Augusta, GA
Community foundation enters new phase of disaster grant process
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Community Foundation for the CSRA is pleased says it’s entering a new phase of its Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund granting process.
Since the storm’s aftermath, the Foundation has granted $2,803,500 to nonprofits that have worked on the front lines providing critical services and administering aid.
This phase of granting will continue to fund in 20 counties, in both Georgia and South Carolina, that were impacted by Hurricane Helene.
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The foundation will expand its granting parameters to include not just 501(c)3 nonprofits, but also churches, civic organizations, and schools who have been or will be providing direct services to Helene impacted individuals.
Shell Berry, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for the central Savannah River Area, said:
The foundation has developed five grant categories: Relief Reimbursement, Lost Revenue, Increased Operating Costs, Infrastructure Needs for Public Lands, and Long-term Recovery Programming. These categories aim to provide comprehensive support for affected communities and organizations.
The foundation has also recruited a volunteer grant panel that is made up of individuals who represent many of the counties we fund.
Working with the staff of the foundation, this volunteer panel will ensure that funding decisions reflect the needs and perspective of the communities we serve.
Their insights will be invaluable in evaluating applications and making final funding decisions.
For more information about this new granting process, please visit the Community Foundation’s website, ww.cfcsra.org. To contribute to the Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund, visit www.cfcsra.org.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Women’s Healthy and Beauty Expo in Augusta celebrates Women’s History Month
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Cher’s Sisters Only Club hosted a CSRA women’s health and beauty expo in Augusta to celebrate women’s history month.
The event took place at the Julian Smith Casino on Broad Street, where there was a fashion show, vendors, community engagement and some wellness resources.
“We had CrossFit, we had Fit to Run, we have some other vendors that has like branding wellness type products and things like that, but as a whole, we had 42 vendors that have enjoyed, and the people that come out have seemed to enjoy it too,” Vonteice Davis and Cher Best of Cher’s Sisters Only Club.
The Augusta Parks and Recreation partnered with the club for Sunday’s event.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Augusta teen summit focuses on deterring crime and gang ties
AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF)- Saturday afternoon local leaders in Richmond County held a Community Teen Summit and Youth Forum at May Park Community Center to combat the rise in teen violence.
“We wanted to bring in some of the young adults in our community to a safe place where they can utilize their voice. They can be heard,” said Cheryl Bryant, one of the event coordinators.
The forum was centered on reaching teens who may be at risk of joining gangs or other criminal behaviors.
“We see so much happening with our youth. We’ve seen it in the news. I see it in our courtrooms, whether I’m representing the youth or if I’ve seen a youth before me, and if there’s any information I can share that can protect them from coming into the court system, whether it’s for a criminal charge or for some other reason, I like to do that,” said Katrell Nash, a Juvenile Attorney and Judge.
The event featured community leaders like Sheriff Eugene Brantley and included panel speakers and other vendors designed to support local youth.
“We’re here to let the youth know that there are resources in the community for them. There’s job opportunities. There is mentoring. We’ve got gang mentors,” explained Stephanie Allen, the Public Education Specialist for the Augusta Fire Department.
A recurring theme of the event was “It Takes a Village.” Community members said it is important to show up for youth who may be struggling and help them make better life choices.
“We just want them to know that they’re not alone and that whatever their struggles are, whatever they’re going through– cyber bullying, peer bullying, feel like they don’t have the support at home, that they can reach out to community members and that we’re here to help them. All they have to do is ask,” Allen said.
“That they feel as if we care and we want to help and that they know that there are things in place for them to get help,” added Sheriff Eugene Brantley.
The summit was well attended with between 100 and 200 people. Leaders said it made them hopeful that more of Richmond County’s youth will turn from violence and crime and walk a better path.
“I love to see that children are engaged, that they want to know more about their rights. They want to know more about what the law says, as well as what they should do in these situations. It makes me very optimistic about their futures and the future of our community at large,” Nash explained.
“I think it’s going to like open them up to other opportunities. And I hope that they go back to school on Monday and tell their peers what they learned here today,” said Allen.
“Hopefully the kids and the youth who are here will engage with the sponsors and the mentors that are here, and hopefully they’ll learn and make better choices and make better decisions. And learn to respond instead of react to things,” said Sheriff Brantley.
Organizers are hoping the teen summit will become an annual event.
Photojournalist: Avery Van Dusen.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Augusta, GA
Augusta church hosts 12th annual storybook brunch
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A fundraiser to help give back to pediatric burn patients was held in Augusta on Saturday.
The 12th annual storybook brunch took place at the First Baptist Church of Augusta, and several storybook characters attended.
Steve Chalker, who is the chief operating officer of the Burn Foundation of America, spoke about how this event helps.
“It just helps raise funds for direct patient services we provide every single day, and this particular event does help burn patients. It’s an event for kids, but it helps benefit them as well,” Chalker said.
News 12’s Zayna Haliburton was there as Princess of Ceremonies.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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