Community Foundation for Greater Rome launches; local leaders set up long-term source – Rome News-Tribune: Local Community Foundation for Greater Rome launches; local leaders set up long-term source

The Community Foundation for Greater Rome Board of Directors includes Executive Director Ashley Ellington (seated, from left), Joel Snider, Buster Wright, Janice Davis, John Bennett (standing, from left), Wright Bagby, Mike Mathis, Jimmy Byars, Ed Hine and Ed Watters.

A group of Rome community leaders has brought many years of discussion to fruition with the incorporation of the Community Foundation for Greater Rome.

What separates the Community Foundation of Rome from the United Way is that donations are put into an endowment and only the interest earned would be used for special contributions to needy agencies.

Snider, pastor of First Baptist Church in Rome, said the United Way is like a communityas checkbook while a community foundation is more like a savings account.

Bennett, who retired last year after 30 years as Romeas city manager, said at least 20 communities across Georgia have a community foundation. With the Community Foundation of Rome is place, he said, something like Rome Kares would not have to be created from scratch.

For more information about the Community Foundation for Greater Rome call 706-728-3453 or email Ellington at aellington@cffgr.org.