Projects
Athens, AL
Alley Way
The Limestone Area Community Foundation (Foundation of Limestone County) gave a leadership gift to Athens Main Street as one of several area partners to construct and maintain an entertainment venue on Jefferson Street. This project has been very successful in hosting community events and offering a respite for many who have enjoyed the merchants in Athens.
Athens, AL
Judge Horton Monument
The Judge James Horton Monument Project was a community effort to raise funds to honor the late Judge Horton with a bronze statue at the Limestone County Courthouse.
On January 19, 2016, The Judge Horton Committee and the Limestone Area Community Foundation (The Foundation of Limestone County) signed an agreement to establish the Judge Horton Fund.
Haywood Patterson was one of the nine young black men known as the “Scottsboro Boys.” Judge James E. Horton made the ruling that overturned Mr. Patterson’s guilty verdict. Those assembled were stunned when he announced that he would grant a motion because “the jury’s verdict was not supported by substantial evidence.” In a careful review of the prosecution’s witnesses and of the medical testimony, Horton found the testimony to be “not only uncorroborated, but it also bears on its face indications of improbability and is contradicted by other evidence.”
Judge Horton, who ran unopposed in his previous election, ran in the general election of 1934. He lost by over 2,000 votes. It was generally believed that he lost due to his decision in the Scottsboro case. In an interview in 1966, Horton said that this quote was frequently repeated in his family, “fiat justicia ruat colelum” — let justice be done though the heavens may fall.
At the statue unveiling, former Judge Jimmy Woodroof described Horton as a good and kind man who did the right thing, knowing it would be an unpopular decision and that he would not be re-elected.
Athens, AL
Kids Dugout Committee
On June 5, 1997, what was known as the Limestone Area Community Foundation (now known as The Foundation of Limestone County) entered into an agreement with Kid’s Dugout Committee led by Councilman Danny Whitfield, to build a playground for the children of Limestone County in the new Sportsplex campus.
This playground would be the first comprehensive playground built in the Athens-Limestone County area. The Foundation became one of the leadership donors, as well as a strategic partner for the Kid’s Dugout Committee. In addition to providing financial support, The Foundation supported the Dugout team with fundraising, managing donations, managing expenditures and reports to donors. Additionally, The Foundation worked with volunteers and United Way Agencies to secure volunteers for the work site.
The project was completed in October of 1997 and has been used by generations of Limestone County children.
Athens, AL
Court House Bell Preservation
The Limestone County Court House Bell Preservation project began to preserve the bell that had been stored and forgotten from previous renovations of the Limestone County Courthouse. A group of concerned individuals wanted to showcase and preserve the bell. The bell was then housed on the grounds of the courthouse for future generations to enjoy.
Athens, AL
Blue Springs Playground
On March 23, 2010, the Blue Springs Playground and Track Boosters made an agreement with The Limestone Area Community Foundation (The Foundation of Limestone County) to establish the Blue Springs Playground and Track (Committee) Donor Advised Fund. The purpose of this fund was to build a playground, play field, running track, a fitness/cross country trail and a fitness/strengthening zone in the Clements community. The further purpose of the fund was to include enhancements to the project and to maintain the facilities after completion.
The Blue Springs Playground and Track Boosters project went on to raise money through grants and private donations from alumni, parents, teachers, and area businesses. The vision of the project was to create a fitness-oriented playground built with applicable standards, including the American Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide the Blue Springs students with a safe and aesthetically pleasing environment to explore physical
capabilities and imaginative play.
In addition, a play field surrounded by an eight-lane 400-meter running track, a 1600-meter fitness/running trail, and a stretching and strength building zone was to be built. The Clements High School Track and Cross Country Teams would have opportunities to use the track/trail for both practices and would be able to host county/area-wide events. The Limestone Area Community Foundation provided financial support, donor recognition support, accounting, and maintenance of funds for the support of the project.