Piedmont Park Conservancy looks to the future
At the April 25 Landmark Lunch, the Piedmont Park Conservancy celebrated its 35th anniversary with a look to the past and the future.
The luncheon raised about $480,000 – making it the most successful in the Conservancy’s history, according to Doug Widener, who became the organization’s president and CEO last fall.
Justin Cutler, commissioner of the City of Atlanta’s Department of Parks and Recreation, accepted the “Green Giant Award” on behalf of the city.
“We have been working with the Piedmont Park Conservancy since 1989,” Cutler said. “It’s our longest and deepest partnership.”
Piedmont Park receives about six million visitors a year. The city and the Conservancy work together to maintain and operate the park to the tune of about $5 million a year.
The Conservancy also is executing a capital improvements campaign that will help restore the Six Springs Wetlands, the Active Oval, the Dockside as well as expand the park.
“We are going to be undertaking a comprehensive master planning effort for Piedmont Park,” Widener said. “It’s our first in 30 years.”
Widener said the Conservancy will be seeking input from the community as well as other stakeholders as it works on the planning effort.
The Conservancy also awarded Curley Dossman, president of Georgia-Pacific’s community programs, with its “Legacy Award.” Dossman has contributed to Piedmont Park for decades.
The 2025 Landmark Lunch will be held on April 25.
— Maria Saporta
John Hatfield, formerly of Norfolk Southern, to join Wellstar
Wellstar Health System has named John Hatfield as its executive vice president and chief external affairs officer. Hatfield will lead the nonprofit health system’s marketing, communications, government relations, community development, and foundation teams.
Most recently, Hatfield served as vice president of corporate communications at Norfolk Southern Corp.
“We serve Georgia communities in a challenging, rapidly changing environment for healthcare,” said Candice L. Saunders, president and CEO of Wellstar. “It is increasingly vital that we engage effectively with our stakeholders, including policymakers, civic and community leaders, and the media. I am confident we found the right individual to lead this new group.”
Hatfield said he was excited to work with Wellstar to expand access to care and improve health outcomes.
“Last year alone, Wellstar provided nearly $1 billion in uncompensated care for Georgia families,” Hatfield said. “It employs 30,000 team members in Georgia, and, through its affiliation with the Medical College of Georgia and the Wellstar School of Nursing at Kennesaw State University, Wellstar is training the next generation of much-needed medical professionals for Georgia and the nation.”
Coincidentally, at the May 1 SABRE Awards, the communications team at Norfolk Southern — with support from Weber Shandwick and Jackson Spalding — received the award for best crisis management response of 2023 following the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Hatfield was overseeing the communications team at the time.
— Maria Saporta
Amplify My Community announces $50,000 gift to two local charities following the 2024 Amplify Decatur Music Festival
The nonprofit organization Amplify My Community recently announced it will be giving a combined total donation of $50,000 to the Decatur Cooperative Ministry (DCM) and the Decatur Education Foundation (DEF) to aid their missions. The unrestricted gift to these charities was made possible by funds generated from the Amplify Decatur Music Festival held April 11 to 14.
Amplify Decatur Music Festival, presented by Lenz and produced in partnership with Eddie’s Attic, featured an all-day, ticketed concert Saturday, April 13 on the Decatur Square with performances by Grammy-winning acts Melissa Etheridge and the Blind Boys of Alabama, as well as Dawes, Run Katie Run and Jitterbug.
“We are thrilled to be able to make this gift to two incredibly worthy groups,” said Drew Robinson, president of the Amplify My Community board. “Amplify’s success is truly a testament to the strength of our community — starting from [festival director] Christine Mahin’s leadership, and including all of our generous sponsors, our wonderful volunteers, the city of Decatur, and local business partners.”
—- Derek Prall
DNR Board honors former congressman with conservation achievement award
The Georgia Board of Natural Resources on April 24 named a former congressman as the recipient of the 2023 Rock Howard Conservation Achievement Award during its meeting on Jekyll Island.
U.S. Rep. Lindsay Thomas, who served Georgia’s First Congressional District from 1983 to 1993, was recognized as an environmental and natural resource leader who embodies the passion and success of Rock Howard, the state’s first director of the Environmental Protection Division.
Recipients of the Rock Howard Award have made significant contributions to Georgia by supporting the Department of Natural Resources’ mission “to sustain, enhance, protect and conserve Georgia’s natural, historic and cultural resources for present and future generations, while recognizing the importance of promoting the development of commerce and industry that utilize sound environmental practices.”
“This award is well-deserved by Lindsay,” said Board Chairman Joe Hatfield of Clarkesville. “We are grateful for his work on agriculture, natural resources, and energy issues while serving in Congress. His leadership during his time in Washington, D.C., and his continued work on behalf of conservation throughout the state are a source of pride for Georgia conservationists.”
— Derek Prall
Clark Atlanta University celebrates alumnus Kenny Leon’s Tony Award nomination for best direction of a play
The award-winning director Kenny Leon has been nominated for best direction of a play, “Purlie Victorious,” for the 2024 Tony Awards. This nomination follows his previous win of a Tony Award for best direction of a play, “A Raisin in the Sun,” in 2014. Leon graduated from Clark College — now Clark Atlanta University — in 1979.
In his 2018 memoir “Take You Wherever You Go” Leon discusses his need to attend a historically black college or university to connect with his {black heritage,” “roots,” and “culture.”
“I went to visit the school (Clark College) and see Atlanta. It was everything I was looking for — a big, international city, away but not too far away from home, and a very good school. I got in.” Leon wrote.
“We are immensely proud of the achievements of our distinguished alumnus, Kenny Leon, and his significant contributions to the arts and theater industry,” said Charlene Gilbert, the Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Mr. Leon’s exceptional career is a testament to creative excellence and an inspiration for all of our students who aspire to a career in the arts.”
— Derek Prall
Free skin cancer screenings this Saturday
Olansky Dermatology and Aesthetics will be participating in free skin cancer screenings in honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Screenings take place at 8:30 a.m. to noon on May 4 at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market.
“Detecting skin cancer at its early stages through screenings is crucial as it provides an opportunity for prompt treatment when it’s most effective,” said Dr. Jodi Ganz of Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics. “Participating in an event like this allows us to connect with our community in new and meaningful ways. It also allows us to better understand the health needs of our community.”
These exams take place outdoors in open air, allowing physicians to screen any easily visible parts of a patient. Doctors will check the hot spots where skin cancer is likely to form, which is typically around the neck, arms, hands, and face. Each patient will get a write-up of their examination.
If anything serious is detected, doctors will make additional personalized recommendations and referrals. This event provides a convenient opportunity for vendors and patrons to receive skin exams by a board-certified dermatologist for free and without proof of insurance.
— Derek Prall
I love the Atlanta Botanical Garden but they lost my respect when they made the land swap that put a storage facility right next to another, and adjacent to Piedmont Park, Midtown High School, and the Beltline. I’m all for them growing and improving but not at the expense of the community that surrounds them. They are not just an attraction to visit but part of a neighborhood.