Three Atlanta Organizations Making a Difference

Back in the early 1980’s, former President George H.W. Bush compared the vast number of charitable organizations in the United States to “a thousand points of light.” The phrase (I believe created by then presidential speech writer, Peggy Noonan), captured not only media attention at the time, but vividly symbolized the vast number of agencies in the country simply trying to do good in some kind of organized, mobilized way.

Fast-forward two decades later and those kinds of agencies are still at it. The ‘lights’ are still out there, shining in the toughest of economic times.

There are a lot of lights shining here in the city where I live. Dotted across the map of Atlanta’s vast metropolitan area are some relevant organizations reaching out and working hard to transform people’s situations at various points on life’s journey. The strategies of these organizations are as varied and creative as the people who started them – and lead them.

In Metro Atlanta, here are three such points of light about which you ought to know:

In the city’s core is the Atlanta Mission. The Mission (founded in 1938) is the largest provider for homeless services in the city. Daily, 950 men, women and children are served through meals, shelter, medical attention, job training, addiction counseling and transitional housing. Their CEO since 2008, Jim Reese, came out of the executive world of a Fortune 500 company. Every day, Jim and the team at Atlanta Mission are trying to get people back on their feet, with dignity.

In suburban Dunwoody, Jen Guynn and Jeni Stephens launched Pebble Tossers in 2008. With a mission to work with children to understand the importance of “giving back” to their communities, Pebble Tossers is on the front end of training a new generation of light-bearers. Pebble Tossers believes that if children learn “volunteerism” at an early age, it will help their “self-confidence, leadership and life skills and awareness that they are not the only ones in the world.” It’s quite simple: If a child learns to volunteer as a child, they are more likely to become a volunteer as an adult. Pebble Tossers presently engages 9100 children and parents in volunteer opportunities and works with 110 organizations.

In the booming and changing regions of Northwest Metro Atlanta’s sprawling bedroom communities, MUST Ministries is stepping up and tackling some of the increasing human needs that were under the radar screen just a decade ago. The “Great Recession” changed the landscape dramatically. In the shadow of vacant shopping centers and newly built, but empty houses, a growing number of people have turned to MUST out of necessity. Starting in a Methodist church a few decades ago, MUST is advancing in a time when other charities are retreating. Originally, their focus was on Cobb County. But in January, the organization dedicated a new facility in neighboring Cherokee County. MUST CEO Ike Reighard is exploring new ways to make sure MUST is connecting where the needs are greatest.

As I read these stories and observe these organizations, they have two things in common:

• They wanted to make better the lives of others
• They were started by people who wanted to make the lives of others better
• Central to making a difference in a community is an individual who makes the decision to be a difference maker!

Are you that kind of person?

Reposted.  Original Post written by John Hull, President & CEO of Equip Leadership.  January 30, 2013