AUGUST 2025 BACK 2 SCHOOL BONANZA: THANK YOU
Monday, August 4, marked the first day of school for Atlanta Public Schools students. Thanks to your generous donations, sponsorships, and volunteer efforts over the summer, our students began the year with confidence and dignity, supported by the success of our annual Back 2 School Bonanza on July 25!
New backpacks, dental health kits, shoes, pediatric therapy screenings, Old Navy gift cards, and more were provided to 225 of our students and 100 parents. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to helping them reach their full potential!
This school year, we continue to support our students’ academic achievement through both in-school and after-school programs. Our volunteers play a vital role in helping students succeed in reading and math, and your donations remain essential to the continued operation of these programs.
As we pass the halfway mark of 2025, we are working diligently to close a significant funding gap before this year’s end. Please consider making a pledge to our Annual Fund and help us work towards ending generational poverty, one child at a time. Visit: agapeatlanta.org/donate .
FREE vision screenings were provided by Westside Eye Center!
FREE medical screenings provided by Kaiser Permanente for ages 18 and up.
FREE NEW shoes provided by West Stride and Sprong shoes!
FREE clothes provided for all ages by Giving on the Go’s pop-up closet!
FREE water bottles from our 2024 Corporate Partner of the year, Reduce.
VOLUNTEER PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Agape and Westside Table came together to support TWO of our own families facing a critical need of food thanks to the generosity of the Collins Memorial Food Pantry at Westside Table!
DID YOU KNOW?
Our after-school K–5 crew recently got their hands dirty (creatively!) designing an outdoor park while learning all about landscape architecture and design, with help from DSJ Designs, Inc. volunteers!
Children who grow up in poverty in Atlanta have a 4% chance of reaching the middle class.
CAMP NAVIGATE VISITS CHICK-FIL-A
HQ!
Our Camp NAVIGATE students got a behind-the-scenes look at Chick-fil-A’s headquarters! They explored career paths, learned about leadership and company culture, and discovered how Chick-fil-A supports education through scholarships. To help provide more career exposure and learning opportunities for our students’ grades 9th through age 25 in our NAVIGATE program, please contact Heather Paige, Director of High School and Alumni Programs, at hpaige@agapeatlanta.org
FLOURISH CO-CHAIRS: READY TO IGNITE JOY!
The excitement continues as we prepare to introduce Flourish: An Agape Empowerment Luncheon for Women , a powerful new event supporting Agape’s expanding programs for girls on Wednesday, September 17th at Piedmont Driving Club. Our dedicated Co-Chairs, Lisa Dwyer, Andrea N. Smith , and Andrea Thompson have brought meaningful energy, thoughtful leadership, and heart to this inaugural luncheon. For months, they have worked behind the scenes and rallied Steering and Host Committees to help make Flourish a meaningful experience for all. We invite you to register and/or sponsor at: agapeflourish.org
Lisa Dwyer Flourish Co-Chair
Andrea Thompson Flourish Co-Chair
Andrea N. Smith Flourish Co-Chair
RAGTime HISTORY
We love the wealth of stories and history that our longest Agape member, Mrs. Jefferson , holds in her heart and mind. She and her husband were the first two to walk through the doors in 1997 when Trinity Presbyterian Church introduced the community programs to the Bolton neighborhood. Many are not aware that the seniors of RAGTime once had a choir! Mrs. Jefferson shared, “We would get many paid requests to sing and would give that money to the Agape ,” as she affectionately calls us.
THANK YOU, SUMMER INTERNS!
We would like to acknowledge all the hard work of our Summer Interns! From running arts and crafts to editing articles, taking photos, and preparing for our upcoming fundraising events, our interns have impacted our students and staff with their dedication and professionalism. We wish them all the best as they start their new school year and job placements!
Claire Busby, Holy Innocents’
Mia Chung, Pace Academy
Julia Dierdorff, Saint Mary’s School
Chloe Fernandes, University of Georgia
Vee Fisher, The Westminster Schools
Virginia Foster, The Baylor School
Chase Godschalk, The Westminster Schools
Huntley Hargraves, The Westminster Schools
Sophie Hart, The Westminster Schools
Camron Johnson, Georgia State University
Elle Lanier, The Westminster Schools
Selena Moguel, Georgia State University
Katherine Molner, The Lovett School
Katie Reames, The Westminster Schools
Grace Richardson, Pace Academy
Corinne Robinson, Woodward Academy
Katie Day Schwartz, Mount Vernon School
Maxine Smith, The Lovett School
Nate Ugonwali, Deerfield Academy
Serena Ussery, E.Rivers Elementary
Megan Wallace, Butler University
Our inaugural event, Level Up: An Agape STEM Showcase for Girls , is excited to announce our Presenting Sponsor, Honeywell! Facilitators include Spelman Colleg e and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) !
2025 AGAPE CALENDAR
Saturday, August 23rd | LEVEL UP: STEM Showcase for Girls
Wednesday, September 17th | FLOURISH: Empowerment Luncheon for Women
Sunday, November 16th | AGAPE RUN 4 LOVE 5K
Friday, November 21st | Agape Young Professionals: GAME of GROWNS
Friday, December 18th | HOLIDAY GIFT STORE
Stay connected with world of impact at the Agape Youth & Family Center!