Grant Signing Held at Cherokee County Public Library for 2025 Tillotson-Menlo Awards

CENTRE — Local organizations gathered Tuesday morning at the Cherokee County Public Library for a grant-signing ceremony recognizing recipients of the 2025 Tillotson-Menlo Charitable Foundation awards.

The Tillotson-Menlo Charitable Foundation, based in Menlo, Georgia, is a private nonprofit that supports health, education, economic development, and cultural initiatives in Menlo, Chattooga County, and surrounding communities — including neighboring counties in Alabama. Established in 2005 with an initial $1 million donation from the Tillotson Corporation, followed by an additional $9 million contribution, the foundation has since awarded millions of dollars to regional organizations.

Administrative Coordinator Carol Mitchell, Treasurer Jeffrey Richardson, and Vice-President Eddie Robertson attended the ceremony, where Robertson shared background on how the foundation’s service area was determined. He explained that as grant criteria were developed, the foundation chose to include communities within a 30-mile radius of Menlo, which brought Cherokee County, Alabama, into the eligible region. To date, the foundation has awarded nearly $1.5 million to Cherokee County organizations alone.

For the 2025 grant cycle, 14 Cherokee County organizations received funding totaling $154,200.

1. Cedar Bluff School

2. Gadsden State Cardinal Foundation

3. Gaylesville School — two grants

4. Gaylesville Fire Department

5. Cherokee County Animal Shelter

6. Cherokee County Public Library

7. Family Care Centre

8. Garret Cemetery — historical grant with Cherokee Tribe history confirmation

9. National Alliance on Mental Illness

10. Summit Animal Sanctuary

11. Town of Cedar Bluff

12. Trinity Animal Rescue

13. Weiss Lake Improvement Association

Representatives from each organization expressed appreciation for the foundation’s continued support, noting that the funding plays a vital role in sustaining programs and expanding services across the county.

The Tillotson-Menlo Charitable Foundation provides grants annually to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations and public agencies. It generally does not fund individuals, religious programs, or start-up organizations. Applications are typically available in the fall and announced in December. All applicants must submit current verification of nonprofit status, and outdated forms are not accepted.

Blank applications and further information are available through the foundation’s office in Menlo, Georgia.
Contact information:
• Address: C/O Jeffrey Richardson, P.O. Box 389, Menlo, GA 30731
• Phone: (706) 574-9458