Grants benefit schools

Published 3:00 am Friday, October 3, 2014

Charlie Dunn said helping kids through donating to schools is a topic that is close to his and his organization’s heart.

“I didn’t come up with much,” Dunn said. “But the Lord has blessed me. I want them to be as blessed as I was. We feel like because the Lord has blessed us —he brought us back overseas from wars. The more the Lord has blessed me the more I want to bless others.”

Schools all around the county have been given donations by Dunn’s organization, the Charlie’s Angels Retired Military Association.

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Charlie’s Angels donated a total of $6,000 to area schools at the Sept. 23 meeting of the Troy City Council. Dunn, Commander of the organization and city council member, said it was gratifying to see school officials receive checks written out to their respective schools.

“My heart is overfilled with joy to see them receive these checks,” Dunn said. “When I see the smiles on their faces and see they appreciate it, that makes me feel good.”

The organization had their first meeting in January 1998. Dunn said the group decided that they wanted to give back to the community. They first began donating to schools with a donation to Charles Henderson High School’s JROTC program. The donations grew to other school’s programs.

“Then we said it was not fair only to give to the JROTC programs, so now we give a little bit to all the schools in Pike County,” Dunn said.

The three area schools with JROTC programs, Charles Henderson High School, Goshen High School and Pike County High School all received $1,000 each. Pike Liberal Arts School received $1,000 as well.

Charles Henderson Middle School, Banks Middle School, Goshen Elementary School, Pike County Elementary School, Troy Elementary School, New Life Christian Academy, Covenant Christian School, Troy Pike Center for Technology and O.C.A.P. received $200 each.

O.C.A.P. Headstart of Troy and O.C.A.P. Headstart of Brundidge both received $100.

The donations are made in memory of the late SSG William (Bill) Sanderlin and the late PFC Johnny Brown. Willie Tony is the Executive Officer of the organization. Dunn thanked everyone that helped in their fundraising efforts in Troy and all surrounding areas.