Expanded funding will bolster nonprofit’s work to transform lives in Atlanta’s Westside and beyond
Westside Atlanta-based nonprofit City of Refuge announced today the launch of the ‘Breaking Barriers. Building Momentum.’ capital campaign, which seeks to secure $25 million in investments that will enable the organization to provide expanded opportunities for men, women and children to escape poverty and thrive in the community.
Already securing commitments and support from the Chestnut Family Foundation, Chick-fil-A, Inc., NAPA Auto Parts, Peach State Health Plan and Atlanta BeltLine, the fund will address ongoing issues in the communities City of Refuge operates. In Atlanta’s historic Westside neighborhood, the nonprofit will add critical employment, health and wellness opportunities, increase affordable housing options, improve existing programs and infrastructure, cover three years of start-up costs for new and expanded programming and share City of Refuge’s experience with others who want to build on the successful model.
“Over the last 25 years, we have worked to bring light, hope and transformation to our beloved 30314 community, structuring our programs to have a life-altering impact on the people who come to us for help,” said Bruce Deel, founder and CEO of City of Refuge. “Wherever we saw a need, we collaborated with our community to create a bold plan to address it. As we gather the funding for our latest capital campaign, we are grateful to see our community come together once again to create pathways of opportunity to help the broken put the pieces back together.”
In support of the campaign, The Chestnut Family Foundation, led by Ben and Teresa Chestnut, has contributed $5,000,000 as part of the organization’s mission to provide children with the resources they need to lead thriving lives that value creativity. In July the foundation committed to donating $600,000 over the next three years to support City of Refuge’s Youth Development programming.
“Ben and I are very proud to support the highly impactful work that City of Refuge is doing to transform the lives of children and families living in Atlanta’s Westside. We are inspired by their plans to increase health and wellness opportunities, provide safe and affordable housing options and expand career opportunities through their proven workforce development programs,” said Teresa Chestnut, Trustee of the Chestnut Family Foundation. “City of Refuge’s comprehensive approach is designed to break the cycle of poverty by giving people the tools and resources to change their lives. We believe in City of Refuge’s approach and are delighted to support the Breaking Barriers. Building Momentum. campaign which will help more people find pathways to reach their full potential. City of Refuge’s work is invaluable to the city of Atlanta and to our community as a whole.”
Initiatives to be funded by the new capital campaign include:
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Transformation Center: The organization will allocate $11,000,000 to construct a three-story Transformation Center at the former American Legion site. Featuring a new medical and mental health clinic for survivors of trafficking and domestic violence, credit union, social entrepreneurship hub, affordable housing and call center in partnership with Peach State Health Plan and Centene, the Transformation Center will meet gaps in economic, health and wellness services for those living on Atlanta’s Westside.
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Paths to Homeownership: Following the success of City of Refuge’s first affordable housing project The 1300, the nonprofit will leverage $6,400,000 in funding to bring additional affordable options to the Westside. Plans are in place for the construction of the Andrews Street Townhomes, sixteen units that offer permanent supportive housing and a 10-year ownership plan for residents to purchase the homes at 0% interest.
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City of Refuge Communities: From the fund, $5,200,000 will be used to support the formation of City of Refuge satellite organizations that will leverage the nonprofit’s proven and scalable model in their own cities, including Nashville, Las Vegas and St. Louis. Funding will also contribute to the continued build out of City of Refuge South in Thomaston, GA and the construction of an Impact Training Center in Fairburn, GA for nonprofit professionals.
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Campus Improvements & Capacity Building: To invest in its existing campus and programs at its Westside headquarters, City of Refuge will apply $2,400,000 towards building improvements, including building a Welcome Center, amphitheater, new garden, outdoor area, improving IT infrastructure and upgrading 40 housing units in Eden Village, a women’s housing program on campus.
“As a longtime partner of City of Refuge, we are thrilled to have been a part of the growth of this very important fixture on Atlanta’s Westside as it expands to meet the needs of the community it serves,” said Andrew Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A, Inc. “For more than two decades, the organization has identified and pursued opportunities that will have a lasting, generational impact on those who seek their programs and services. Through the ‘Breaking Barriers. Building Momentum.’ campaign, City of Refuge can strengthen its existing foundation and continue to evolve.”
“As Georgia’s leading care management organization, Peach State Health Plan is committed to identifying and addressing gaps in care to support a healthy environment for Georgians to thrive,” said Wade Rakes, President and CEO of Peach State Health Plan. “We recognize that this mission cannot be done alone and are proud to stand alongside City of Refuge in their efforts to support, educate and inspire Atlanta’s Westside residents so that they may lead healthy and successful lives.”
Since the organization was founded in 1997, City of Refuge has transformed the lives of more than 35,000 people by providing the tools they need to break down barriers through a strategic mix of supportive services that target health & wellness, housing, vocational training and youth development. The nonprofit is headquartered in Atlanta’s historic Westside and has several satellite campuses across the country.
For more information on City of Refuge’s upcoming plans, visit cityofrefugeatl.org and follow along on Facebook and Instagram to hear stories of light, hope and transformation in celebration of the 25th anniversary.
About City of Refuge
City of Refuge was founded in 1997 with the mission to transform the lives of individuals and communities in Atlanta and beyond. Today the organization resides in a warehouse that was graciously donated in the 30314 neighborhood, one of the poorest and most crime-ridden areas in the nation. Since inhabiting the warehouse, City of Refuge has served over 35,000. The organization has created several programs designed to impact housing, youth development, health & wellness, and vocation. The City of Refuge is a leader in social transformation and continuously works to empower and equip individuals with the tools to succeed.
