Billye Aaron and others to be honored at National Philanthropy Day
Long-time civic leader Billye Aaron will be honored as the Philanthropist of the Year on Nov. 6 during the National Philanthropy Day’s “The Power of Community” luncheon at the Georgia Aquarium.
Aaron has contributed to a host of civic organizations including the Morehouse School of Medicine, Morehouse College and Friendship Baptist Church.
She also co-founded the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation with her late husband, Henry “Hank” Aaron.
Her contributions have been felt for decades. She was the founder of the UNCF Masked Ball in Atlanta, a gala that supports Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Other honorees at the event include Steve and Candy Berman, who will be recognized at the Volunteer Fundraisers of the Year.
Steve Berman has spent more that 50 years working in tax, estate and charitable planning. Candy Berman has been an event consultant who has facilitated events that have raised at least $100 million.
The other major award, Philanthropic Leader of the Year, will go to David Jernigan.
On May 1, Jernigan stepped down as president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta after being diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Jernigan has spent decades working to improve education outcomes for K-12 students.
To purchase tables or tickets, click here.
— Maria Saporta
Authors recognized by the Georgia Writers Association
The 61st Georgia Author of the Year awards were announced June 30. Winners and finalists included George Hirthler, Glenn Robins, Michael Thurmond, Carey Scott Wilkerson, Alan Grostephan, among others.
Wilkerson received the Posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award.
Hirthler won in the biography category for his book “Genius of Sport — Pierre de Coubertin, Paris, and the Birth of the Olympic Movement: A Brief Biography of a Forgotten Hero.”
The winner of the Children’s Book category was “Yaya and the Sea” by Karen Good Marable and illustrated by Tonya Engel.
The winner of the Detective/Mystery category was Wanda Morris for “What You Leave Behind.”
Parul Kapur won the First Novel award for her book “Inside the Mirror.”
The History category was won by Glenn Robins for his book “A Debt of Gratitude: How Jimmy Carter Put Vietnam Veterans’ Issues on the National Agenda.”
The finalist in that category was former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond for his book “James Oglethorpe: Father of Georgia, a Founder’s Journey from Slave Trader to Abolitionist.”
Alan Grostephan, author of “The Banana Wars,” won the Literary Novel category.
Click here to read the entire list of awardees and the judges’ statements for winners and finalists.
— Maria Saporta
South Fulton advances police and fire headquarters projects in $113 million public safety investment
The City of South Fulton has approved key steps in developing two major public safety facilities as part of a $113 million investment in infrastructure.
The city council greenlit the design-build process for a new 75,000-square-foot police headquarters at Old National Highway and Jonesboro Road. The facility will consolidate police functions and feature a training center, indoor pistol range, crime center, detention areas, and community spaces such as walking trails and a dog park. The project is budgeted at $55.8 million.
Meanwhile, the city has begun development on a $58 million fire and rescue headquarters and public safety training complex on 51 acres at 3000 Cascade Palmetto Highway. The facility will include a 50,000-square-foot headquarters, an emergency operations center, training areas, a burn building, and outdoor classrooms. It will also support interagency training with neighboring municipalities.
Both projects will be funded through debt financing without increasing the millage rate and are awaiting environmental review by the Water and Conservation Commission.
City Manager Sharon D. Subadan called the projects “strategic investments in the well-being and security of our city.”
— Derek Prall
Kennesaw State students create award-winning stargazing video game
Kennesaw State University students have developed an award-winning educational video game that turns stargazing into an interactive learning experience.
The game, “Draw the Night Sky,” was created in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Carters Lake. It allows players to explore and draw real constellations based on their geographic location and time of year, using data from the Yale Bright Star Catalog.
The project, built in Unity, earned first place among undergraduate entries at the College of Computing and Software Engineering’s annual C-Day showcase.
“We wanted to give players the ability to interact with the sky, especially kids,” said Dominic Ho, the project’s lead programmer.
The game features voice-guided navigation, accessible design and educational storytelling. It was developed by a team of students with support from faculty mentors and partners at Carters Lake. It is available on the game site Itch.io.
— Derek Prall
Two Bank of America Atlanta employees earn national volunteer recognition
Two Bank of America employees in Atlanta have received the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national honor recognizing outstanding community service.
Shanderay Lewis, global financial crimes investigations manager, and Kyle Miller, community relations manager, were recognized for their extensive volunteer efforts across the Atlanta area. The award, created in 2003, honors Americans who demonstrate sustained civic commitment.
Lewis earned the Silver Award in 2023 and the Gold Award in 2024 after logging 544 hours of service with organizations such as Covenant House Atlanta, Habitat for Humanity and The Life Church Christian Center.
Miller has volunteered more than 3,000 hours since 2019, including over 500 this year. He supports the Latin American Association, LGBTQ+ sports outreach and youth financial literacy programs.
“Both of these individuals are stellar, engaged, and have a heart for the Atlanta community,” said Al McRae, president, Bank of America Atlanta.
— Derek Prall
RedefinED Atlanta awards $150K in grants to support parent advocacy in APS
RedefinED Atlanta has awarded $150,000 in grants to three local organizations working to strengthen parent advocacy and education in Atlanta Public Schools.
Through its ARISE Parent Power Grant program, the nonprofit awarded one-year, $50,000 grants to Kendall Rae’s Green Heart, Raising Expectations and Sheltering Arms. The funding will support programming that equips families with the tools, knowledge and confidence to advocate for their children’s education.
“Each organization’s project offers a unique, community-rooted approach to strengthening family advocacy and improving academic outcomes for students,” said Angira Sceusi, executive director of redefinED Atlanta.
The grant initiative is part of redefinED’s broader mission to drive equity-focused, systemic change in K-12 education. The ARISE Parent Power Grants were developed in partnership with the nonprofit’s ARISE Fellows, a group of parent and community leaders focused on reimagining Atlanta’s public schools.
— Derek Prall
Kim Wynn named to Buckhead Business Association board
Leadership consultant Kim Wynn has been appointed vice president of leadership development for the Buckhead Business Association board of directors, the group announced Tuesday.
Wynn, a senior consultant with Atlanta-based Leaders Team, brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience to the role. She specializes in ontological leadership, helping executives and teams overcome performance blind spots and align values with action.
“Kim’s extensive experience in transformational leadership makes her an invaluable addition to our board,” said Faizan Moosa, president-elect of the Buckhead Business Association.
— Derek Prall
39th annual Marietta Art in the Park set for Labor Day Weekend
The 39th annual Marietta Art in the Park returns to historic Marietta Square Saturday, Aug. 30 through Monday, Sept. 1.
The juried fine art festival features more than 200 artists showcasing diverse mediums, live music, children’s activities including the Chalk Spot street painting event, and community food vendors. Free admission welcomes over 55,000 visitors annually. A portion of proceeds supports the Marietta Business Association.
Parking is available around Marietta Square, with free options at City Hall Parking Deck. For details, click here.
— Derek Prall
Thanks for bringing up this topic, it really makes you think. South Fulton is investing $113,000,000 into public safety projects — 2 new headquarters, training campuses, and spaces where firefighters and police can prepare together — and they’re doing it without raising the tax rate, through issuing bonds. Then students from Kennesaw State created the game “Draw the Night Sky,” winning at C-Day, using the Yale Bright Star catalog, adding voice guidance and adaptive design — it’s not just a project, it’s an example of how educational potential + software can change how thousands of local school kids perceive science. When I saw students in Dallas–Fort Worth using VR space simulations, I noted a motivation boost of at least 65%. This shows why you need product teams able to prototype fast, test hypotheses, adapt UX, and solve problems at the intersection of science and interface, and if you need a contractor at that level it’s worth looking into game outsourcing company to not just make a game but build a learning tool that has impact. What do you think — is your team ready to invest in projects of that scale and do you have the resources for long-term support so it doesn’t stop after the pilot?