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DeKalb Chamber announces new police and fire foundations to raise private support for officers
Summary
DeKalb Chamber CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson announced the creation of two private 501(c)(3) foundations — the DeKalb County Police Foundation and the DeKalb Fire Rescue Foundation — to raise funds for hardship aid, training, equipment and housing incentives for officers.
Lorraine Cochran Johnson, CEO of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, announced at the 2026 Valor Public Safety Awards that the organization has formed two private nonprofit foundations to support local first responders. “Im pleased to announce the formation of the DeKalb County Police Foundation. The 501C3 has been approved,” she said, describing the effort as a private initiative separate from county government.
Johnson said both foundations will run capital campaigns to provide “hardship, education, equipment, down payment assistance for 1st time homeowners, and also housing allowances for our officers who choose to live and work inside DeKalb County.” She emphasized the projects are intended to strengthen partnerships between law enforcement, the business community and residents and to provide resources the county budget does not cover.
Event emcees and sponsors joined Johnson in thanking community partners for early commitments; the announcement came alongside the Chambers broader list of corporate and municipal sponsors. The Chamber did not provide specific fundraising targets, timelines for campaign launches, or the names of the foundationss initial board beyond noting Hannah Blake will operate one of the efforts; those details were described as forthcoming.
