$578,000 Gift to the Global Village Project

The Chestnut Family Foundation has committed to donating $550,000 over the next three years to support the Global Village Project’s Social & Emotional (SEL) and Wellness Program. The Social & Emotional (SEL) and Wellness program is a key component of the successful GVP educational model that speeds up learning for recently resettled refugee girls. Their main objective is to facilitate trauma-informed care and holistic support for refugee students, because when these girls are well in mind and body, they are best able to focus on and succeed in their studies.

The Foundation also gifted $28,000 to support GVP’s immediate need for a rental bus and bus repair. GVP operates a bus program, which is a critical lifeline for their students and families; providing transportation to and from the school, which is outside of the district the students would otherwise normally attend.

The Global Village Project is nationally recognized, three-year accelerated, special-purpose middle school for refugee girls in Decatur, GA. The school serves around 45 students annually at no cost to the students. GVP is the only school in the U.S. dedicated to meeting the unique educational needs of recently resettled refugee young women and preparing them for high school and beyond.

We're thrilled to support these important programs and the young refugee women in our community!

$500,000 Gift to Ballethnic

The Chestnut Family Foundation is delighted to confirm its continuing support of Ballethnic through a multi-year gift of $500,000. The gift will support programs and activities, including the expansion of current programming, support for Ballethnic’s Leopard Tale production at the Alliance Theater in May 2022, and general operating support to facilitate the growth of the Ballethnic team.

 Ballethnic was established in 1990 by Nena Galbraith and Waverly Lucas and is committed to making a radical shift in access to classical and contemporary ballet in Atlanta with a focus on black and brown children and youth. Ballethnic’s educational approach is about more than dance: it stresses disciplined lives, sound bodies, and focused minds. Waverly and Nena have developed a unique blend of ballet and African dance concepts and Ballethnic performs these original ballets, including the Leopard Tale, Urban Nutcracker, and Soul Survivors. 

We are delighted to continue our relationship with Nena and Waverly as they continue to build the organization and increase the impact of Ballethnic’s programs.

Photos courtesy of Sirk Photography

$100,000 Gift to Atlanta Angels

The Chestnut Family Foundation has donated $100,000 to Atlanta Angels to help support their plans for growth. The vision of Atlanta Angels is to ensure every child and young adult reaches their fullest potential, and that every family that fosters is radically supported. Their work is based on relationship building with children and foster parents, mentorship of children, and intentional giving. Critical outcomes of this work include reducing the number of placement changes experienced by foster children, providing children with typical childhood experiences, and preparing them for life after foster care. Atlanta Angels is part of the National Angels network.

Atlanta Angels have ambitious plans for growth in their programs over the next few years and the Chestnut Family Foundation’s gift will help support that growth.

Teresa Chestnut commented, “Ben and I are very proud to support the very important work Atlanta Angels is doing for foster children and foster families. Children in the foster system should have an environment which enables them to realize their full potential. That can only be achieved if they, and their foster parents, receive support, which helps provide stability and consistency. Atlanta Angels provides such support. Their work is invaluable to those children, and to our community.”

$50,000 Gift to Kate’s Club

The Chestnut Family Foundation has donated $50,000 to Kate’s Club to support the Kate’s Club Connects program. Kate’s Club provides grief training for professionals, grief education activities for students, crisis response for schools and organizations, and in-school grief support groups. Each year, over 6,300 youth lose a parent or sibling in metro Atlanta. The number has increased by 2,800 during the pandemic.

The Kate’s Club Connects program is an outreach and advocacy initiative that is structured to provide support to grieving children and families within their community. We partner with local schools to facilitate the program. Bereaved students work through an activity-based curriculum in closed groups over a six-week period.

We're proud to support their important work!

$20,000 Gift to Atlanta Angels

The Chestnut Family Foundation has donated $20,000 to Atlanta Angels to help support the expansion of the number of children they serve. Atlanta Angels provides support to children, youth, and families in the foster care community through intentional giving, relationship building, and mentorship.

Atlanta Angels is a chapter of the National Angels, which was established in 2009 and now operates in 20 cities across the US. Atlanta Angels began their work in 2020. They served 200 of the 3,000 children in foster care in metro Atlanta during their first year of operations. The Foundation’s donation will help Atlanta Angels build the capacity needed to serve an additional 50 children per month over the next year.

We're proud to support this meaningful work!