New foundation to help educate Franklin County

By Staff
Slade Gilmer
Many educational endeavors throughout the state of Alabama and the country have been cut back or eliminated altogether thanks to the current economy.
However, thanks to the efforts of Franklin County Community Education Director Susan Hargett, Franklin County will be able to continue many of these endeavors.
The Youth, Empolyment, and Seniors (YES) Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization designed to secure funds to help Franklin County citizens increase their educational levels.
Hargett says the idea—which she has had for over five years—will benefit many in Franklin County, especially with money from state and national government services becoming more difficult to come by.
"People as a whole are good, and want to give their money to a worthy cause," Hargett said. "If there's not a cause worth donating to here, another cause somewhere else will get the money. We thought it would be a good idea to keep the money here."
Cheryl Bradford, director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and board member of the YES foundation, says the idea is a pathway for those who want to donate.
Hargett believes that the foundation will lead to better education, which will lead to a better workforce.
"The better educated our workforce, the better our economic development will be," said Hargett.
Hargett added that the starting of the foundation was a team effort.
"It takes a lot of partnerships coming together to get something like this going," Hargett said.
Hargett said that while the YES Foundation is designed for educational purposes, the funds will not be limited just to the schools within Franklin County.
The first meeting for the Foundation will be July 13, at 1:30 p.m., at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce office.
"We invite anybody who wantes to help education in Franklin County," Hargett said.
For more information on the YES Foundation, call (256)331-0005