HAMLET — Amazon recognized 28 local organizations Tuesday morning as recipients of its Richmond County Community Fund, a $200,000 grant program supporting projects across the county.
The Richmond County Community Fund was announced in August 2025 to support programs and projects intended to have a lasting impact in the Richmond County area. The fund awards grants of up to $10,000 to individuals, community groups, schools and nonprofits.
Funding supports projects focused on STEM education, sustainability and the environment, economic development, future workforce development, and homelessness, hunger, health and well-being.
“When we first joined your community all those months ago, we committed to being a good neighbor and partner and working alongside you all to build lasting and meaningful support, and we’re just getting started folks,” said Amy Jaballah, community engagement manager at Amazon.
She said the recipients reflect the strength of the community.
“The 28 organizations here today that are receiving $200,000 worth of funding through our fund represent the heart of what makes this community strong,” added Jaballah.
“This is a community that cares deeply for each other. You’re on the lead to step in, and you care deeply about the prosperity of the community, the prosperity of each other. It really has been wonderful to be a part of that and to see that,” said Jaballah.
Morgan O’Connor, senior construction manager at Amazon, also spoke and provided an update on the company’s local project.
“Our data center project build is in full swing and we would like to thank all our partners for their support,” O’ Connor said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to build strong relationships across Richmond County. We’re excited to bring jobs and community compelling programs to the region in the coming months and years.”
Chairman Jeff Smart spoke on behalf of the Richmond County Commissioners and thanked Amazon Web Services for investing in the community.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for this partnership. You can see the commitment— today is just one example of the commitment that they have to our community. “They’re giving away money for us today, giving away awards. Isn’t it awesome?” Said Chairman Jeff Smart. “Giving money away so it can be spent here in Richmond County and people can benefit from it. What better partnership can you ask for?”
“I look forward to what yet to come,” Smart said. “You never know what might happen the next week or three years for now.”
Two of the 28 grant recipients spoke at the event about how the funding will be used, including Angela Watkins, director of Discovery Place Kids Rockingham, and Brandie Hamilton of Richmond Senior High School’s Raider Diamonds.
“A couple of years ago, Discovery Place Kids Rockingham began an initiative, cradle to career. So our desire was to increase the local students’ knowledge of jobs and careers that are available in Richmond County,” said Watkins.
“Through generous donations, we’re created several classes and many field trip experiences and exhibit upgrades,” Watkins said. “Thanks through this Amazon grant, we’re able to further this cradle to career initiative by providing a hands-on, interactive class that matches the North Carolina standards course of studies, supports classroom teachers and introduces students to new job fields.”
“The project focuses on uplifting young women who are career and college bound. We are community engagement and is that exactly what we stand for,” Hamilton said. “ We do service based projects, especially working with the early start intervention services in Rockingham, our local senior centers and exposing our young women into many employment opportunities in our community. We are grateful for Amazon helping helping our Richmond Senior High School’s Raider Diamonds.
As the program concluded, Jaballah spoke about continued collaboration.
“We’re just getting started. There’s a lot more work that we’re looking forward to partnering with you all,” said Jaballah.
The 28 organizations receiving grants include:
• Hamlet Rescue and EMS
• City of Hamlet Fire Department
• First United Methodist Church of Hamlet
• Seaboard Festival Day, Inc.
• Richmond Senior High School’s Raider Diamonds
• Richmond Resource Inc.
• Friends of the Hamlet Public Library
• United Way of Richmond County Inc.
• Mineral Springs Improvement Council, Inc.
• Richmond County Rescue Mission, Inc.
• CLG Learning Center, Inc.
• The MBS Tech Foundation
• Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc.
• Richmond County Chamber of Commerce
• Friends of the Thomas H Leath Memorial Library
• North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Richmond County
• Richmond Community College
• Richmond County Schools
• Mineral Springs Elementary School
• Discovery Place Kids Rockingham
• Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Inc.
• East Rockingham Senior Center
• New Shoes for Christmas FPC
• Richmond County Aging Services
• The Steed Foundation
• Freedom Baptist Church