National Philanthropy Day celebrates local heroes
A deep sense of history combined with a love of humanity and the earth permeated the Georgia Aquarium Ballroom Nov. 5 during the 2026 National Philanthropy Day luncheon.
Philanthropists of the year, Angie and Sam Allen, were heralded for their generosity of educational and healthcare institutions.
Angie Allen opened by saying it felt uncomfortable to be called a philanthropist because she realized how fortunate she had been growing up without the structural inequalities other people had faced. She quoted Martin Luther King Jr.: “Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.”
Sam Allen said he had learned a lot from his wife that “so much of life is the luck of the draw” based on what world you are born into.
“I believe I’ve learned more in the last 15 years of my life than the previous 70,” he said.
The lifetime achievement award was given to the late Ted Turner for his $1 billion donation to establish the United Nations Foundation, for his contributions to the environment and his lifetime efforts towards world peace.
His grandson, John R. Seydel, honored his “grandpa” for being the real Captain Planet. Ted Turner instilled in his 14 grandchildren the “desire to make a difference for lasting change” in the world.
Seydel also credited his grandfather for urging the wealthiest people in the country to give away most of their money in their lifetimes. “Let’s celebrate generosity more than we celebrate wealth,” he said.
The Philanthropic Leader of the Year went to Lauren Koontz for her years of service as CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. The timing of that award was fortuitous because she is the next CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
“This room is filled with amazing leaders,” she said. I want to dedicate this award to all of Atlanta’s nonprofit professionals.”
Esther and Jim Stokes were celebrated for their years of devoted work towards the environment, be it Birds Georgia, the Chattahoochee Nature Center, the Georgia Forestry Commission, Park Pride, the Piedmont Park Conservancy, the Georgia Conservancy, among others.
Jim Stokes highlighted the 22 million acres of working forests in Georgia, and he celebrated “the days of the environmental community and forestry being at cross purposes is over.”
Esther Stokes also announced the development of the Georgia Birding Trail with the goal of having bird friendly sites in every county by 2035.
The lunch was the 40th year of National Philanthropy Day in Georgia.
— Maria Saporta
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta earns national recognition for digital health innovation
Technology is transforming pediatric care, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is earning national recognition for its digital advancements.
Children’s announced Oct. 21 that it achieved Level 9 recognition in both the Acute and Ambulatory categories of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives’ 2026 Digital Health Most Wired Survey, a first for the Atlanta-based health system.
Among more than 44,000 facilities represented in the survey, Children’s ranked above its peers in areas including patient safety, cybersecurity, data management and innovation. The annual survey evaluates how effectively health care organizations use technology to improve care.
“I am incredibly proud of our information technology teams and their ongoing commitment to innovate the quality, speed and efficiency of care we provide,” said Jeremy Meller, chief information officer at Children’s.
The recognition comes as Children’s explores artificial intelligence to reduce administrative burdens on medical teams and improve access to pediatric care.
For a health system managing more than 1 million patient visits annually, the achievement underscores how technology behind the scenes can help improve care at the bedside.
— Gabi Hart
Georgia teacher Freddie Hendricks wins Tony Award for theater education
Freddie Hendricks, a middle school theater teacher at Utopian Academy for the Arts in Ellenwood, Georgia, received the 2026 Excellence in Theatre Education Award at the 79th Annual Tony Awards in June.
The award, presented by the Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University since 2014, recognizes a K-12 theater educator in the U.S. who has had an exemplary impact on students’ lives. Hendricks is the 10th teacher to receive it. He was an honorable mention in 2023 and 2024.
The honor came with $10,000 for Utopian Academy, tickets to the ceremony at Radio City Music Hall and a master class for his students taught by Carnegie Mellon drama professors.
“I tell my students, ‘You’re born great. When you find your passion, you’re living in your greatness, and the next step is to be greater,'” Hendricks said.
An arts educator for more than 30 years, Hendricks trains Utopian students in acting, movement and storytelling, and the program partners with the NAACP and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center on community outreach. He also founded the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, an African American theater company focused on socially conscious storytelling.
— Derek Prall
Agnes Scott College wins HEED Award for sixth straight year
Agnes Scott College has received the 2026 Higher Education Excellence and Distinction Award from Insight Into Academia magazine, the sixth consecutive year the Decatur college has earned the honor.
The HEED Award recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that show a commitment to academic excellence, belonging and community-building across campus life. Agnes Scott was one of 61 recipients featured in the magazine’s October issue. Insight Into Academia describes itself as the oldest and largest publication focused on best practices in higher education.
“This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire community, especially our students, who inspire us every day to create a more inclusive, equitable and welcoming campus for everyone,” said Yves-Rose Porcena, vice president of people and culture at Agnes Scott.
Porcena said she is especially proud to receive the award for a sixth year in a row and that the college remains committed to “building bridges through courageous conversations and creating meaningful change in all systems.”
The magazine selects recipients through a detailed scoring process and a holistic review of each application.
“Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where academic excellence and belonging are woven into the work being done every day across their campus,” said Lenore Pearlstein, co-publisher of Insight Into Academia.
More information about the award is available at insightintoacademia.com.
— Derek Prall
Westside Stride Block Party closes Howell Mill Road to cars Sunday
The fourth annual Westside Stride Block Party will close Howell Mill Road to vehicles between Eighth and 17th streets from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, opening the stretch to people on foot and on bikes for an afternoon of shopping, music and family activities.
The free event is presented by the Upper Westside Improvement District with the Atlanta Department of Transportation and, for the first time, Atlanta Streets Alive.
A market of more than 90 vendor and artist booths will sell vintage clothing, plants and handmade crafts in time for holiday shopping. Families can visit a petting zoo, bounce houses, cornhole games and a fall-themed tiny house photo studio.
DJs will be stationed along the route, including Mike Zarin of Zegi, DJ iLL Withers and Disc Jockey Bottom Shelf. The route ends at Northside Tavern, where the Nathalie Rose Band and Band X will perform on the QTS Main Stage.
Visitors can reach the event on new sidewalks and protected bike lanes along 17th and 10th streets, and a Third Street closure will connect the Tech Parkway cycle track to the event. Eighth Street west of Howell Mill Road, 10th Street and 17th Street will remain open to traffic.
— Derek Prall
Shakespeare at Sunset returns to Avondale Estates Town Green
Free outdoor theater returns to the Avondale Estates Town Green this fall as the Shakespeare at Sunset Fall Series presents three Saturday performances by Georgia Classic Theatre.
The lineup opens Nov. 7 with “The Taming of the Shrew,” followed by “The Merchant of Venice” on Nov. 14 and Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” on Dec. 5.
Each evening begins at 6 p.m. with Shakespeare-inspired live music, followed by children’s programming at 6:15 p.m. and the performance at 7 p.m. A Q&A with the actors follows each show. Throughout the evening, Allen O’Reilly, artistic director of Georgia Classic Theatre, will greet guests in character as William Shakespeare.
Performances take place rain or shine. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets.
— Derek Prall
Dad’s Garage brings back ‘Invasion: Christmas Carol’ with new surprise guests
Dad’s Garage will bring back its improvised holiday mashup “Invasion: Christmas Carol” from Nov. 27 through Dec. 30, with Whittney Millsap Nowacki starring as Ebenezer Scrooge.
In the comedy theater’s twist on Charles Dickens’ classic, Scrooge is visited by the three ghosts and also by a surprise guest character whose identity is kept secret even from the cast. Past invaders include Ursula the Sea Witch from “The Little Mermaid,” Steve from “Blue’s Clues” and Princess Leia from “Star Wars.”
Each night, the ensemble must work the unexpected visitor into the rehearsed show and still finish the familiar story.
The show was conceived by Travis Sharpe, written by the Dad’s Garage ensemble and directed by Karen Cassady.
Performances are at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees, at Dad’s Garage Theatre, 569 Ezzard St. in Atlanta. Tickets are $49 to $59 at dadsgarage.com/ixc. Family-accessible matinees are scheduled for Dec. 12, 19 and 27, with Pride Night on Dec. 3 and Hanukkah Night on Dec. 9.
— Derek Prall
