Sandy Springs will distribute $150,000 to eight Sandy Springs nonprofit organizations to offer recreational programs targeted at underserved populations and low-income communities.
Recreation and Parks Director Brent Walker told the Sandy Springs City Council during its April 1 meeting that two types of 2025 Nonprofit Arts and Recreation Grants were offered. Programs that were funded in 2024 could receive a maximum of $12,500, with new programs eligible for up to $25,000.
Walker said the organizations are like an extension to his department.
“There are a lot of needs in Sandy Springs. We have a small recreation department that can’t meet all of them,” Walker said.
The organizations are tied into the communities, and know what their needs are, Walker said.
City Attorney Dan Lee said the funded organizations enter into a contract with the city to provide services. Walker said they are required to make monthly reports to the city during the time their programs operate.
City council member Andy Bauman’s request to increase all programs to the maximum levels possible, which would have required an additional $80,500, failed.
City Manager Eden Freeman said she believed the city will face the same budgetary pressures in fiscal year 2026 that the nonprofits are facing.
“I don’t want to raise the alarm because we are starting our budget meetings tomorrow with the departments, but we have a lot of uncertainty,” Freeman said.
Council member John Paulson said he’s open to conversations to increase the funding for the program during the upcoming budget discussions, but he wasn’t in favor of making a change near the end of this fiscal year.
Bauman said he recalled council members discussing an increase when adopting the fiscal year 2025 budget, with the idea to wait until receiving applications to make a change.
The nonprofit organizations with previously funded programs included:
Los Ninos Primero, $12,331 – The year-round program will continue to deliver classes, workshops, and performing opportunities, including drama, dance, music, and visual arts for more than 400 low-income Latino middle and high school students.
Call for Caring, $12,240 – A Family Caregiver Academy will provide two, five-week training sessions for families with special-needs children to improve the quality of life for resident family caregivers and their loved ones. The funds will assist with the cost of companion care for attendees’ loved ones during class.
The Healthy Youth USA Foundation, $11,429 – Funds will provide for a continuation of the two-month summer camp program for elementary-age children. Funds will provide tuition for up to 14 children weekly, over six weeks from May-July.
New programs being funded in the program include:
Call for Caring, $14,931 – Funds will provide a Young, Gifted Caregivers program for youth in grades six to12. Sessions will include training topics that enhance knowledge and skills related to planning care; identifying local, state, and federal resources; understanding family caregiving legal matters; chronic medical conditions; vital signs skill lab; communicating with healthcare professionals; medication management; nutrition education; dementia education; and self-care.
City Springs Theatre Company, $13,513 – This funding provides a scholarship fund for Sandy Springs students and tuition discounts for its conservatory programs, including voice, dance, and acting lessons, along with the opportunity to participate in the Summer High School Musical, a three-week summer camp.
The Healthy Youth USA Foundation, $14,861 – Funds will provide tuition for an afterschool program for up to 20 children weekly over 16 weeks from August-December. The program includes academic tutoring, performing arts, and mentoring.
La Amistad, $14,308 – Funds will implement health and wellness programs for underserved, diverse, and low-to-moderate-income adults and children.
Los Ninos Primero, $15,173 – Funds will provide expanded athletics programming to include a new year-round karate program, the addition of soccer to summer camps, and an expansion of swimming and water safety lessons to adults.
The Lost Arts Enrichment Center, $13,997 – Funding will provide the Young Writers and Publishers Workshop, a literacy-to-entrepreneurship program designed to empower low-income youth in Sandy Springs through creative writing and self-publishing. The program guides students through the process of writing, editing, illustrating, publishing, and selling their books.
Sandy Springs Mission – Funds will be used to provide tennis and baseball afterschool and summer camp programs to more than 400 low-income elementary and middle school students. $12,995
Unique Individual Ranch, $12,995 – This money will provide an adaptive summer camp aimed at providing an inclusive, accessible, and enriching experience for low-income children and young adults with disabilities.
