The Atlanta Women’s Foundation announced nearly $1.5 million in investments this week to support organizations and programs serving women and girls across metro Atlanta.
The funding will support nonprofits working in areas including early childhood education, family stability, mental health, leadership development and girls’ empowerment. Each nonprofit selected for funding will receive a grant ranging from $25,000 to $75,000.
The Atlanta Women’s Foundation uses commissioned research, community data and conversations with nonprofit partners to identify barriers facing women and girls and determine where its investments can have the greatest impact.
Atlanta Women’s Foundation CEO Kari B. Love and Mayor Andre Dickens were joined by nonprofit, civic and business leaders and supporters during the organization’s annual Community Investment Celebration at Atlanta City Hall on Sept. 10.
“At AWF, we believe that investing in women and girls is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen our communities,” Love said. “When women can succeed, families become more stable. When girls are empowered, communities grow stronger. These investments represent more than funding; they represent opportunity, possibility, and the power of collective action.”
Dickens said issues affecting women ultimately affect the entire community.
“[Across my team] we share in the Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s vision of a future where every woman and girl has a fair shot; where they are safe, healthy and educated and economically secure,” Dickens said. “… These are issues that affect the entire city and require all of us working together to find solutions and then invest in those solutions.”
Investing in young children and their caregivers
Through its Two-Generation Initiative, in partnership with the Liz Blake Giving Fund, the foundation will invest in programs serving both caregivers and young children.
Four organizations, Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter, Families First, Our House and Quality Care for Children, will receive funding to provide services addressing housing stability, workforce development, childcare access, parenting education, mental health and early childhood development.
Girls Empowerment
Through the All Girls Forward: Girls Empowerment Program, the foundation will continue supporting 10 nonprofit partners for a fourth year.
They are Agape Youth & Family Center, Cool Girls, Families First, Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta, Girls on the Run Georgia, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Global Village Project, Los Niños Primero, Ser Familia and VOX ATL.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
The Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s Health and Wellbeing Initiative will fund seven new nonprofit partners following research conducted this year on the mental health and wellbeing of women and girls across metro Atlanta.
The organizations receiving grants are Center for Black Women’s Wellness, Mosaic Health Center, Our House, @Promise Center, The Drake House, Urban Clinic of Atlanta and Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence.
Yashoda Reddy Education Award
The celebration also recognized Clayton State University nursing student Pue Meh, who received the $5,000 Yashoda Reddy Education Award.
The award honors a nontraditional college student navigating economic insecurity.
Meh was born and raised in Thailand after her parents fled Burma, according to the foundation. She came to the U.S. with her family in 2009. After she had a child while in high school, she continued pursuing her education while working as a certified nursing assistant at Northside Hospital.
The Yashoda Reddy Education Award was established by Reddy’s children, Dr. Sujatha Reddy, an Atlanta Women’s Foundation board alumna, and Rohith Reddy. The award honors their mother’s strength, perseverance and belief in the transformative power of education.
“Creating a stronger Atlanta means creating greater opportunity for women and girls, and that takes all of us,” said Tish Harrison, chair of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation board. “This investment reflects the generosity of our donors, the leadership of our nonprofit partners, and the commitment of a community that believes in what is possible when we work together.”
