Statements

Mission

The purpose of the Sewanee Community Chest campaign is to raise funds for local organizations that serve the common good. The Sewanee Community Chest raises funds to meet basic needs in the community such as food, books, elderly care, children's programs, recreational spaces, animal care and more. In the last decade it has raised more than $1 million for area programs and initiatives. The Sewanee Civic Association is the sponsoring organization for the Sewanee Community Chest.

Background

Women organized Sewanee's first community civic club, called the Sewanee Civic League in 1908 in order to improve municipal conditions and equipment. Through various subgroups they accomplished many projects, including underwriting the blueprints for the stone gates on the highway, circulating literature on tuberculosis, repairing the stone wall around the cemetery, and raising money to extend the term of the public school. They put Shoup Park in front of the Sewanee Inn (now Elliott Hall), cleaned up the principal views near Sewanee, and contributed money for the improvement of the University's water supply. The organization raised funds with a tearoom, a women's exchange, catering, rummage sales, book sales, a strawberry festival, recitals and other endeavors. When the organization voted to disband in 1947, they gave their fund balance of $633.17 to the University's Five Million Dollar Campaign for the endowment of the nurses' home. The University Gates Fund went to the newly organized Sewanee Woman's Club. - From Sewanee Sesquicentennial History: The Making of the University of the South

The men began their civic connections with the Sewanee Town Meeting group in December 1920. This organization was broadened into the Sewanee Civitan Club. This was nationally affiliated until 1942, when it reformed as the local Sewanee Civic Association. Its primary purpose was to raise money that the town could not raise in taxes because it was unincorporated, in order to make municipal improvements. In 1926 the Civitan Club raised funds to build and maintain a new stone public school, and later to put an addition onto it. The objectives in 1938 included the completion of Alto Road and of a state highway to the Marion County line, securing the sheriff's salary, obtaining pledges for a black community center, and adding a four-year high school for Sewanee. Each year this club organizes the Sewanee Community Chest, which now raises thousands of dollars for local organizations. - From Sewanee Sesquicentennial History: The Making of the University of the South.

Impact

Sewanee Community Chest supports area organizations across the area through a grants program with one cycle of grant-giving in the spring. The focus areas for the Sewanee Community Chest grants program are Beyond Sewanee, Community Aid, Children, and Quality of Life. Organizations may ask for General operating support or Project/program support funding. The Sewanee Community Chest awards on average $100,000 to more than 20 organizations every spring. This funding includes innovative projects ranging from the Sewanee Elementary Parent Organization place-based learning and enrichment activities for the K-5 grade students; the Community Action Committee's Kitchen2Table initiative to provide unused food from the University McClurg Dining Hall, which is sealed into three-compartment trays as packaged meals for those in need; and the Growing Roots Program funding for After School Initiative supplies and course materials. General operating support is given to Folks at Home, the Sewanee Senior Center, the Sewanee Community Center, and others.

In 2021, the SCA hosted a community-wide celebration of heroes during the Sewanee Fourth of July, highlighting community volunteers and Community Chest sponsored programs. The SCA sponsored a thank-you note design contest at the Sewanee Elementary School and the Sewanee Children's Center. The SCA granted $1,300 in emergency funding to the Sewanee Elementary Parent Organization, for air purifier filters at the school. In addition to our annual letter writing campaign, we did more interactive fundraising, including an email newsletter. We updated our website, our donor database, and our social media platforms.

In 2022, the SCA formed the Treasures for the Chest initiative, a campaign to help promote community-wide service of giving time, support and donations. The first event was a March for the Supply Drive, donating nonfood items to augment the services provided by the CAC food pantry. This was so successful it will be a twice a year event.

Needs

The next steps include to continue to strengthen our community by funding organizations that have requested basic needs funding for quality of life, community aid, children's programs, and those who are beyond Sewanee but still serve the entire community.

This July, we will have a Back to School Supply Drive to augment the services provided by the CAC food pantry. This is similar to the Treasures for the Chest campaign we launched in March 2022.

CEO Statement

Sewanee is often thought of as a community that is funded by the University of the South. The town is unincorporated and as such, does not qualify for many state and federal grants that municipalities rely on for projects such as playgrounds, parks, and community development. The community has a long history of identifying needs, raising the necessary money, and building projects as needed. We capitalize on this robust strength.

Each fall the Executive Board of Directors conducts the Sewanee Community Chest fund solicitation for the following calendar year. The Board manages the solicitation, collection and disbursement of all community chest funds. As a nonprofit organization, the Sewanee Community Chest strives to fund organizations that help those caught in the cycle of poverty, improve lives through outreach and community initiatives, and provide support for children and seniors with a variety of programs. Sewanee Community Chest stewards are chosen yearly to head up the Community Chest campaign, including budget, marketing, direct mail, and grant applications. The work starts in September, with most of the funds received by December. And the best part is we are all volunteers.

Board Chair Statement

The community is made up of many organizations that rely on the financial support from the Community Chest to achieve their mission of serving our community members. Without contributions, these organizations would not be able to provide the much-needed community resources and services. Everyone benefits from the resources provided by the organizations that receive financial support from the Community Chest. A few critical community resources we continue to support are our local schools; our organizations serving senior citizens; our children's organizations; our community volunteer home building; our community gathering and recreation spots; our local animal rescue facilities; our local farm and food programs; and our Fourth of July Celebrations.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Community Improvement, Capacity Building  - Community Improvement, Capacity Building N.E.C.
Secondary Category:	-
Tertiary Category:	-

Areas Served

Sewanee, Franklin County, adults, youth and children
Population in 2010: 2,311
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2019: 5.8% (3.9% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 21.3% for two or more races residents). Read more: http://www.city-data.com/city/Sewanee-Tennessee.html

TN - Franklin