The Atlanta Youth Project
Four of our communities have an every-day after-school enrichment program and summer camp program for children in grades K-5 who live in the community. These are offered free of charge to the residents at three of our communities. The programs in our Adventure Centers are under the direction of and run by the Atlanta Youth Project, a non-profit, faith-based organization. Children receive afternoon snack, homework help, Bible teaching, character-building, crafts, music, art, drama and sports activities. They have themed program curriculum and take field trips to places of interest. www.atlantayouthproject.org.
Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee House
A full-service coffee shop, located at Walton on the Chattahoochee. Open to residents and team members and their families, the Coffee House is run by a non-profit organization called Land of a Thousand Hills. It's a great place for meetings or an evening date with your spouse. A portion of the proceeds of every cup of coffee sold goes to support the mission of the organization (helping to promote peace and support the widows of the Rwandan genocide). Their motto is “Drink Coffee. Do Good." www.drinkcoffeedogood.com.
Food Security for America
Four of our communities host a food co-op for residents, which is intended to help low to moderate income families who qualify under certain income limits to provide nutritious food for their family members. This program is run by the residents and provides approximately $100 worth of food per family every two weeks for a nominal $3 fee. The Food Security for America Program was started by the Georgia Avenue Presbyterian Church and is a non-profit, faith-based organization. The food that is distributed comes from the Atlanta Community Food Bank. www.gacm.org.
Hands-on Atlanta
Walton Communities partners with Hands-On Atlanta to assist with leadership development and service learning opportunities for our Walton Teen Service Corps, which is available at Walton Ridenour and Walton Village for teens 14-18 years of age. The Walton Teen Service Corps offers work experience in positive settings, increases leadership skills, gives exposure to quality adult influence and offers insight into the lives of others less fortunate through service learning projects. It also offers academic help, leadership seminars, and opportunities to earn scholarships and internships and more. www.handsonatlanta.org.
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre provides unprecedented support to educators in metro Atlanta through its education programs. The best local and national touring educational artists deliver programs in music, dance and theater that have direct tie-ins to classroom curriculum. Walton Communities is proud to sponsor the ArtsBridge Education Program, which provides local students an opportunity to experience theatre first-hand. Our partnership with the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre has also helped to provide some low-cost or free tickets for specific performances at the Center, which allows residents the unique opportunity to take part in a fabulous culturally enriching experience with their families. www.cobbenergycentre.com.
The Center for Family Resources
Since 1960, the Center for Family Resources has helped thousands of low-income families with employment, education and housing services, leadership development programs, mentoring opportunities and temporary financial and food assistance. They are committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by helping families acquire the resources they need to become independent and self-sufficient. Walton has been very involved with this wonderful non-profit organization for many years with a team member who has served on the Board of Directors and through our financial and physical support of its activities and programs. www.thecfr.org.
M.U.S.T Ministries
MUST Ministries is a faith-based, 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization dedicated to providing services to persons and families in crisis while maintaining their dignity. Walton Communities has been in partnership with them for many years. MUST has provided services to residents in need and Walton has provided physical and financial support to MUST through donations, toy and food drives, participation in events, volunteers to work in various areas of service and through team members serving on their Board of Directors. www.mustministries.org.
Good Samaritan Health Center of Cobb
The Good Samaritan Health Center of Cobb is a non-profit, faith-based healthcare practice which provides a comprehensive range of services for patients without health insurance or the means to afford care. This center serves the needs of residents of Cobb County and surrounding areas. Established in May of 2006, Walton Communities was privileged to participate in helping to get this health center off the ground. Several members of the Walton team have served on the Board of Directors, and Walton has helped provide funding for the project. www.goodsamcobb.org.
Partners in Education
Walton Communities is proud to partner with most of the schools that children who live in our communities attend. We are currently active Partners in Education with 18 schools, with three more scheduled for signing in Fall 2011. Walton provides financial support for needed items, as well as volunteers and direct involvement by property staff members in the local schools. www.cobbk12.org.
Cobb Schools Foundation
In our work through the Cobb Schools Foundation, Walton Communities has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to teachers and schools in order to improve classrooms in Cobb County. www.cobbschoolsfoundation.org.
Communities in Transformation
A ministry of Chick Fil-A’s LifeShape Foundation, Communities is Transformation seeks to mobilize local community leaders and volunteers to unite and utilize their resources to transform their community. One part of this ministry is Impact 360, a 9-month residential adventure developed for students 18-20 years of age. Walton Communities has partnered with Communities in Transformation to help mentor the teens in our Walton Teen Service Corps and to benefit the children who attend our Adventure Center programs. www.lifeshape.org.