Barbara Morgan was named the new advisory board chair of the Newton Fund of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. For the past 10 years, the Newton Fund has brought together individual donors, nonprofits, government, corporate and civic leaders to strengthen the Newton County community through philanthropy — Morgan has served on the board since 2006.

 "The Newton Fund is important because it is the organization that brings together two types of good hearts: those with funds - either large or small amounts - who want to put those funds to good use in this community and those who put their good hearts to work in the broad range of nonprofits here," Morgan said. "We are a volunteer-driven community, and the Newton Fund is where those who can make things happen financially meet those who are at work on the front lines and need those funds."

 Morgan was named the new chair in January, taking over for Bruce Gallman, a developer who lives in River Cove. A Covington native, Morgan earned a journalism degree from the University of Georgia and spent several years working for newspapers throughout the state. In 1983, Morgan became the first female news secretary to a Georgia governor — a position she held until 1990.

 Last year, the Newton Fund awarded grants totaling $18,000 to seven organizations: Friends of Newton Park, Newton County Special Olympics, Newton Mentoring, Salvation Army, Washington Street Community Center, Willing Helpers Food Pantry and FaithWorks.

 For Morgan, FaithWorks holds special significance. In 2006, she and her husband, Bob Furnad, together with then-Newton Fund chair Sandy Morehouse and then-Covington mayor Sam Ramsey, founded the organization, a ministry supported by 35 Newton County churches. As a resource center for those in immediate need, FaithWorks has given more than $500,000 in rent and utility assistance to date.

 According to Morgan, Newton County’s quality of life is largely determined by its civic engagement.

 "I am continually overwhelmed by the volunteerism in this community– people who could go on their merry way but instead stop to lift other people up," she says. It was Morgan’s experience as a volunteer and then board chair of the Atlanta Community Food Bank that fostered her commitment to nonprofits and philanthropy. "If you don’t get inspired by the people and work of the Food Bank, then you won’t ever get inspired."

 Since 2000, the Newton Fund has granted more than $220,000 to area nonprofits to respond to the changing needs of the community. The 2010 Newton Fund grant program will be held in the fall. This year, qualified nonprofits will be able to apply for both program support and general operating support to sustain them as they pursue their missions. For additional information or questions, contact newtonfund@cfgreateratlanta.org.

 The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta connects donors, nonprofits and community leaders to strengthen the Atlanta area through philanthropy. We do this by providing quality services to donors and innovative leadership on community issues. In 2009, The Community Foundation awarded more than $138 million throughout 23 counties in the greater Atlanta region and beyond. For more information, please visit www.cfgreateratlanta.org