Center for Children & Young Adults $29K Kathy Myers Grant

November 9, 2015 - Six Rotary Clubs joined forces to donate $29,000 to the Center for Children & Young Adults (CCYA), located in between Marietta and Smyrna. Participating were Marietta Metro Rotary, North Cobb Rotary, East Cobb Rotary, Smyrna Rotary, South Cobb Rotary and Vinings Rotary. The CCYA is home to formerly abused, abandoned, neglected or at risk homeless youth and young adults.

Leading the project was Marietta Metro Rotary and its Club President, Charles Lassiter. It was originally his idea to apply for a $20,000 Kathy Myers Memorial Competitive Grant. Myers was a Rotarian in the North Fulton Rotary Club who passed away several years ago, but very generously bequeathed funds for Rotary projects. Thanks to Lassiter’s hard work in the application process, the six clubs got the grant, and raised another $9,000 between their members to flesh out the amount needed.

The monies went for new laminate flooring that replaced old carpet, new metal beds, dressers, study desks, chairs and new mattresses. Rotarians from the participating clubs helped take away the old bedroom furnishings and install the new ones. Marietta Metro Rotarian Chad Pendley, who was heavily involved in the project, said that these improvements would “help [the children] further their studies and give them the opportunity to better themselves and become an asset to our community.”

East Cobb Club President Ken Crowell says, “I’m excited East Cobb Rotary could help. Their old furniture left a lot to be desired and the new furnishings we provided will help immensely. These young people deserve to feel excited about their living environment, just as we would want for our family.”

Smyrna Rotary is always looking for the community's business and service leaders. For more information about the club or membership, please email f12@nfiweb.com.