Community Investment Celebration at Atlanta City Hall highlights the power of collective action to create opportunity, stability, and brighter futures 

 

The Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF) celebrated its annual Community Investment Celebration at Atlanta City Hall on September 10, announcing a $1.418 million investment in grants and other mission-driven work – including research and leadership development – to strengthen the lives of women and girls across metro Atlanta. 

Hosted in partnership with the City of Atlanta, the celebration brought together nonprofit leaders, AWF supporters, Board members, Inspire Atlanta alumnae and community leaders to recognize the organizations at the heart of AWF’s mission – and the collective generosity that makes their work possible. 

“At AWF, we believe that investing in women and girls is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen our communities,” said Kari B. Love, CEO of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation. “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.” 

This year’s investment supports initiatives addressing some of the most significant barriers facing women, girls, and families in metro Atlanta, including mental health and wellbeing, family stability, educational opportunity, and the development of confidence, resilience, and leadership among girls. 

“[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,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “And these are not just women’s issues. These are issues that affect the entire city and require all of us working together to find solutions and then invest in those solutions.” 

Advancing Women and Girls, Families, and Mental Health 

Guided by original research, community data, and insights from nonprofit partners, AWF identifies the most pressing barriers facing women and girls across metro Atlanta. Through its collective impact model, AWF then raises funds from the community and strategically invests in nonprofit organizations with proven approaches to creating meaningful, lasting change. 

“This event is a celebration of what’s possible when we listen to our community, invest in organizations closest to the work, and come together around solutions that create lasting change,” said DiShonda Hughes, Chief Mission Officer of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation. “Our nonprofit partners bring the expertise, trust, and deep community connections that make this work possible.”

This year’s investments include: 

Two-Generation Initiative 

Funded in partnership with the Liz Blake Giving Fund, the Two-Generation Initiative takes a whole-family approach by supporting both caregivers and young children. 

The four nonprofit organizations receiving funding through the initiative – Atlanta Children’s Day Shelter, Families First, Our House, and Quality Care for Children – provide comprehensive, family-centered services addressing housing stability, workforce development, childcare access, parenting education, mental health, and early childhood development. 

All Girls Forward: Girls Empowerment Program 

Created in response to findings from AWF’s 2023 State of Girls in Metro Atlanta research, the All Girls Forward: Girls Empowerment Program invests in programs that strengthen the protective factors that help girls thrive, including confidence, resilience, healthy relationships, leadership, and mental wellness. 

The 10 nonprofit organizations receiving support – 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 – provide evidence-based programs supporting educational achievement, leadership development, mental wellness, family stability, and long-term economic mobility. 

The initiative reflects AWF’s belief that investing in girls today helps create stronger, healthier communities for generations to come. 

Mental Health & Wellbeing Initiative 

AWF’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Initiative was created in response to the Foundation’s 2026 research examining the mental health and wellbeing of women and girls across metro Atlanta. 

The initiative supports organizations providing accessible, culturally responsive care while addressing the broader factors that influence wellbeing – from trauma and housing instability to family and economic challenges. 

This year’s seven grantee partners – 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 – provide integrated mental health services, housing stabilization, healthcare access, trauma-informed care, family support, and community-based wellness programming. 

Together, these organizations form a coordinated network of support designed to improve wellbeing, strengthen family stability and expand access to care across metro Atlanta.

 

Honoring a Legacy of Education and Perseverance 

The celebration also marked the presentation of the Yashoda Reddy Education Award, a $5,000 investment in the education of a non-traditional college student navigating economic insecurity. 

Established by Yashoda Reddy’s daughter, Dr. Sujatha Reddy, an AWF Board alumna, and her brother Rohith Reddy, the award honors their mother’s legacy of strength, perseverance, and belief in the transformative power of education. 

This year’s recipient, Pue Meh, is a nursing student at Clayton State University. Born and raised in Thailand after her parents fled Burma, Pue came to the United States with her family in 2009. After becoming a mother while still in high school and taking time away from college to support her family, she returned to school while working as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Northside Hospital. 

Inspired by caring for patients, Pue is now pursuing a career in nursing, with hopes of specializing in labor and delivery or mother-baby care and eventually becoming a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner advocating for underserved communities. 

Her journey reflects the power of education to break barriers, create opportunity and inspire the next generation. 

A Community Investment Powered by Community  

The Community Investment Celebration is more than an annual check presentation. It is a reflection of what becomes possible when nonprofits, funders, government, businesses, and community members work together toward a shared vision. 

The $1.418 million investment made possible through AWF’s community of donors is a tangible demonstration of that shared commitment. 

“Creating a stronger Atlanta means creating greater opportunity for women and girls – and that takes all of us,” said Tish Harrison, AWF Board Chair. “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. We are proud to stand behind organizations that are addressing barriers to opportunity and creating pathways for women, girls, and families to thrive.”  

It is an investment in a mother seeking stability for her family. A girl building confidence and discovering her voice. A woman accessing mental health care. A student working toward a degree and a more secure future. 

And it is an investment in the belief that when women and girls have the resources and opportunities they need to move forward, our entire community grows stronger. 

AWF is grateful to its donors, Board of Directors, Board alumni, Inspire Atlanta alumnae, corporate and philanthropic partners, the City of Atlanta, and the nonprofit organizations who turn these investments into impact every day. 

“Atlanta is a group project. We’re all in, and we want to make sure that everybody’s all in when it comes to supporting women and girls,” Dickens said. “The Atlanta Women’s Foundation is a force. You identify organizations doing important work, and then you invest in them. That’s not just talking the talk – that’s walking the walk, putting your money where your mouth is.”

Together, we are investing in opportunities. We are strengthening families. And we are building a stronger future for women and girls across metro Atlanta. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What does AWF’s $1.418 million investment include? 

The total includes grants to nonprofit organizations as well as other mission investments, including research, training, leadership development, and resources that strengthen AWF’s partners and advance solutions for women and girls across metro Atlanta.

How does AWF select the organizations it funds? 

AWF uses commissioned research, community data, and insights from nonprofit leaders to identify pressing needs and effective approaches. Organizations then participate in a thoughtful review process focused on community need, program strategy, organizational capacity, and the potential to create meaningful, measurable change.

AWF’s partnership does not end when a grant is awarded. The Foundation continues listening, learning, and working alongside its grantee partners throughout each initiative.

Why does AWF invest beyond direct grants? 

Funding is essential, but nonprofits also benefit from opportunities to learn, connect, and strengthen their organizations. In addition to grants, AWF provides research, training, capacity-building opportunities, convenings, and visibility that help partners grow stronger and more sustainable in serving their communities.

How can I be part of this work? 

AWF’s investments are powered by people and organizations across metro Atlanta. You can support the work by making a donation, joining the Catalyst Community, participating in Inspire Atlanta, attending an AWF event, sharing AWF’s research, or introducing others to the mission.

Together, we can improve wellbeing, expand economic opportunity, and build a stronger future for women, girls, and families across metro Atlanta.

Learn more about the Atlanta Women’s Foundation and ways to get involved.