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Meet Rebecca McAdam

Rebecca McAdam joined the Athens Area Community Foundation (AACF) as a Spring 2026 Student Fellow with a passion for creating opportunities and improving access for communities both locally and globally. The fellowship provided Rebecca with an opportunity to explore how philanthropy can address complex challenges and create meaningful change.

Rebecca is a senior at the University of Georgia pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and a Master’s degree in International Policy. Prior to joining AACF, she volunteered with organizations including the Athens Area Humane Society and Habitat for Humanity. During her fellowship with AACF, she gained firsthand insight into how local nonprofits, donors, and community leaders work together to support the Athens area.

Finding Inspiration at Adventure Bags

One of Rebecca’s favorite fellowship experiences was visiting Adventure Bags, an organization that provides care packages for children entering foster care. “It was so special to see the level of attention that goes into each backpack that the staff sends to a child in need,” Rebecca shared. The organization’s commitment to meeting both practical and emotional needs helped to reinforce Rebecca’s appreciation for organizations that create meaningful impact for children and families throughout the community.

Exploring Energy Insecurity in Athens

As part of her fellowship project, Rebecca researched energy insecurity in Athens-Clarke County, exploring how rising utility costs affect households across the community. Her research found that more than half of Athens households struggle to pay their utility bills, a rate significantly higher than state and national averages. Rebecca examined the concept of energy burden, which occurs when households spend a disproportionate share of their income on energy costs. In Athens, many families exceed the commonly used affordability threshold, placing additional strain on already limited household budgets.

Beyond the financial challenges, Rebecca’s project highlighted the broader impacts of energy insecurity. Difficulty paying utility bills can affect physical and mental health, housing stability, and overall quality of life, with children often experiencing some of the greatest consequences. “Thousands of families are facing difficult decisions every single month,” Rebecca explained in her project presentation.

While her research identified significant challenges, Rebecca also highlighted organizations and initiatives working to address energy insecurity throughout the region. Among the initiatives featured in her research were Habitat for Humanity’s Bright Homes energy program, the Athens Energy Opportunity Program, and organizations providing direct financial assistance to households facing utility hardships. For Rebecca, these efforts demonstrated that solutions already exist within the community. The challenge, she found, is ensuring that successful programs have the resources necessary to meet growing demand and reach more families in need.

Her project reinforced the idea that investing in local solutions can improve financial stability, strengthen health outcomes, and help build a more resilient community. One of the most valuable lessons Rebecca gained during her fellowship was the importance of approaching others with compassion and understanding. She shared how learning about trauma-informed community building encouraged her to better understand people’s circumstances rather than making assumptions about their experiences.

Her Lightbulb Moment

Rebecca’s “lightbulb moment” came while attending an AACF Founder’s event, where she met community members from a wide variety of backgrounds who shared a common commitment to philanthropy. “I learned how supportive and caring our community in Athens truly is,” she reflected. “Each person I spoke with that evening conveyed a genuine dedication to their community and a fiery motivation to address the issues that they care about.” The experience gave her a new appreciation for the collective impact that can be created when people come together around a shared purpose.

The Value of the Fellowship Experience

For Rebecca, the fellowship provided valuable insight into the challenges facing Athens-Clarke County and the partnerships working to address them. Through her research and engagement with local organizations, she gained a deeper understanding of how philanthropy, community leadership, and innovative solutions can create meaningful change. AACF is proud to invest in emerging leaders like Rebecca McAdam, and we look forward to seeing how her passion for equity, service, and community impact continues to make a difference in Athens and beyond.