Rockdale Foundation

WHO WE ARE We are an extension of our partners. We are committed to listening & supporting the informed work of local leaders. OUR VALUES We value and build upon traditional culture and local assets. We listen to local leaders who have the best understanding of the needs and strengths of their communities. We support the capacity building of local leaders. We believe education should be inclusive of all children. We promote ethical governance and policies. We encourage collaboration and the sharing of resources between individuals, organizations, and government entities. We strive to build interdependent partnerships based on trust, mutual respect, shared accountability, and open communication. OUR HISTORY The Rockdale Foundation is a private, family foundation established by Bob Pattillo and Katy Barksdale in 1994. The Pattillo and Barksdale families have deep roots in the community and commerce of Rockdale County, Georgia, and it was in recognition of this heritage that the Foundation was named. From 2000 to 2009 the Foundation focused on community development, education, and social enterprise. Support was directed to local Atlanta community development projects such as the South Atlanta community, educational initiatives in partnership with Atlanta Public Schools, and microfinance in the Middle East and North Africa region. In 2010, the Foundation began incorporating more international work with a strategic focus on education, leadership, and children and youth. After visiting several Sub-Saharan African countries, Sierra Leone was selected as a geographic focus. A country that had survived a brutal civil war and was poised for development, the Foundation began grantmaking in Sierra Leone in 2011. Today, the Foundation dedicates much of its international grantmaking resources to local education partners in Sierra Leone, while continuing to support the work of partners in Rockdale County and the Atlanta area.