Activities such as distributing food and offering aid to those in need, financing educational and sports programs for young people, tackling the problem of domestic violence, and promoting the preservation of Savannah's cultural heritage. These are just some of the activities that the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Savannah (DNA) is supporting with its 2023 Community Partner Grant Program. 

Awarding $55,400, the DNA’s Board of Directors announced this week the recipients of this year’s grants: 

• Bike Walk Savannah

• Coastal Heritage Society

• Coastal Youth Choirs/Savannah Children’s Choir, Inc.

• Emmaus House

• Fight the War Within Foundation

• First City Pride Center

• Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club

• Heads-Up Guidance Services, Inc.

• Loop It Up Savannah Inc.

• Mary's Place: Sexual Assault Center for the Coastal Empire

• Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire, Inc.

• Park Place Outreach, Inc.

• SAFE Shelter Center for Domestic Violence Services, Inc.

• Savannah Jewish Federation

• Savannah Police Dept- Northwest Precinct

• Savannah Repertory Theatre

• Shelter from the Rain, Inc.

• The Dive Savannah Foundation Inc.

• Thomas Park Food Pantry

• Union Mission, Inc.

• Urban Hope

A brief ceremony to honor all grant recipients will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum during the DNA's Annual Meeting and Spring Picnic beginning at 5:30 p.m. Media are invited to attend. 

The funds for the grants were raised through the DNA’s Annual Holiday Tour of Homes and Inns held in December 2022. Members and supporters of the DNA open their homes and inns for visitors to tour and learn about architecture, home décor, and the history and culture of the South. The event draws hundreds of visitors to the Historic District and vicinity. The tour has been held for the past 47 years, with the exception of 2020 because of the pandemic.  

Using the funds generated by the tour, the DNA bestows grants to community organizations that have an impact on the greater downtown area, particularly those that help or enrich the residential quality of life. Each application goes through a review process overseen by the DNA Board of Directors which makes the selections. 

Community organizations seeking funds are asked to select one of the following categories as the primary basis for the proposal:

• Beautification / Improvements in the Downtown Area

• Arts and Cultural Life

• Youth Development

• Humanitarian Causes

“We’re very grateful to these organizations for being part of our community and want to support the work they do to make our neighborhood a better place for us all,” said David McDonald, President of the Downtown Neighborhood Association.   

More than 200 DNA volunteers supported the day-long event held last December. Community members serve as tour organizers, docents in the homes, guides on the street, and at the Tour Headquarters. 

“The tour would not be possible without the generous and tireless work of the homeowners and the volunteers. Each year, we are in awe of the amount of time and energy they contribute to this mammoth project,” said McDonald.