Grant information

The Decatur BBQ Blues & Bluegrass festival is a fundraising event for the Community Center of South Decatur. Founded in 1979, the Community Center of South Decatur is a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and maintain The Solarium at Historic Scottish Rite as a sustainable community resource to be used for the assistance, education and enjoyment of the Decatur community.

Through memberships and various fundraising activities such as the festival, CCSD strives to provide a venue for various community meetings, and to offer discounted event space for the Decatur community. Over its 15 year history the festival has provided local community grants for initiatives such as the Wylde Center, Decatur Education Foundation, Decatur Preservation Alliance, and the MLK Jr Service Project to name just a few. By purchasing a ticket and enjoying this Decatur summer tradition your participation goes to help not only the Solarium but many other deserving groups that continue to make Decatur such a great community for all its residents.

Thank you!

2018 Grant recipients

2018 ccsd grant image

  • A Través (Flamenco Dance and Spanish Immersion)
  • Beecatur/Bee City USA (Native Pollinator Garden)
  • Decatur Cooperative Ministry (Transitional Housing)
  • Decatur Education Foundation (Equity Training for key CSD administrators, teachers and staff)
  • DeKalb Library Foundation (STEAM Makerspace kits)
  • Frank Hamilton School (Learn to Busk for Decatur)
  • Our House (Employment Readiness Training)
  • Reading is Essential for All People (Summer children’s program)
  • Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence (Camp PEACE children’s program)
  • Wylde Center (Cob House/Playground Repair)

2015 Grant recipients

The Community Center of South Decatur was honored to provide $9,0000 in local community grants December 21st, 2015. Grant funding was generated from CCSD’s Barbecue Blues and Bluegrass Festival held in August of each year.

the-solarium

Present in December 21, 2015 Grant Ceremony Photo:

Kate Baltzell of Woodland Gardens, Michael Vajda of Synertia Partners Festival Chairman, Brian Smith City of Decatur Commissioner, Paul Mitchell MLK Service Project Chair, Cindy Weiss Solarium Executive Director and Scot Hollonbeck CCSD Board Chair

The Community Center of South Decatur Grant Recipients 2015:

  1. Decatur Education Foundation
  2. Woodland Gardens
  3. Decatur Preservation Alliance/MLK Jr Service Project
  4. Global Growers
  5. National Association on Mental Illness – DeKalb Chapter
  6. Our House