SafetySmart Lilburn Receives Tax-Exempt Status

It's official: The IRS now recognizes SafetySmart Lilburn as a tax-exempt, 501c3 organization.

According to the organization's president, Margot Ashley, this is a major milestone that came at the most opportune time.

“The timing in getting our tax-exempt status couldn’t be better since we are now organizing for National Night Out and approaching local businesses for their support,” she said in a news release.

Lilburn’s National Night Out has been the organization’s key annual project, coordinating with the city of Lilburn, Lilburn Police, local businesses, organizations and citizen groups. Last year’s event was recognized as one of the most successful in the state, drawing in more than 800 visitors, and participation this year is anticipated to be bigger.

SafetySmart Lilburn was started in June 2010 with the purpose of increasing safety awareness and increasing positive relationships between residents and police in the greater Lilburn area. Since its start, SafetySmart volunteers have worked in the community to start and sustain neighborhood watches, conduct two rabies clinics, organize National Night Out for three years, conduct three safety-related surveys and encourage involvement in the community.

Providing a framework for subdivisions to organize, SafetySmart provides coaches who will help neighbors get to know each other, establish goals and structure, and building relationships and communication with neighbors while reducing crime in the area.

Working hand-in-hand with Lilburn and Gwinnett Police Departments, SafetySmart has reached out to leaders of neighborhoods (whether organized as Homeowners Associations, Neighborhood Watches or Community Oriented Policing Services/COPS programs) to offer support and encouragement in sustaining their communication with area residents. Quarterly neighborhood leaders meetings have offered interaction with members of the police departments, local government and introduced other resources in the county.

A safety-related survey is currently being conducted to establish residents’, employees’, employers’, athletes’ and worshipers’ perceptions of the safety status of the area.  Attempting to reach all nationalities, SafetySmart hopes to receive responses from all ethnic groups to establish a pattern of perceived safety for the 30047 zip code area. Results will be published in area media as well as used to inform decisions about future activities in the community.  Available in English, Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese, the survey is completely anonymous and takes about five minutes to finish. Visit the SafetySmart website to complete an online version. Paper versions are available by request from info@safetysmartlilburn.org.

In addition to its own activities, SafetySmart collaborates with other safety-related civic organizations, including Safe Kids Gwinnett, Gwinnett United in Drug Education, Community Crime Prevention Task Force of the Gwinnett Coalition, Lilburn Community Partnership, and Move Over Gwinnett.  (This is a new collaborative effort to educate the public about the Move Over Law enacted in 2003.  The group is comprised of representatives from Police from the County and municipalities of Gwinnett and Gwinnett County Fire Departments and their alumni associations).

Funding for SafetySmart has come from area businesses, including Eddie’s Automotive and Royal-Will Law Firm.  These businesses have generously provided resources for the last three years to support a monthly electronic newsletter, as well as the expenses of conducting business.  Other businesses have provided in-kind services, allowing operation on a shoestring budget: Mail & Package Center, Inc. and Aegis Technology, Inc. have volunteered time and talents to produce a new website, perfect publications and launch a newsletter from a new platform.  Many other businesses have provided donations of goods or services for National Night Out, making it a very successful event in Lilburn. 

In August, 2012, The Neighborhood Fund of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta awarded a $5000 cash grant to SafetySmart to promote community strengthening efforts in 30047 zip code.  These funds have helped with retreats and reorganization, continued production of the newsletter, up-front costs for the rabies clinic, survey and National Night Out and continued efforts to build and strengthen neighborhood watches in the area.  Supported by two coaches from the Neighborhood Fund, SafetySmart has looked at best practices and reorganization of the group. 

"This recognition of tax-exempt status will allow SafetySmart to expand its reach and increase our impact in the 30047 zip code," said Ashley.  Congratulations from many area organizations have validated the sense of accomplishment by this budding organization.

For more information about receiving newsletters, exhibiting at or attending National Night Out, starting or rejuvenating a neighborhood watch or participating in the safety-related survey, please visit the website.

The above is from a press release sent by SafetySmart Lilburn.

See also:

• SafetySmart Lilburn Conducts Safety Survey of all in Greater Lilburn
• SafetySmart Lilburn Wants Your Pets Protected
• SafetySmart Lilburn Gains New Board Members

Don’t miss any Lilburn news. Subscribe to Lilburn-Mountain Park's free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.