FORT DEPOSIT, Ala. - Sept. 18, 2007 – A $1,000 grant from the Alabama Power Foundation has been granted to the Fort Deposit Arts Council to be used in part to help the town’s volunteer fire department.

A portion of the grant will be donated by the arts council to the annual Pullin’ in the Pines tractor pull scheduled for Sept. 29. The tractor pull is an annual fund-raiser for the Fort Deposit Volunteer Fire Department. The balance of the grant will be used by the arts council to fund two $1,500 college scholarships for deserving students from the Fort Deposit area.

“We’re a small town and can’t afford a lot of things,” said Freida Cross, arts council president. “Our fire department needs equipment. It’s an example of citizens working for each other. We live here. We’re all interested in bettering our surroundings and neighborhoods.”

To be sure, that’s the mission of the Alabama Power Foundation, said Judy Gettys, manager of Alabama Power’s Greenville Office. “Our foundation delights in helping cities and towns across Alabama become better places to live,” Gettys said.

The gesture of community spirit in donating money for the fire department fund-raiser is not the first for the Fort Deposit Arts Council. Purchases the group has made in the past include:
 

• An ambulance for the town
• A cruiser for the police department
• Jaws of Life for the rescue squad
• Furnishings for a reception area in the juvenile detention center
• 500 seats and a light/sound system for the municipal complex.

“It’s refreshing to see the Fort Deposit Arts Council going the extra mile in such neighborly fashion to give back to the community,” Gettys said. “This is truly an example of how unselfish people who give generously can make a tremendous difference in their own back yard.”

Founded in 1970, the Fort Deposit Arts Council is renowned for its annual Calico Fort Arts and Crafts Fair, a springtime event that draws more than 200 exhibitors and 20,000 visitors from 15 states. More information on the arts council is available at www.calicofort.com.

The Alabama Power Foundation works to improve the quality of life of Alabamians and strengthen the communities in which they live. Since 1990, the foundation has provided more than $100 million in grants to worthy projects across Alabama. Details about the foundation are available at www.alabamapowerfoundation.com.

Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO), provides reliable, affordable electricity to more than 1.4 million customers across the state. Learn more about Alabama Power at www.alabamapower.com.

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