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Cover photo from Peachtree Christian Health

LETTER FROM THE CEO

Dear Friends,

This past year has been nothing short of remarkable Growth and partnerships have been the name of the game, and we are excited about all we’ve accomplished . We have expanded our Nonprofit Academy into the Nonprofit and Leadership Academy to be more intentional about helping our leaders be prepared for the challenges ahead With that in mind, we also launched our new LIFT leadership cohort with Long Table Consulting for nonprofit and business executives over a 12-month in-person and virtual coaching

One of the highlights of 2024 was our Good2Give Celebration where we celebrated the work of our community organizations addressing food insecurity and the care and attention they provide every day to our citizens Bringing the “Art of Giving” to life, we collaborated with over thirty nonprofits and community stakeholders who demonstrated how song, dance, visual imagery and vocal expression facilitate healing, peace of mind and motivation which places Georgia on the national stage through its prolific work in entertainment

Thank you again to our sponsors and all who participated to help us raise and meet our $300,000 fundraising goal! I hope you test-drive our grants catalog where we have made it easier for philanthropists to connect with these and other local nonprofits and new initiatives

Through impact investing, we are excited about our $100,000 investment in the Latina community through the Latin American Association (LAA) Together, we are empowering Latina women to achieve their dreams of becoming successful entrepreneurs Another bright spot is our support for Corners Roasters, as you will see in this report

We continue to celebrate and honor the legacy of our dear friend Mr Jim Pack as we also mourn his great loss to our beloved community I was also deeply touched when asked to provide remarks at the showcase of The Life’s Works of Mrs Kathryn Andrews Fincher (aka Kathy) at the Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for Art & Learning . As Kathy remarked in the presence of over nearly 200 family members and friends in advance of her birthday weekend, “Y’all are giving me my flowers tonight I don’t need to have a funeral ”

In closing, we cannot thank you enough for rolling up your sleeves with us and opening your hearts and wallets to make our community more resilient Prayers continue to be lifted up for our neighbors affected by the tragic Apalachee High School shooting Special thanks to Freedom Path Counseling and caring donors who have provided free counseling sessions for those community members in need

From our staff and board of directors to our Professional Advisor Network, we are winning together, we are striving for greatness and we are forging ahead fearlessly This year has been a testament to the power of working together, and we are incredibly grateful for your support

Thank you for helping us build bridges of generosity and being a vital part of this journey

With gratitude, DePriest Waddy CEO, Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia

2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2024 OFFICERS

CHAIR

J. Michael Levengood

Law Office of J Michael Levengood

VIC E CHAIR

Kim A. Hartsock

Warren Averett

TREA SURER

Robin F. Sansone

Rhodes, Young, Black & Duncan CPAs

SECRETARY

Kenneth M. Massaroni

Community Leader

Tom Abernathy Abernathy & Timberlake Investment Group

Salmaan Ajani

Amazing Energy Solutions

Ethel D. Andersen

Community Leader

Julie Keeton Arnold

Keeton Arnold Communications

Dr. Audrey Arona Community Leader

Donna Beatty Frazier & Deeter

K. Clifford Bray, II WMBO CPA Group

Margaret Bugbee The Marcus Foundation

Carla T. Carraway

Precision Planning, Inc

Susie Collat

Community Leader

Dean Collins Axis Companies, LLC

Dave Cook

Edward Jones

Alejandro Coss

Latin American Chamber of Commerce

Julia Davis

Community Leader

James (Jay) D. Dennard, Jr.

Northside Hospital Duluth

Jill Edwards United Community Bank

Wayne D. Ellison

Ellison Insurance Agency

R. Bryan Ginn, Jr.

PCOM Georgia

Peyton Jamison

Jamison Private Wealth Management, Mayor of Milton

Jim Joedecke

Anderson, Tate & Carr

Sloan Jones

Georgia Gwinnett College

Scott Jordan

Pinnacle Financial Partners

Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman

DKaufman Consulting

Jill Kersh Thrive Unlimited

Kathryn Kieser Primerica

Daniel J. King

Community Leader

Bin Liu

CFS Corporation, Simple Floors

Dick LoPresti Community Leader

Veronica Maldonado-Torres

GA Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Santiago R. Marquez

Latin American Association

William F. McCargo B Mac & Associates

Michael Park

The Whitlock Group

Rep. Sam Park

GA House of Representatives

Brian Peart

Commercial Capital Limited

Scott Phelan

Janney Montgomery Scott

Debra Potter

National Christian Foundation

Nathan Powell Powell Firm

David R. Still

Capital Endeavors

Sandra J. Strickland

Community Leader

R. Lee Tucker, Jr.

Mahaffey Pickens Tucker

Mary Ulich

Alpharetta Rotary Foundation

Monty G. Watson

The Piedmont Bank

Dr. Calvin J. Watts

Gwinnett County Public Schools

Adam C. Wilson

Sugarloaf Wealth Management

Philip R. Wolfe

Community Leader

Easy Ways to Give

“With a DAF, there’s no pressure to find someone to give to each month and know exactly where we want our contributions to go all the time. I can still follow the principle of giving each month, but I know that our contributions are going to grow over time. The fund can just keep building and building. This is a really great model that can help you further your impact in the long run.”

— Cole Porter, president and CEO Porter Steel

1 2 3 4 5

Donor Advised Fund

A DAF offers a simple, tax-efficient way to give, acting like a charitable checkbook . You can recommend grants to your favorite charities whenever you choose, while also benefiting from expert guidance on impactful nonprofits . The best part – you can get immediate tax benefits before deciding where to give!

Nonprofit (Agency) Fund

An Agency Fund helps grow your assets to support both current and future needs . It provides a steady revenue stream, allowing you to focus on your mission while creating long-term financial stability .

Good2Give Fund

You don’t need to write a big check to be a philanthropist — anyone can give back in meaningful ways . The Good2Give Community Fund lets you give at your own pace, ensuring every dollar makes a larger impact in our community .

Planned Giving

Planned giving allows you to make a difference for your favorite charities through structured donations, often as part of your estate planning . This approach enables you to leave a lasting legacy while potentially providing tax benefits for you and your heirs

Other Types of Funds

From endowment funds to scholarship funds, we have a variety of ways to meet your giving goals!

YOU made the Art of Giving a masterpiece. Raising $300,000 to support the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia and local nonprofits, this year’s Good2Give celebration was a gallery of generosity — not to mention the brilliant performances and inspiring stories from local and global nonprofits and causes. Thank you for painting such a beautiful picture of what’s possible when we come together!

Your Generosity at Work

Number Grants Awarded

Amount Awarded in Grants

20 $255,000

“CFNEG has provided grant opportunities to Lettum Eat! for the past couple of years We are blessed to have their continuous support and recommending private donors as well! This challenge grant will be used toward our Modular Production Kitchen build outs and completions — one of which will be before the end of the year!” — Chef Hank, founder and CEO of Lettum Eat!

“Our challenge grant from the Community Foundation will be used to help expand our food distribution programs, enhance sharing programs with other nonprofits and serve even more families with dignity and compassion We’re grateful to the Community Foundation for its recognition of our work and to our community for always supporting us . ” — Tracy Joseph, president, CEO of StreetWise Georgia

Making the numbers grow — that’s a huge advantage of giving through the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia and is evident through its new fundholder initiative. Starting this July, the Community Foundation released a Grants Catalog that features eighteen nonprofits in the Gwinnett, North Fulton and Forsyth communities . This catalog makes it easy for donors to learn about needs right in their own community and “shop” for ways to support just as they used to in a Macy’s or Sears holiday booklet Talk about making giving fun!

<< Scan here for more information on our Grants Catalog.

Potential Impact through Challenge Grants over

$925,000

If all of the grants in this catalog are claimed by Community Foundation fundholders, over $925,000 will be awarded to worthy nonprofits — and that’s just a portion of the impact donors could have this year!

Community-Fueled

Comeback

“When I drop my father off at Peachtree Christian Health, I’m leaving him with family.”

This is how one of many caregivers who rely on Peachtree Christian Health (PCH) feels about its services . As one of the few daytime brain health centers for older adults in Georgia, PCH is vital to helping the growing number of older adults living with physical or cognitive impairments and limited resources . The center offers socialization and enrichment activities, therapeutic programs and person centered clinical care

But PCH was not always the thriving organization it is today Following COVID-19 and many attempts to re-establish itself, PCH decided to officially close in December of 2022

That is, until the caregivers got involved.

“In a group meeting, they [the caregivers] said to me, ‘No, you can’t close You’re the only ones that do this,’ — caring for their loved ones and giving them the respite they needed,” said Anne Mancini, president of PCH

“It was honestly a God thing, and off the top of my head, I said to them, ‘Alright, for us to stay open we have to raise $500,000 by Thanksgiving and increase the number of days participants come by 50 ”

A few weeks later, they had raised over $600,000!

Over 550 donors from across 23 states had supported them, all because PCH connected people who care with their cause that matters.

“We take the Community Foundation’s mission very seriously, and we feel that this is actually the umbrella mission for all nonprofits . It really inspired our organization, and I’m sure it inspires others,” said Anne .

PCH’s story of resilience did not stop there On Christmas Eve of 2022, multiple pipes burst and their building flooded

There was over $1 5 million in damages, but within days, the organization was back up and running out of a temporary space . After much prayer, the executive committee decided to sell PCH’s original building and move locations which gave them a new sense of financial stability .

“We had some additional funds from the sale, and that’s when we officially became fundholders with the Community Foundation DePriest told us about the funds that were available and their performance It really was a no-brainer for us,” said Anne . “What we’ve seen on our return in just a short time has really been tremendous .

“Even if you’re not able to be a fundholder, the Community Foundation still has a lot to offer . From its educational events to grant cycles and annual celebrations, the Community Foundation has always been very generous with us

“They have been an extension of our nonprofit organization and have been our cheerleaders along the way They help us move forward with our mission ”

The Community Foundation is more than an agency fund for PCH; it is a part of their team .

“Everyone either knows a caregiver or is a caregiver . It might be for an older adult, someone younger and on the spectrum or a multitude of other conditions . The best way to support them is to connect them to resources, to people who care — and the Community Foundation is a great place to start,” said Anne

A Life of Service and Generosity Honoring James (Jim) Pack:

Some people leave footprints that fade with time Others, like James (Jim) Ferguson Pack, leave behind legacies that continue to shape the world long after they’ve gone

Jim, who passed away peacefully at his home in Lawrenceville on May 15, 2024, at the age of 90, was one of those rare individuals . sharp mind, generous spirit and deep dedication to his community, Pack’s life was a testament to what it means to give freely — and to build something lasting .

In 1985, Jim became one of the nine founding board members of the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia (CFNEG), laying the groundwork for an organization that has helped channel millions of dollars to local causes . His leadership and guidance were instrumental in establishing the Community Foundation’s roots

Even after stepping down from the board, Jim remained a steadfast supporter . He once said, “After much thought and research I determined that the Foundation was the most convenient and efficient way to manage my charitable giving . ”

An extraordinary part of his story? His generosity didn’t end with his life — through his estate, he has ensured that the mission of the Community Foundation will continue for generations through his $1.5 million gift.

“Jim wasn’t just building something for today — he had the vision to see what the community would need long into the future,” says DePriest Waddy, CEO of the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia . “His gift speaks volumes about who he was, ensuring his generosity will impact this community for years to come ”

Jim’s contributions went far beyond the Community Foundation As the CEO and Chairman of Gwinnett Federal Savings Bank for 28 years, he helped steer the bank — and Gwinnett County as a whole — through decades of growth and change

was also a lifelong learner, who found joy in history, travel and faith — once walking the streets of Jerusalem with his brother to trace the steps of Jesus .

His family remembers him as a devoted father, stepfather and grandfather who balanced a life of service with deep personal connections His children, Lynn and James — along with his stepchildren, grandchildren and extended family — now carry forward the lessons of love and generosity he modeled every day .

For the Community Foundation, Jim’s $1 5 million gift is not just a financial contribution — it’s a continuation of his life’s work . “Jim’s generosity didn’t stop with his passing,” DePriest reflects . “He has left a legacy that ensures the causes he cared about will continue to grow and thrive ”

Jim Pack’s life reminds us that true wealth lies not in what we accumulate, but in what we give And through the lives he touched and the community he built, his legacy will live on — steadily, generously and with lasting impact

Nonprofit and Leadership

Our Nonprofit Academy is now the Nonprofit and Leadership Academy. What does this mean for you? More resources! We’ve updated our programming to not only serve nonprofit employees but to provide much needed training and collaboration for nonprofit executives. We hosted our first ever Executive Leadership track at this year’s NPLA Starting Point — and it was a huge success. Following your feedback, we’ve added LIFT — a leadership cohort through Long Table consulting — and extended our reach in North Fulton and North Georgia with a half-day seminar reaching over 40 area nonprofits this November.

Number of Speakers at NPLA

Estimated number of Attendees at NPLA

Some of the topics covered:

Social Media

Mental Health & Success

Building Your Brand

Capital and Comprehensive Campaigns

Connecting Wealth With Purpose

The Professional Advisors Network through the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia is a bridge builder for philanthropists and worthy causes. Whether a financial advisor, estate attorney, CPA or other professional, these individuals help facilitate investing in our community through their relationship with CFNEG.

Q: What benefits do advisors gain from being a part of PAN?

Former PAN Board Chair and current member, Adam Wilson, shares his experience with the organization and why he’s continued to commit to the Community Foundation for the past decade and a half.

Adam: “PAN offers a unique value. It provides another tool — or as I like to say, an arrow in the quiver — that helps set us apart as financial advisors.

“Our industry is heavily commoditized, with everyone offering similar strategies and products. But through PAN and the Community Foundation, I can talk to clients about philanthropy and hand them off to a trusted partner who will take care of them.

“It’s a win-win. We continue to manage their money, the Community Foundation provides local expertise and the client benefits from both the tax advantages and the personal touch that comes from investing in their own communities — something you don’t get with larger institutions.”

Q: How do you guide clients with their philanthropic goals?

Adam: “It’s about helping clients articulate their ‘why.’ Some clients aren’t philanthropic, and that’s fine — it’s not my job to make them give.

“But for those who are, I ask deeper questions to help them uncover what matters to them. Are they building a legacy through their kids or through a specific organization? Is there a charity that has impacted them personally? It’s all about asking the right questions to get to the heart of their intentions.”

Q: What would you say to advisors who are hesitant about joining PAN?

Adam: “I’d tell them to get off the fence! Our

business is evolving, and to offer high-end service to top-tier clients, you need strong partners. High-networth clients want to hear about tax-saving philanthropic strategies, and I want to be the first person they call for anything financial.

“PAN gives me another reason for clients to trust me, beyond just the traditional services of a financial advisor.”

Current PAN Members

Larry Allen Larry Allen, LLC

Houston Bass Truist

Donna Beatty Frazier & Deeter

Katie Bowling LGE Community Credit Union

Cliff Bray WMBO CPA Group

Jace Brooks Smith & Howard

Randy Brunson Centurion Advisory Group

Elizabeth Burdette Signature FD

Dave Cook Edwards Jones

David Cross U.S. Asset Management

Paul Culbreth Culbreth Wealth Management

Jill Edwards United Community Bank

Chad Edwards Prehmus Financial Partners

Hays Evans Clover Capital Partners

Chris Foley Edward Jones

Vance Garrison Merrill Lynch

Chris Hardy Paramount Investment Advisors

Kim Hartsock Warren Averett

David Hern Sofer Advisors

Scott Hilton High Peak Capital

Gary Holcombe Horizon Planning

Aleisa Howell Mauldin & Jenkins

Michelle Jackson Capital Group

Peyton Jamison Jamison Wealth Management

Jim Joedecke Anderson, Tate & Carr

Scott Jordan Pinnacle Financial Partners

Mike Kipniss Financial Guide

Nate Langley GFS Advisory

Doug Langley GFS Advisory

Matt Lipscomb Ashford Advisors

Meredith Moore Artisan Financial Strategies

Scott Phelan Janney Montgomery Scott

Andrew Pourchier RYBD Advisors

Nathan Powell Powell Firm

Robin Sansone RYBD Advisors

Teresa Snyder Brady Ware

Terry Swaim Oconee State Financial Services

Joel Tonge Briscoe & Tonge CPAs

Tony Van Gelder Van Gelder Financial

Adam Wilson Sugarloaf Wealth Management

New Initiatives: Our Next Chapter

LIFTing Higher

The LIFT program incorporates executive leadership coaching groups, inclusive leadership training and lunch-n-learn events. Its hybrid online and in-person format also makes it easily scalable . The best part? The Community Foundation offers scholarships for our agency fundholder nonprofit leaders at a discounted rate .

<<< Scan here to continue reading.

“LIFT is grounded in a belief that if we invest in leaders, they will run more effective and sustainable organizations. They will be able to achieve greater impact in their missions, which will make them more attractive for donors to invest in.”

— Linnea Miller, LIFT

founder

Coffee With A Purpose

We’ve recently partnered with Corners Outreach to support its new initiative, Corners Roasters By purchasing their coffee you’re not only supporting the farmers who grew the beans, you’re also equipping high school students with essential job skills And 20% of your sale goes to student tutoring funds It’s a win-win-win!

Scan the QR code below to continue reading.

OUT ABOUT

On Air

It’s called the Community Foundation for a reason. From fundholder visits to TV appearances, our team has been out and about this year sharing the ways you can make your donation dollars stretch.

Our Good2Give Podcast turned one year old! We’ve had over a dozen incredible discussions with nonprofits, businesses, philanthropists and leaders.

3, 2, 1, Action!

We were featured on The Roadmap with Ted Jenkin! The Roadmap airs on America’s Small Business Network and discussed how Community Foundations operate, fundraise and make a difference.

$100k and Change

The Latin American Association (LAA) focuses on stabilizing families by addressing issues like food insecurity, access to public benefits and helping victims of violence. They also work to empower individuals through workforce development, offering English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, immigration services and jobskill programs . This is where the Community Foundation comes in We invested $100,000 into LAA’s microlending program which helps aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women, start and grow their businesses