Michael Smith, President & CEO of the Greater Valdosta United Way, traveled to coastal Georgia last Friday for a whirlwind tour of local nonprofits — arriving with handshakes, $1,000 checks, and a clear signal of commitment to the communities of Camden, Glynn, and McIntosh counties.
Smith was joined by Keeva Kase, President & CEO of the Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation (CCGF), and Bryan Farmer of the St. Marys Methodist Church Foundation (SMMCF) as they visited five organizations doing vital work across the region: GIVV (Golden Isles Veterans Village), Hand in Hand, Safe Harbor’s new Village on Ellis, the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Shelter, and Saved by Grace.
The Greater Valdosta United Way has been designated to serve coastal Georgia’s counties following the dissolution of the former local United Way chapter. Smith’s visit was an important first step in building relationships with the nonprofit organizations that will benefit from that expanded service area.
“What Michael did on Friday was more than write checks,” said Keeva Kase. “He showed up. He listened. He walked the grounds and met the people who are doing the hard work every day. That kind of personal investment matters enormously to our local nonprofits, and it speaks well of where this partnership is headed.”
Among the highlights of the tour:
- At Hand in Hand, they toured the 60-home campus for individuals exiting homelessness that is nearly at full occupancy.
- At Golden Isles Veterans Village (GIVV), the group saw the beautifully restored campus providing transitional housing and wraparound support for veterans in Glynn County.
- At Safe Harbor’s Village on Ellis, they toured the newly remodeled home for teens experiencing a crisis pregnancy.
- At the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Shelter, they connected with staff and leadership providing emergency shelter and services for individuals in crisis.
- At Saved by Grace, they visited the faith-based transitional housing ministry serving men in recovery and reentry.
Smith extended $1,000 gifts to all the organizations visited — a tangible expression of the Greater Valdosta United Way’s intention to be a meaningful partner in this region’s nonprofit ecosystem.
About the Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation: The Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation (CCGF) is a tax-exempt public foundation established in 2005 by and for the people of Camden, Glynn, and McIntosh counties. With a mission to strengthen communities through engaged philanthropists, CCGF connects people who care with causes that matter across Georgia’s coast. Learn more at coastalgeorgiafoundation.org