts initiative.
The Lowndes County grant recipient, LCUFA, received $2,000 to support the 15th year for the Alabama Okra Festival, which offers various interdisciplinary artists, live music, and all kinds of food with an emphasis on canned local food.
On hand to receive the award were Barbara Evans, co-founder of the Okra Festival, co-founder and a board member of LCUFA and Debra Harris, Lowndes County coordinator for BBCF and president of LCUFA.
The Black Belt Arts Initiative has been made possible by the generous support of the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts
The Black Belt Community Foundation’s mission is to forge a collective stream of giving that transforms a 12-county region and connecting those interested in having an impact in our area with the nonprofits that are making a difference today. Founded in 2004 with the idea that those living and working in the Black Belt best knew the area’s challenges and opportunities, the Black Belt Community Foundation actively puts needed resources into the region to make a lasting impact.
