Morgan County Community Foundation, an East Tennessee Foundation Affiliate, Awards 12 Grants Benefiting Morgan County

[Morgan County, Tennessee, May 20, 2025] – The Morgan County Community Foundation, an affiliate fund of the East Tennessee Foundation, announced $40,000 in 12 local grants for nonprofits serving Morgan County. These grant awards were presented on May 20, 2025, at Roane State Community College’s Morgan County Campus.

The Morgan County Community Foundation (MCCF), members of the East Tennessee Foundation (ETF) team, and other community leaders gathered to celebrate the impact these grants will make on the greater Morgan County community.

“From supporting students and public safety to benefiting animals and natural resources, these local grants are enhancing a wide range of community needs by strengthening Morgan County’s nonprofit infrastructure,” said MCCF Chair James Frank Wilson. “We are grateful for these community leaders who are making a difference in Morgan County and for our endowment at the East Tennessee Foundation as it provides a permanent source of funding for local charitable causes like these which we celebrate together today.”

“Morgan County Community Foundation accepts donor gifts for immediate use or for later use in its endowment program to provide annual grants for years in the future,” added MCCF Vice Chair Neal Richardson.

The MCCF announced grants supporting the following nonprofit organizations and programs serving Morgan County:

• Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, Inc. – Funding the School Supplies Program for Morgan County students
• The ARC Anderson County – Supporting programming and services for Morgan County residents with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities
• CASA of the Tennessee Valley – Providing advocacy for Morgan County children in the juvenile justice system
• Emory Valley Center, Inc. – Funding programs and services for Morgan County families, people, and children facing intellectual and/or developmental disabilities
• The Free Medical Clinic – Supporting medical care for Morgan County residents who are low-income and uninsured
• Friends of Frozen Head State Park – Benefiting the organization’s ability to enhance park services for visitors
• MoCo Mutts Rescue Center – Funding the organization’s capacity to provide animal welfare and rescue services
• Morgan County Government – Supporting all 10 of Morgan County’s volunteer fire departments
• Morgan County Head Start/Early Head Start – Providing capacity support for children and their families
• Morgan County Rescue Squad, Inc. – Funding capacity for county-wide emergency services
• Morgan Scott Project for Cooperative Christian Services – Supporting capacity for the organization’s ability to provide food, housing, and health care services
• Roane State Community College Foundation – Funding for the Morgan County Campus food bank

“The Morgan County Community Foundation represents the East Tennessee Foundation’s commitment to and the importance of local decision-making to meet local needs,” said the ETF President & CEO Keith Barber. “Funding for these grants comes from individuals and families whose lives have been positively impacted by Morgan County, and they pay it forward by giving back to the community. We are grateful for this group of leaders for volunteering their time, raising funds, and leveraging their local expertise to help us award grants to deserving communities and empower people across generations in the Morgan County community.”

The 2025 MCCF Board Members include Michelle Adkisson, James Brooks, Melody Kees, secretary; Karen Melton, P. Neal Richardson, vice chair; and James Frank Wilson, chair.

About East Tennessee Foundation

The East Tennessee Foundation (ETF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity and nationally accredited community foundation focused on serving a 25-county region in East Tennessee. As a community foundation, the ETF operates as a collection of hundreds of distinct charitable funds and supporting organizations established by individuals, families, businesses and other nonprofits. The ETF builds endowments, creating a permanent source of philanthropic funding for the East Tennessee region. For more information, visit www.easttennesseefoundation.org.

About Morgan County Community Foundation

The Morgan County Community Foundation (MCCF) was established in 2022 as an affiliate fund of the East Tennessee Foundation by a dedicated group of Morgan County residents and supporters. MCCF gives donors a way to connect their giving with local nonprofi­ts, public agencies, and compelling charitable causes. MCCF is Morgan County people helping nonpro­fits that serve the residents of Morgan County. MCCF supports  a wide range of programs and projects that build community goodwill, seek to solve community challenges, and produce results for the benefit of the community.