Grant Recipient: The Y of Rome & Floyd County

The Y of Rome & Floyd County knows that lasting personal and social change comes about when we all work together. That’s why at the Y, strengthening community is their cause. Every day, they work side-by-side with their neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.

The Y is community centered. For nearly 130 years in Floyd County, the Y has been listening and responding to the Rome Community, and serves over 1,000 community members each day. The Y brings people together. We connect people of all ages and backgrounds to bridge the gaps in community needs.

The Y nurtures potential. The Y has strong local presence and global reach. They mobilize local communities to effect lasting, meaningful change through year-round programming that focuses on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

With a grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Rome, the Y purchased a 15-passenger bus. The Y now has the ability to serve many individuals door-to-door, and the bus enables the Y to make a difference where the Y is needed. The bus allows the Y to better deliver food to children that live in food insecure homes, helps provide transportation for children caught in the activity and enrichment gap, and provides transportation for the underserved, disabled, elderly and homebound citizens in Floyd County. In other words, this bus supports many disfranchised Rome community members, and helps reduce inequality.

“This grant is greater than a transportation grant. It is a health grant, an education grant, a skills grant, a wellbeing grant, and a social cohesion grant that is significant and encouraging and allows Floyd County to be a better place to live, work and play.”