I still remember pulling into the driveway of the Renaissance Hotel, then located off of North Avenue in midtown Atlanta. I was a skinny (but confident) 17 year old with big dreams arriving in Atlanta for the Coca-Cola Scholars weekend. I was among a few hundred national finalists for a prestigious merit based award. I was also afraid to use the elevator (I had never been in a building this tall before!). Fortunately Mrs. Patti Ross (then the VP of the foundation) took me under her wing and made sure I got to where I needed to go. Little did I know how much this weekend, this scholarship, and the community of folks in the Coke family would change my life. Nearly 25 years later I’m still connected, now serving as an alumni board member, and previously serving as a national selector, leadership summit speaker, mentor, all the things. For a community that has given so much to me, I’m proud to return the favor.
Over a decade ago a group of teachers sat in my living room, one of whom taught at a high school literally up the street from my house. They were a part of the Teach For America corps, and they were completing their second year in the classroom. My job was to help them to figure out how to extend their commitment beyond the two years. That year three of them formed a nonprofit, Next Generation Men and Women based on their desire to provide young people in my community with pathways that they could experience while still in school. I joined their board early on and was able to help steward the organization through our first growth era and the selection of our current ED. Now, NGMW is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary, having increased its footprint and impact beyond metro Atlanta to south Georgia (another one of my old stomping grounds!).
Around the same time, my wife and I were looking for a school to send our oldest daughter. We heard about this parent led charter school called Chatt Hills. It was focused on arts, the environment, and agriculture. Imagine a school where the students spent most of the day outside learning using the natural world around them. Riley loved it and we did too as we eventually sent our second daughter Olivia there. For the past six years I’ve served on the board, the past few as board chair and I’m so proud of how far we’ve grown in our decade of existence.
Every giving Tuesday I’m reminded of the myriad of ways that so many different people have intervened to impact the trajectory of my life. I’m also appreciative of the partners I get to work with, people doing important work out here in the world. I’ve always been taught, to whom much is given, much is required. I believe it’s both an honor and a responsibility to pay the opportunities forward we’ve received in abundance. So on this day of repping our civic efforts, I salute these and so many more. Here’s to paying it forward.
If you’re looking for a few orgs to support today, here are a few of my favorites:
SDW3
everyday fatherhood 