Agape empowers and supports underserved families to discover, embrace, and achieve their full potential.
We are deeply grateful for every runner, volunteer, committee member, and supporter who made this year’s Agape Run 4 Love 5K an incredible success. With over 350 runners and over $72,000 raised , your energy and generosity helped us push beyond our goals. Our community showed up in a powerful way to champion academic achievement, character development, and family support for the next generation. Your energy fuels our mission and reminds our students and families that their community is cheering for them, today and every step ahead.
Congrats to:
* Team Tesme r | Most Valuable Philanthropist
* Neely Legal | Most Participating Fundraisers
* Riverside Neighborhood Assoc. | Most Runners
* Parkview Neighborhood | Most Funds Raised
Special thanks to raffle sponsors:
Revive & Thrive Wellness Raffle Package with West Stride, Pepper Boxing, Orange Theory, Lululemon, Rock the Dock Holiday Package with Yacht Rock Revue, Ted’s Montana Grill and Bartaco.
We couldn’t have done it without our race committee! Thank you for your dedication and creativity in making this a successful event!
Board Members & Committee Chairs: April Tesmer and Yendelela Neely
Committee Members:
Shannon and Dale Bell, Jason and Ariel Esteves, Cherie and Carl Hill, Josie and Jason Nackers, April and Brian Tesmer, and Latonya and Malcolm Warden
“Agape has been a foundation for my growth, my confidence, and my dreams. Without Agape, I don’t know if I would have had the same vision for my life or the same confidence to pursue my goals.” - Rocio, Class of 2021
One of the most powerful moments of our Run 4 Love 5K was hearing from Ms. Rocio , our former student who is now an Agape Youth instructor. She has chosen to pour back into the community that once lifted her. Rocio started with Agape at 6 years old-first-grader at Bolton Elementary School. She is currently studying Health Sciences at Georgia State University. She shared how Agape shaped her confidence, nurtured her love of learning, and supported her family. Today, she stands as a mentor and role model for the next generation of students. Her journey is a testament to what consistent support, care, and opportunity can create. We couldn’t be more proud to celebrate her full-circle moment.
Thoughts on preparing for your career?
“Agape has played a meaningful role in my life, offering support, encouragement, and a sense of belonging,”
- Daniel, Class of 2025
We’re excited to share wonderful news about Mr. Daniel , Class of 2025 Agape alum, current instructor, and freshman at Georgia State University. He was recently accepted into their Honors Program and has been accepted to study abroad, where he’ll travel to Sweden, Norway, and Oslo next summer. Daniel joined Agape at age 7 as a first grader at E. Rivers Elementary School and has grown into a thoughtful leader who now serves our next generation of students. We’re incredibly proud of his achievements and excited for what’s ahead, as he sets out to travel abroad next summer!
Coming from a Latino community, we often have to work twice as hard and be twice as determined to break barriers and avoid becoming a statistic. We’re not just chasing opportunities for ourselves, we’re opening doors for the kids in our neighborhoods, showing them that if we can do it, they can too. That takes resilience, guidance, and a strong support system. Agape provides exactly that. They don’t just help us graduate. They help us dream bigger, prepare for careers, and believe in possibilities we might never have imagined. Their support means we’re not alone in this fight to create a better future for ourselves and for the generations coming after us.
Rocio at the 2025 Spring Benefit:
A Night of Hope where she assisted with the live auction and raising nearly $250k for Agape programs that evening.
Was there a specific time that Agape was most helpful to you and your family? Yes, there was a time when Agape was the most supportive of me and my family, and I will never forget it. In 2021, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo surgery. While she was recovering, I had to step up and balance college classes with enough hours to pay rent and bills. It was one of the hardest seasons of my life. I reached out to Agape, and they came to the rescue. They helped me with bills and took a huge weight off my shoulders so I could focus on school and caring for my mom without feeling like I was drowning. That support meant everything to me. It wasn’t just financial help; it was emotional relief, knowing I had a community that cared for and wouldn’t let me fall.
Atlanta News First (ANF) was a proud sponsor of last month’s Run 4 Love 5K ! Their support has been immense! Additionally, they invited Nell Benn, Agape CEO, for a featured sit-down segment with their new ATL Live Show , with co-hosts, Becky Sattero and Ava Braatz. It was a wonderful opportunity to highlight our longstanding service to the northwest Atlanta community and share ways to support this year’s Holiday Gift Store presented by the Trailsend Foundation coming later this month. Our gymnasium will be transformed to help ensure 600 children in our community will experience holiday magic this year despite the hardship their family is facing. You can watch the full segment, HERE . To arrange a collection or drop off a donation, please contact our office at 404-355-1877 or email Nichole Alexander-Thornhill at nalexander@agapeatlanta.org .
As we round out 2025, we want to express our deep gratitude for the volunteers, partners, families, and supporters who make Agape’s mission possible. Every tutoring session, every meal served, every donated book, every shared moment of encouragement matters. Together, we are building brighter futures. Your year-end gift ensures Agape can step into 2026 ready to meet growing needs and expand the support our families rely on.
In 2026, we will celebrate a milestone for Agape, as we celebrate over 100 high school graduates since 2009, with our graduating class next May. Consider a recurring commitment to our Annual Fund or making a one-time year-end contribution to sustain programs that create lasting change and make milestones like these possible. www.donatetoagape.org
There are many meaningful ways to get involved in the year ahead:
* Volunteer as a Homework Buddy: Support students during afterschool academic sessions.
* Sponsor & Serve Dinner: Provide a warm meal to students during our after-school programs.
* Corporate Volunteer Days: Engage your company in hands-on service that strengthens our community.
* Support a Fundraising Event: Help power events like the Run 4 Love 5K or our annual Back-2-School Bonanza.
* Contribute to the Annual Fund: Sustain the programs our families count on most as we head into a milestone year.
