In late 1993, a group of Cobb business leaders recognized the community’s need for a vehicle to invest in its future. The group was led by Jim Rhoden, owner of Futren Corporation (now Futren Hospitality) and included the late Otis Brumby Jr., Bobbi Burruss, Murray Homan, Judge Conley Ingram, Senator Johnny Isakson, Bob Prillaman, Bob Russell, the late Lanie Shipp Hoover, the late Roy Simmons, Deborah Wallace, the late John Williams, Jack Wilson and Diane Woods. Their solution was the creation of the Cobb Community Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
Fourteen years later, we obtained our own 501(c)(3) designation. Now, we are Cobb Community Foundation. In 2017 alone, we made $1.4 million in grants, $900,000 of which were distributed to charitable organizations right here in Cobb County.
Major Events in the History of Cobb Community Foundation
1993
- Founded as the Cobb Community Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
1997
- Rae Weimer named Executive Director
2002
- Sue Wootton named Executive Director
2003
- Cobb Community Foundation celebrates 10th anniversary
- Jim Rhoden named CCF’s first Philanthropist of the Year
2005
- Affiliated with Community Foundation for NE Georgia
2007
- Received 501(c)(3) Designation
2012
- Tommy Allegood named Executive Director
2014
- Partnered with Cobb Board of Commissioners to create the Cobb Community Impact Grant
2015
- Awarded first Community Impact Grants – County investment of $285,000 matched by nearly $400,000 in private sector contributions and impacting over 103,000 Cobb Countians
2016
- Awarded Community Impact Grants – County investment of $285,000 matched by over $240,000 in private sector contributions and impacting over 103,000 Cobb Countians
2017
- Awarded Community Impact Grants – County investment of $250,000 matched by nearly $300,000 in private sector contributions and impacting nearly 118,000 Cobb Countians
- Shari Martin named Executive Director