Goodwill of North Georgia will honor a former chairperson on Saturday during its annual fundraising gala at Flourish Atlanta in Buckhead.
Kirk Halpern, the organization’s most recent past chair, will receive the inaugural Community Leadership Award during Goodwill of North Georgia’s Battle of the Biz Gala.
Halpern is the founder and CEO of Farmers & Fishermen Purveyors, a company he started with his son, Ben Halpern, in 2019. Months later, at the start of the pandemic, Halpern immediately began a home delivery service “and kept all his employees working with no furloughs or pay reductions,” according to his LinkedIn account. He even hired his employees’ family members.
The Battle of the Biz Gala will be emcee’d by former WSB-TV anchor Monica Kaufman and celebrates graduates of the nonprofit’s GoodBiz Entrepreneurship Program. The event is Goodwill’s major annual fundraising event.
Halpern served on Goodwill of North Georgia’s board of directors from 2013 until last June. He is being honored for his leadership and vision in advancing Goodwill’s mission, a statement said.
Similar to Halpern’s business pivot during the pandemic, at Goodwill North Georgia, he is described as “a driving force in the board and executive team’s decision to keep every Goodwill team member employed with benefits” when locations closed in early 2020.
Goodwill of North Georgia has more than 100 stores and donation centers. Profits from sales are used to fund 14 career centers. In 2023, the organization helped over 23,000 people get connected to jobs, a statement said.
“[Halpern’s] tireless dedication, innovative thinking, and unwavering support have been instrumental in helping us fulfill our mission of putting people to work,” said Keith Parker, president and CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia. “Kirk’s impact will be felt for years to come, and we are grateful for his many contributions.”
During the gala on Saturday, three top finalists from the entrepreneurial program’s business competition will be named, and the winner will receive a $10,000 prize.
Last year, Goodwill raised more than $400,000 during the event to support its career centers and received a $200,000 grant from the Truist Foundation for the entrepreneurial program.
Kirk Halpern has always been a visionary in the food industry; so it’s no surprise that he excels in helping others. Wish we still had you in the Mid -Atlantic food market.