Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2009
Contact: Daphne Yarbrough-Jones
Public Relations Manager
Telephone: (910) 755-1755
FAX: (910) 754-5499
E-mail: dyarbrough@atmc.coop

ATMC AWARDS $25,000 IN COMMUNITY GRANTS

Shallotte, NC -- ATMC has awarded grant funds totaling $25,000 to 14 organizations serving Brunswick County.

The cooperative honored its fourth annual community grant recipients with a reception on June 9th at ATMC's corporate headquarters in Shallotte. Representatives from each of the 14 organizations talked about the programs for which the grant funds are earmarked and how these grants will positively impact area residents. Checks were presented for Community Connections, the community grants component of ATMC’s annual grant program.

Those receiving funding were:

Arts & Culture

Brunswick Concert Band – Student Assistance Program: provide musical instruments to local students who desire to play but are financially unable to do so ($600)

Emergency and Disaster Planning

Winnabow Volunteer Fire Department – Operation LIFE SAVER: purchase an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and train firefighters to use it in saving the lives of fellow firefighters, emergency personnel and residents ($2500)

Health and Human Services

Brunswick Adult Medical Clinic – Beyond Basics: program to help cover the costs associated with diagnostic testing, lab, x-rays, consultations and other services that go beyond basic healthcare for the working poor and uninsured patients of Brunswick County ($2500)
Brunswick Senior Resources – Family Caregiver Support: program to assist with the cost of personal care items for patients whose caregivers are unable to provide them ($2500)
New Hope Clinic – Economic Increase/Pharmacy Demand: program to help cover the rising costs of pharmacy supplies for uninsured, low-income patients ($2500)
South Brunswick Interchurch Council – Food Pantry: a nondenominational operation serving clients through the Food Pantry at Camp Methodist Church in Shallotte, working with the Food Bank of North Carolina to serve clients in Southern Brunswick County ($1400)
WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. – Mentors 4 K.I.D.S.: program to pair foster children with mentors and obtain materials to help the children master life skills for independent living ($2488)

Civic and Miscellaneous

Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity – 27th Home: assist in the purchase of materials for building the 27th Habitat Home for a family in Brunswick County ($2500)
Brunswick Housing Opportunities – Homeward Bound/Healthcare Workers Initiative: program to provide financial education and training support for healthcare workers and help them find affordable housing ($1080)
Brunswick Pink Angels – Brunswick Pink Angels Project: assist with the cost of comforting items for tote bags for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in Brunswick County ($1000)
Calabash Lions Club – Sight First: program to identify the visually impaired in Brunswick County and assist with the purchase of eyeglasses as needed ($452)
Cedar Grove Improvement Association – Community Family Assistance: program to provide support to needy families through donations of food, home repair assistance, yard cleanup, basic medical supplies and health screenings ($2500)
Communities in Schools of Brunswick County – After-School Wrap-up Learning Centers: provide ready-to-use learning centers designed to provide after school programs with a fun, self-directed, self-corrected method of teaching basic math and reading skills ($1980)
The First Tee of Brunswick County – Learning Center Automation II: purchase a high-capacity copier for office use, parent/guardian communications, lead coach communications and handouts for participants ($1000)

The ATMC Grant Program began in 2006, and the majority of the cooperative's corporate contributions and sponsorship dollars are now given directly through the grant program. The grants awarded recently will impact a diverse group of individuals across Brunswick County of all ages, races and sexes, and touch on a broad range of health and human service needs among the county’s rapidly-growing population.

Allen Russ, CEO/General Manager of ATMC, commented, "ATMC is proud to provide you with quality communications services and top-notch customer service, but what's just as important is that we are a local company and we are here to help make this community a better place for all who live here, work here and visit here. Your contributions through these programs help to make that happen. We thank you for giving back to your community and for making ATMC a part of that process."

ATMC will also be awarding education grants through its Smart Connections program in the fall of this year. Smart Connections applications and packages will be distributed after school reconvenes and will be accepted beginning late August. Up to $25,000 will be issued through these grants, which will focus on education needs in our county’s schools as well as any pre-school education-related issues.

For more information on ATMC’s grant program or to obtain a copy of program guidelines or an application, visit ATMC's website at www.atmc.net or stop by the cooperative's corporate headquarters at 640 Whiteville Road in Shallotte or the Customer Service Center at The Village at Sunset Beach.

PICTURED (left to right) (front row, seated): Malcolm Grissett, ATMC Director, Linda Siegelwax – Calabash Lions Club, Margaret Connaughton – Brunswick Adult Medical Clinic, Janice Gore – ATMC Director, Linda Herrick - South Brunswick Interchurch Council, Kathy Smith – Communities in Schools of Brunswick County, Kay Wolf – WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. and Gretchen Bodinsky – New Hope Clinic; Back row, standing: Gary Knapp - Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity, Jim Russell – Brunswick Senior Resources, Elbert Gore - ATMC Director, Resea Willis – Brunswick Housing Opportunities, Linda Dorman – Brunswick Concert Band, Elsa Bonstein – The First Tee of Brunswick County, Travis Mercer – Winnabow Volunteer Fire Department, Conrad Bryant – Cedar Grove Improvement Association, Mary Earp – Brunswick Pink Angels and Allen Russ - ATMC CEO/General Manager

For more information, call ATMC Customer Service at 754-4311 or visit either of our Shallotte or Sunset Beach locations.