REPORT 2025
What a year we’ve had!
As we celebrated 40 years of incredible generosity and partnerships, we continue to prioritize new connections with organizations championing causes that matter. August’s record-breaking Good2Give Celebration not only highlighted leaders: Ethel Andersen, Mike Tennant and Tim Minard, who made 40 years of the Community Foundation possible, but also generated $475,000 thanks to amazing sponsors, organizations that donated auction items and gala guests!
It’s generosity like this that fuels our ability to distribute grants to worthy organizations across our community. Our 2025 grant cycle targeted nonprofits supporting housing stability. We distributed $250,000 in grants to 18 nonprofits that prevent homelessness, connect individuals and families with affordable housing, provide home repairs and more to address housing insecurity.
This year, we also welcomed 37 new fundholders to the Community Foundation family, including Hemophilia of Georgia, MicroLife Institute (featured on cover) and MedShare — organizations expanding our ability to impact our local community and communities across the world in unique and meaningful ways. Through our partnership with Capital Group, we manage over 100 nonprofit funds, which annually grow reserves by 9.43%.
Table of Contents
2025 Officers
Chair
Scott Phelan
Janney Montgomery Scott
Vice Chair
Kim A. Hartsock Warren Averett
Treasurer Robin F. Sansone RYBD Advisors & Accountants
Secretary Kenneth M. Massaroni Community Leader
2025 Board Members
Tom Abernathy
Abernathy & Timberlake Investment Group
Sal Ajani
Amazing Energy Solutions
Ethel D. Andersen Andersen, Tate & Carr
Julie Keeton Arnold Community Leader
When our leaders are equipped to soar, we believe our community will continue leading the way for change. This spring, we hosted Nonprofit and Leadership Academy (NPLA) sessions on business development, leadership, storytelling, strategy and marketing to equip changemakers in nonprofit and for-profit sectors to sharpen their skills. In the fall, we welcomed North Fulton leaders to our NPLA masterclass to share tips on navigating federal funding changes, year-end fundraising and leadership development.
Our emerging initiatives continue to grow as we partner with innovative nonprofits to improve the quality of life for our families through Impact Investing. And we are grateful to J.K. Murphy for establishing the Gwinnett Journalism Fund with the mission to preserve local journalism in Gwinnett County.
To our committed donors, our fundholder family, professional advisors and network of community leaders, thank you for joining us as we develop partnerships and forge change through every new connection.
Donna Beatty Frazier & Deeter
Matt Benvegna Apex Energy Solutions
K Clifford Bray, II WMBO CPA Group
Margaret Bugbee The Marcus Foundation
Carla T. Carraway Precision Planning
Susie Collat Community Leader
Dean Collins Axis Companies
Dave Cook Edward Jones
Julia Davis Community Leader
Maggie Micheals DeCan
Margaret Michaels DeCan Consulting
James (Jay) D. Dennard, Jr. Northside Hospital Duluth
DePriest Waddy President & CEO
Jill Edwards United Community Bank
Wayne D. Ellison Ellison Insurance Agency
Peyton Jamison
Jamison Private Wealth Management, Mayor of Milton
Jim Joedecke Anderson, Tate & Carr
Cheryl DeLuca-Johnson Community Leader
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
Gregory E. Lang Good Samaritan Health Centers of Gwinnett
J Michael Levengood Law Office of J. Michael Levengood
Bin Liu Simple Floors
Dick LoPresti Community Leader
Veronica Maldonado-Torres Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Santiago R. Marquez Latin American Association
William F. McCargo B Mac & Associates
Tim Minard Eclipse Gaming Systems
Emory Morsberger Gateway85 CID
Michael Park The Whitlock Group
Rep. Sam Park Georgia House of Representatives
Brian Peart Commercial Capital Limited
Nathan Powell Powell Firm
David R. Still Capital Endeavors, Mayor of Lawrenceville
Sandra J. Strickland Community Leader
Terry Swaim White Oak Wealth Management
Mary Ulich Alpharetta Rotary Foundation
Monty G. Watson United Bank
Dr. Calvin J. Watts Community Leader
Adam C. Wilson Sugarloaf Wealth Management
Our
History at a Glance
Community Foundation History
Back in 1985, a group of Gwinnett County citizens came together over a shared vision to improve our community. From that vision, the Gwinnett Foundation, Inc. was born. At the end of the first year, the foundation had already accumulated $170,700 in assets.
This year, we celebrated 40 years of giving and growing!
Just two years later, the late Robert D. Fowler and the owners of the Gwinnett Daily News provided a transformative $1 million challenge grant. The community stepped up and matched it, growing the Foundation’s assets to $3 million by the end of that year.
In its first 25 years, the Foundation granted close to $50 million to causes such as ending homelessness, fighting food insecurity, promoting literacy and championing the arts, environment and education.
Since President and CEO DePriest Waddy came on in 2022, the Foundation’s assets have grown to over $100 million in 2025. And today, it manages over 300 funds and has granted more than $160 million to local and global organizations.
At this year’s Good2Give Celebration, the Foundation recognized three individuals who have shaped its legacy and positioned it for even greater success over the next 40 years: Ethel Andersen, former board president; Mike Tennant, a founding member and former board president; and Sir Tim Minard, a stalwart entrepreneur, philanthropist, knight and current board member.
From championing the arts through Arts Capital | Atlanta to spreading peace through World Peace Revival to equipping the community through Nonprofit and Leadership Academy and Professional Advisors Network, the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia is growing our community impact alongside many generous donors and changemakers.
Thank you for being a part of making the Community Foundation a force for good in our region — past, present and future!
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Donor Advised Fund
Five Avenues for Giving through the Community Foundation
A donor advised fund (DAF) offers a simple, personal and tax-efficient approach to giving. When you open a DAF with assets of your choice, we’ll grow those assets and offer guidance on important needs and worthy nonprofits in our community to give to. At your convenience, you can also recommend grants to charities that meet the needs that matter most to you while enjoying immediate tax benefits when you add funds to your DAF.
Nonprofit (Agency) Fund
Opening a Nonprofit (Agency) Fund allows your organization to grow its assets and maximize its impact now and in the future. You’ll also have the opportunity to receive grants from us while we highlight your impact and connect other community changemakers to your organization.
Good2Give Fund
Anyone and everyone can be a philanthropist — whether you open a fund with the Community Foundation or not! Our Good2Give Fund lets you give at your own pace, and we’ll ensure your funds benefit nonprofits in our community that are meeting significant needs.
Planned Giving
Planned giving allows you to make a difference for local organizations through structured donations, often as part of your estate planning. This approach enables you to build a legacy that lasts, while often securing tax benefits for you and your heirs.
Other Types of Funds
Find a fund that fits your giving goals! From endowment funds to fields of interest funds to scholarship funds and more, we offer many options to meet your goals and cement your legacy.
Sharing Care at Home and Abroad: MedShare’s Mission for Sustainable Healthcare
After years in the corporate world, Stacey Koehnke knew she could use her talents for more. Seven years ago, she left her corporate job for a position at the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
“I got to see how much that organization benefitted the community, but I also learned how communities that are dealing with food insecurity also lack access to other things like basic healthcare,” she explained.
In 2024, she learned about an organization meeting those healthcare needs, not just in Atlanta but across the world: Medshare.
A.B. Short and Bob Freeman founded MedShare in 1988 after witnessing the large amount of discarded medical equipment in the United States. Over the last 27 years, the organization has expanded to meet global medical equipment needs in over 25 countries by collecting unused medical equipment that might otherwise be disposed of and distributing it to underserved communities.
“Our goal is sustainability, not only in reducing waste but also in ensuring that when we redirect equipment, it can be used again,” she said. “We provide training on the equipment’s basic operation, maintenance and repair so it can be continuously used.”
Since Stacey joined the MedShare team in 2024 as CEO and Executive Director, she’s led initiatives to expand support for free and safety net clinics in 35
U.S. states and to provide critical medical equipment to disaster-affected areas.
As MedShare has launched more stateside initiatives, the team recognized the potential benefits of more local partnerships.
“We’ve been working internationally for so long, but not as many people are aware of the work we have been doing locally, both in north Georgia and across Georgia,” Stacey explained.
“It was important for us to work with an organization that works with the community, has a great reputation and is part of a community of organizations trying to improve the local community.”
When a team member suggested the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, Stacey was intrigued.
This year, Stacey and her team opened the MedShare Health Access Fund with the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia.
“We have been in North Georgia for over 26 years, but we’re reintroducing ourselves with this expansion of our mission,” she said.
“It was important for us to work with an organization that works with the community, has a great reputation and is part of a community of organizations trying to improve the local community.”
“The Community Foundation is key to helping us grow our outreach, and generally as an organization, by providing us with opportunities to learn and connect with like-minded fundholders who want to amplify their impact.”
Small Communities.
How MicroLife’s Pocket Neighborhoods Create Sustainable Community Connections
After 10 years in corporate America, Will Johnston hit a “reset button.”
“I wanted to do something bigger and more with my life, so I quit my job, sold everything and went backpacking through New Zealand,” Will shared.
Though he shed his corporate life for a backpack and a slower pace, he kept the connections he’d made from his previous jobs and reached out again when he returned to the Atlanta area.
What he saw in Atlanta and the surrounding areas was a need for tighter-knit communities.
Eleven years ago, Will founded a group that eventually evolved into a nonprofit housing developer, the MicroLife Institute.
What began in 2016 with festivals and educational opportunities on diverse housing typologies led to a crucial connection with the city of Clarkston and, later, the first housing development of its kind — Cottages on Vaughan, a collection of eight homes all 500 square feet or less with welcoming front porches, shared parking and clustered around a central courtyard with walking paths.
builds in Gwinnett County.
“Gwinnett is top of our list as we collaborate with inspired individuals and forward-thinking municipalities to expand housing choice, create walkable density and build connected communities,” Will said.
Will is hoping to move housing development away from suburban “McMansions” to sustainable homes and townhomes situated in strategic communities that his mentor Ross Chapin coined as “pocket neighborhoods.”
Now MicroLife is developing a project right here in Northeast Georgia, building nine townhomes in the Hammond Park neighborhood in Atlanta. The team also plans to break ground on nine sustainable and affordable cottages in Fulton County and is considering potential new
From building affordable starter homes for first-time home buyers to providing seniors with the chance to downsize, MicroLife is, in Will’s words, “adding to the landscape of opportunity by utilizing housing typologies and building in a way that connects communities, strengthens our bonds and creates a stronger society.”
To build smaller communities, Will and his team knew they needed to connect with larger communities in Northeast Georgia. That’s when he found the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia.
Boosted by its partnership with the Foundation, MicroLife is building diverse pocket neighborhoods and fostering connections within them, which both organizations hope will transcend these smaller-scale developments and influence larger communities.
“The Community Foundation is a breath of fresh air that is needed in the community to lift up our society,” Will said. “MicroLife is very proud to be a part of that because when we all contribute, we all lift each other up.”
Partners for Community Agency Fundholder and Partner Highlights
“We’re still new to this partnership but are excited about the opportunity to expand our impact both locally and globally.”
“We provide comprehensive care and treatment and medical resources to folks who live in the state of Georgia who have inherited blood disorders. We provide outreach, nursing, social work, patient programs and educational programs. We host fundraising events as a nonprofit and serve the entire state, border to border, birth to death.
“I’ve known about the Community Foundation for a long time, but it wasn’t until about a year ago — when DePriest suggested we partner — that I realized how much more they could help us. At Hemophilia of Georgia, we fundraise in three main areas: scholarships, research and global impact. We’ve been in places like The Gambia and Dubai, helping countries develop programs that provide care, treatment and education for bleeding disorders.
“Through our partnership with the Community Foundation, we’re now able to invest some of the dollars we raise, grow them and put even more back into those three areas. We’re still new to this partnership but are excited about the opportunity to expand our impact both locally and globally.”
— Vic McCarty, chief community engagement officer, Hemophilia of Georgia
Community Change Highlights
Thrive Community Lending and Impact Investing
Over 50 countries are represented in Clarkston, Georgia, a small city with approximately 14,000 residents. Many of these residents are refugees from their home countries.
Thrive Community Lending and its Executive Director John Arnold work within this diverse community — one that has seen great loss but one also filled with people regularly breaking down barriers to build new lives.
“We’re deploying loans and providing business training to low-income folks to strengthen their business or help them launch a brand new business,” John explained.
This year, Thrive opened a fund with the Community Foundation, and the Foundation loaned Thrive $100,000 to help fund small businesses and expand opportunities for loans for refugee business owners through its Impact Investing Initiative.
“The Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia has given us a chance,” John said, “and we’re excited about supporting borrowers in the area and seeing what great things happen.”
Peachtree Hills Scholarship
Not only does Peachtree Hills offer a welcoming community for retirees, but it also provides opportunities for residents to give back.
Two years ago, residents at Peachtree Hills wanted to make a difference for Peachtree Hills employees and their families, so they partnered with Good2Give Celebration Legacy Award honoree Ethel Andersen and the Community Foundation to make it happen!
From this partnership, the Peachtree Hills Place Scholarship Fund was born.
“Community Foundation officers and staff worked patiently with our trustees and scholarship committee to establish a program which now has assets of over $500,000 and is growing,” shared Steve Raeber, trustee of the Peachtree Hills Foundation. “More importantly, 19 PHP employees and their family members have received $62,000 in scholarship assistance.”
Partners for Community Agency Fundholder and Partner Highlights
The impact of the Apalachee High School shooting continues to ripple through our community long after the immediate crisis. Survivors, families and neighbors are still navigating grief, trauma and triggers from similar events around the world that bring back painful memories. Healing from such an event is not measured in days or weeks, but in years — and ongoing support is essential for recovery. The Apalachee Relief Fund stands as a lifeline, providing over 345 hours ($34,500 worth) of additional access to counseling and hope. It ensures that those most deeply affected are not left to carry the weight alone, but are surrounded by a community committed to walking alongside them for the long haul.
Freedom Path Counseling and Apalachee Relief Fund Wonders
“The Apalachee Relief Fund reminds us that healing is not a moment — it’s a journey. Continued support means that no student, teacher or family has to face that journey in isolation.
“By sustaining the Apalachee Relief Fund, we affirm that the tragedy will not define our community. What defines us is our compassion, resilience and commitment to caring for one another,” said Chad Potts, executive director of Freedom Path Counseling.
& Worries
Wonders & Worries offers free, professional support for children and teens facing a parent’s serious illness or injury. Since 2001, the nonprofit has served more than 19,000 families nationwide through its evidence-based Illness Education and Coping Curriculum®
Led locally by Certified Child Life Specialist Becca Schuetz, the Atlanta team provides individual and group sessions at no cost, helping kids build resilience and express emotions in healthy ways. Partnering with the Community Foundation, Kate’s Club, the Atlanta WonderCouncil and Cancer Support Community of Atlanta, Wonders & Worries ensures no child has to face a parent’s illness alone.
Community Change Highlights
What began in 2009 as one family asking for homework help has grown into a thriving organization transforming entire communities.
Founded by Jim and Melinda Hollandsworth, Path United empowers children living in mobile home parks to discover their path to high school graduation and God’s purpose for their lives.
Through mentorship, academic support and faith-based encouragement, Path United creates safe spaces where kids can build confidence, relationships and hope for the future. Today, the organization serves families across four Georgia communities and one in Tennessee!
World Peace Revival
Inspired by the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., World Peace Revival is a movement of prayer, kindness and unity dedicated to turning division into connection and inspiring peace across the globe. Through highlighting local nonprofits from a Christian perspective, people are invited to share prayers for peace and stories of kindness, reminding the world of the power of faith in action.
“Prayer is our telephone between man and God. It’s the connection we need for answers and direction. When people ask you to pray for them, you are extending God’s love for them to them,” said Pastor Rex Johnson, World Peace Revival partner.
“Prayer is the one thing that doesn’t separate us in the eyes of God. It’s a connection with our Lord that we can all have and that connects us together. Bringing people together from all different organizations like World Peace Revival does builds unity and shows God’s love and care for one another.”
CELEBRATION $475,000 raised!
At this year’s Good2Give Celebration, we not only celebrated a huge anniversary milestone, but we also raised $475,000 — the most in the event’s history! Over 500 guests joined us for this momentous event to celebrate 40 years of generosity and decades of community transformation.
Because of your generosity, we’re able to support over 300 nonprofit fundholders and spearhead vital community initiatives to promote peace, art and leadership.
Thank YOU for being an integral part of 40 years of giving and for promoting the lasting impact of the Community Foundation!
“The Community Foundation is a lovely partner. Not only are we an agency fundholder, but the foundation has also supported our philanthropic efforts for many, many years, ensuring we can continue serving adults with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries.”
— Kayce Pearce, chief development and marketing officer of Annandale Village
“This is our first grant from the Community Foundation, and we’re thankful for the opportunity to partner with them. Their support allows us to continue meeting real, urgent needs in our community. It’s encouraging to have a respected organization like the Community Foundation believe in our mission. Their support gives us confidence to tackle more projects and reach more homeowners who might otherwise fall through the cracks.”
— Heather Loveridge, executive director of Home Repairs Ministries
“The Community Foundation has been an invaluable partner in SPARC’s growth, providing training and technical assistance that have strengthened our organizational capacity, funding that has expanded our impact and exposure that has connected us to new supporters and opportunities. Each of these contributions has been critical to advancing our mission and building a stronger foundation for long-term success.”
— Joy Monroe, founder and CEO of SPARC
Congratulations to our 2025 Grant Recipients:
Annandale Village
Bald Ridge Lodge
Duluth Cooperative Ministry
Family Promise of Forsyth County
Family Promise of Gwinnett County
Fully Furnished Ministries
Gwinnett/Walton Habitat for Humanity
Gwinnett Housing Corporation
Home Repairs Ministries
Impact46
Latin American Association
Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries
North Fulton Community Charities
North Gwinnett Co-Op
NSPIRE Outreach Ministries
Senior Services North Fulton
SPARC (Single Parent Alliance Resource Center)
The Place
NPLA, LIFT and PAN: Equipping Today’s Leaders
Nonprofit and Leadership Academy
At our spring workshop in Gwinnett and fall masterclass in North Fulton, we welcomed speakers from nonprofit and for-profit sectors who offered strategies to craft a compelling message, boost donor retention, grow agency funds and develop effective fundraising campaigns.
In each session, our speakers challenged and equipped community members to sharpen their leadership skills and elevate their organizations.
Leadership Impact for Transformation (LIFT)
Through our partnership with Long Table Consulting, LIFT empowers and elevates the potential in our community’s leaders so all of us can thrive together. In exclusive leadership sessions, cohorts of eight to 12 participants connect bi-monthly for one year and complete various assignments to challenge and cultivate their skills and expand leadership possibilities. Scan the QR code and learn more about LIFT.
Professional Advisors Network
Our Professional Advisors Network (PAN) entered its 26th year of empowering attorneys, financial planners, bankers, CPAs and other professional advisors as they help their clients meet giving goals.
“The Community Foundation and PAN have been an incredible partner to work with over the years. Their expertise and execution have been invaluable for the clients we have the privilege of serving. There is no greater joy in our industry than empowering a family to use their resources to fund causes they are most passionate about, and the Community Foundation makes this easy!”
— Nick Schuessler, partner at Sugarloaf Wealth Management
6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite 220
Duluth, Georgia 30097
770.813.3380 | cfneg.org
info@cfneg.org
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DePriest Waddy, President & CEO
Kimberly Yoo, CFO, Fractional J.P. Latz Advisors
Norma Marquez, Director of Development and Fundholder Relations
Lydia Greenway, Events
Lynn Nguyen, Fundholder Experience Manager
Karyl Kaye Miller, Executive Assistant
Tarina Carter, Accounting
Magnolia Media Group, Marketing CFNEG Team