Firefly Trail Inc., launches 2024 year-end fundraising campaign
Published 9:21 am Friday, December 20, 2024
On Giving Tuesday, Firefly Trail Inc. (FTI) launched its annual year-end fundraising campaign to help communities build and maintain the trail, which will connect Athens to Union Point. The non-profit is striving to raise $50,000, primarily for assisting communities with applying for and meeting matching requirements for trail-building grants.
The campaign is off to a brisk start with more than $23,000 already in hand, primarily from donations by Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, individual FTI board members, and the early donations of dozens of trail supporters.
The non-profit organization has committed more than $350,000 in recent years to help communities build and pave about 12 miles of the 39-mile trail. When completed, the Firefly Trail will connect three counties and seven incorporated cities and towns.
“Building the current 12 miles of trail has been possible because of amazing public support for the Firefly Trail,” said FTI President Mary Cook. “Building and maintaining the remaining miles of trail requires ongoing support so that we can help our small, rural communities come up with the technical assistance and matching funds that are required by trail-building grants.”
The Firefly Trail provides a safe place for people of all ages and abilities to walk, run, ride or roll. Following the historic corridor of the Georgia Railroad Athens Branch when possible, it will smooth out Northeast Georgia’s notorious hills and valleys, making it a perfect resource for recreation, community events and active transportation.
Most recently, FTI committed $21,000 to help Oglethorpe County and the City of Maxeys secure a Recreational Trails Program grant to build an additional 0.9 miles of trail in Maxeys, completing the city’s portion of the Firefly. FTI is also partnering with Union Point to develop a project that will extend the trail from its current end on Carlton Avenue into downtown.
Over the last few years, FTI helped Greene County, Union Point, Woodville and the PATH Foundation secure and implement a grant, led by Greene County, to build the entire 6.5 miles of trail in Greene County. In addition to providing technical assistance, a $220,000 commitment from FTI enabled Woodville to meet its contribution to the required local match. Before that, FTI contributions helped Maxeys and Union Point secure trail-building grants. FTI also helped raise awareness of the benefits of the trail in Athens-Clarke County and Winterville, where Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Taxes that included funds for the trail were approved overwhelmingly by voters. FTI is now actively engaged with several local governments to attract more grants and build more of the trail in coming years.
The Year-End Campaign continues through Dec. 31. Donations of any amount are warmly welcomed. Donations can be made online using Venmo or through the “Donate” tab at www.fireflytrail.com, using any major credit card, Google Pay or PayPal. If you prefer to donate by check, please make it payable to “Firefly Trail, Inc.” and mail it to Treasurer, Firefly Trail, Inc., 345 Lyndon Ave., Athens GA 30601. FTI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with Federal Employer Identification Number 45-1444715.
“We are so thankful for the deep and ongoing investment in the trail from across our region,” Cook said. “Everyone deserves a safe, fun and convenient trail on which they can walk, run or ride with family and friends right here in Northeast Georgia. We’ve still got 27 miles to go, but together, we are making the dream come true. Let’s keep the momentum going!”
For more information, please visit fireflytrail.com or email FireflyTrail@gmail.com.