Seated L to R: SCAD Savannah VP Darrell Naylor-Johnson, Greenbriar Children’s Center Exec. Director Gena Tayor. Standing L to R: SCAD SERVE VP Scott Linzey, Savannah Police Chief Lenny Gunther, SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace, City of Refuge Chief Development Officer Edward Phillips, and America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia Executive Director Mary Jane Crouch. Photo courtesy of SCAD.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2025
CONTACT:
Office of Communications
City of Savannah Awarded $972,000 Grant From SCAD Serve Community Fund for Public Safety
SAVANNAH – The City of Savannah was awarded a $972,000 grant as part of the Savannah College of Art and Design’s (SCAD) SERVE Community Fund, SCAD announced in late February.
The grant is part of nearly $2 million that was awarded to nonprofits and government entities in Savannah and Atlanta this year. The SCAD Serve Community Fund provides financial support to local organizations that primarily serve residents and workers in Savannah and Atlanta. In 2024, SCAD allocated $10 million to establish the fund.
The City of Savannah’s grant will be used to enhance public safety measures, with a focus on expanding the City’s public safety technological footprint.
“On behalf of the City of Savannah, I extend my deepest gratitude to President Paula Wallace and the Savannah College of Art and Design for their unwavering commitment to our community through the SCAD Serve Community Fund,” City of Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson, II said. “This generous grant will significantly enhance the Savannah Police Department’s citywide technological capabilities, providing cutting-edge tools such as improved cameras, call boxes, and mapping to ensure the safety and security of our residents and visitors.
“This investment underscores the power of strong, mutually beneficial partnerships between our city and institutions like SCAD, whose dedication to innovation and public service continues to make Savannah a better place for all. Together, we are building a safer, more connected, and more resilient community for all.”
“We are grateful for SCAD SERVE Community Fund’s investment in the Savannah Police Department through this philanthropic grant,” City Manager Jay Melder said. “SCAD has long been a public safety partner with the City, and these grant funds will provide our law enforcement officers with new tools and capabilities to help keep us safe.”
In addition to the City of Savannah’s grant, America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia received a grant to fund a mobile grocery store to make healthy food available to people in need. A team of SCAD students will create innovative designs to transform a tractor trailer into a mobile grocery store. SCAD SERVE volunteers have partnered with America’s Second Harvest for more than a decade.
City of Refuge, based in Atlanta, received funding to purchase new computers and software for its Technology Transformation Academy. City of Refuge’s mission is to bring light, hope, and transformation to individuals and families who have suffered from a lack of opportunities. More than 100 employees serve over 1,000 individuals annually on Atlanta’s westside.
Greenbriar Children’s Center in Savannah has worked with SCAD’s talented students on a number of design projects over the past several years, including an upgrade and redesign of their campus. Now a SCAD grant will add space to the gymnasium for a new community center to allow Greenbriar to deliver impactful education services to their clients onsite.
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