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SERVING DEKALB, FULTON, GWINNETT, HENRY AND ROCKDALE COUNTIES
VOLUME 19 NUMBER 49
Community
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Rockdale library celebrates Dr. Seuss’ 109th birthday ....page 6
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MARCH 8, 2014
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‘Countdown to Get Covered’ Final push on for 2014 healthcare enrollment
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By Valerie J. Morgan
hampions of Change, navigators, elected officials and others are making their final outreach efforts to sign up people for the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges by the March 31 deadline. After the deadline, Americans without health care plans must pay a penalty. Enroll America, a nonprofit led by Obama campaign veterans, is staging more than 3,000 events across the country with the help of the Service Employees International Union and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Since the open enrollment period kicked off on Oct. 1, some 4 million Americans have selected plans on a state or the federal exchange, federal officials said this week. The Obama Administration had initially projected to have 7 million people enrolled in year one, but revised its projections to 6 million. Locally, several Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment sessions are scheduled to assist people. With the deadline looming, DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson is one elected official who is hosting sessions to assist people. “I am sponsoring these enrollment events around District 3 for residents who are uninsured, under-insured or have questions. Trained navigators will
“This is a final chance for the public to get signed up for affordable health insurance before the March 31 deadline as well as an opportunity to determine eligibility for financial assistance.” – Shirley Hill be on site to assist with enrollment and to answer questions,” said Johnson. Shirley Hill, who is working with Enroll America and hosting an enrollment event at the Brook Glen subdivision, said close to 83 percent of Georgians who have enrolled to date,
received financial assistance to help pay for coverage. “This is a final chance for the public to get signed up for affordable health insurance before the March 31 deadline as well as an opportunity to determine eligibility for financial
assistance,” said Hill. Hill says there will be several volunteers walking people through the registration process. This year, the penalty for not enrolling is $95 per adult and $47.50 per child with a maximum of $285 per household – or one percent of income, whichever is greater. The income calculation is based on one percent of adjusted gross income (AGI) that exceeds your personal exemption and standard deduction. For example, if you are married, filing jointly and your AGI is $50,000, less the standard deduction of $20,000, the penalty would be assessed on $30,000. So a one percent penalty would equal $300. To enroll in an exchange, health insurance navigators will need applicants’ Social Security Numbers, employer and income information, and any policy numbers for current health insurance plans. A list of local agencies and organizations that are providing assistance with enrollment can be found at https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/. For more information on requirements, visit www.healthcare.gov. 404-371-2425. Here are some of the upcoming enrollment events scheduled: March 8, 1 to 5 p.m. Enroll America organizers will host the Get Covered America Health event See Healthcare, page 6
‘Awesome’ philanthropic organization launches Atlanta chapter Group will give away $1,000 a month By Valerie J. Morgan
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tlanta has joined a growing international grassroots foundation that is helping people make their creative dreams come true. Dionne Mahaffey, an entrepreneur who is involved with several local charities and community organizations, has launched an Atlanta chapter of The Awesome Foundation for the Arts and Sciences to award $1,000 grants to those who have innovative ideas for their communities. Mahaffey is the first African American to head a chapter of the Awesome Foundation, which has 89 chapters around the world. The organization was founded by a group of MIT and Harvard students who wanted to make an impact in Boston. Their first project was a campus hammock that could hold about 20 people. “It was a great idea that made a difference and it sparked a grassroots
Atlanta Chapter founder Dionne Mahaffey
foundation that grew around the world,” said Mahaffey, whose Atlanta chapter is No. 88. Collectively, the chapters have awarded $893,000 to 893 projects. Aside from helping nonprofits and ordinary people with great ideas, what also makes the foundation awesome is that each chapter is comprised of 10 to 15 board members who give their
own money. Each trustee antes up $100 a month and each month, the group selects an idea to receive $1,000. “We’re all altruistic, ” said Mahaffey, who is a trustee of her 10 member board, which includes a racially diverse group of people. “Ultimately, we want to be a springboard for people and organizations who just need a little push to get started: $1,000 feels like the perfect amount of money to try out an idea and get some attention for it.” The group already has 30 applications and expects more as word spreads. The grants can go to groups, individuals and small, non-profit organizations. Awesome Foundation Chapters do not consider nonprofit status exclusively as the starting point for assessing a project’s “awesome quotient.” “Organized channels sometimes neglect the folks with the greatest need,” said Mahaffey. “Red tape and bureaucracy often prevent small artistic, creative, innovative, educational, environmental and other notable projects to go without sponsorship because they are not part of
an organized charity or large non-profit organization.” Another part of Awesome Atlanta’s mission will be to help connect the grant winners with the resources that can help them grow their projects. “We hope to see a lot of collaboration among various groups to get more money into the hands of the people who are doing great things in the city,” Mahaffey said. Yasmin Smith, an IT project manager and one of the first Awesome Atlanta trustees said she decided to join because of “the fulfillment that comes from being a volunteer agent of positive change in the Atlanta community. “It’s like getting together with a group of friends each month and agreeing to help launch a great idea or complete an impressive and impactful community initiative,“ she said. Applications for the Atlanta chapter’s inaugural grant are being accepted until March 20 on the group’s web site. The winner will be announced April 15. For more information about the grant process or becoming involved,