The Opelika Civitan Club is excited to announce the establishment of its “Opelika Civitan Club Scholars” Scholarship and “Flag Project” fund through the Community Foundation of East Alabama. The Opelika Civitan Club Charter was created in March 1950, by Walter Jackson, who also served as the first president of the Opelika Civitan Club. The original Opelika Civitan Club building, which sat the corner of West Point Parkway and Sawyer Drive, was built by the Opelika Civitan Club members, and dedicated on June 18, 1971. In August of 2019, the building was sold to the Christ Covenant Church. The Opelika Civitan Club served as a local charter for the larger Civitan International Organization which inspires others to be good citizens and help people in their own communities. The Opelika Civitan Club ended their charter on July 1, 2020, due to a decline in membership.
The “Opelika Civitan Club Scholars” Scholarship will be an annual one-time scholarship award in the amount of $2,500 through a competitive application process. Recipients of the Opelika Civitan Club Scholarship must be an Opelika High School student with a 3.0 GPA or higher, exhibit leadership, sportsmanship and good citizenship characteristics, and submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor. The “Opelika Civitan Club Scholars” Scholarship will be one of nine scholarships that the Community Foundation of East Alabama offers annually.
Additionally, the Opelika Civitan Club established an “Flag Project Fund” to ensure the clubs continuance of displaying American flags on 6th Street, 2nd Avenue Bridge and around the Lee County Courthouse Square. The Opelika Civitan Club began displaying the flags in downtown Opelika in 1969 after the club purchased several large American flags to display in honor of Veterans Day. This custom was later expanded to include all patriotic holidays and the number of flags grew to a total of 93.
“The Opelika Civitan Club has been honoring Service Members and Veterans for over 50 years in Opelika,” said Todd Rauch, vice president of the Community Foundation of East Alabama. “The Flag Project Fund will ensure the tradition can continue for the next 50 years.”
The Opelika Civitan Club has created endowments in the community totaling up to approximately $215,000, ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 which include:
• Tallapoosa Girls Ranch – Sewer Project & Recreation Center
• One Voice Shelter Coalition LLC – Northridge Women’s Home
• Daughters of the American Revolution of Lee County – Cloth-A-Child & Children Christmas Fund
• Harvest Evangelism – His Place & Hosana Home
• Haddie’s Home
• Storybook Farm
• Community Food Market
• Big House
• Relay for Life of Lee County
• Food Bank of Lee County
• Civitan International – Foundation Donation & Light the Way Donation
• Community Foundation of East Alabama – Scholarship & Flag Project
For more information about the Community Foundation of East Alabama Scholarships and Programs visit www.cfeastalabama.org or email at CFEAGiving@gmail.com.
About the Community Foundation of East Alabama
The Community Foundation of East Alabama was incorporated in 2007 as a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization. As a local center for philanthropy, the Community Foundation works with individuals, families, corporations, private foundations and nonprofit organizations to help them carry out their charitable objectives and address emerging community issues. Donors to the Community Foundation also benefit from the foundation’s combined assets which greatly reduce investment and administrative fees. Our five-county region includes Lee, Chambers, Macon, Russell and Tallapoosa Counties.
Our Community Foundation is administered by a governing body of East Alabama citizens committed to building a vibrant community foundation. Through the generosity of people in East Alabama, our community foundation will continue to grow. Through grant making, we look forward to a brighter future by giving back to the place we call home. Visit www.cfeastalabama.org for additional information.