$435,000 Three-Year Commitment to Alliance Theatre Institute

The Chestnut Family Foundation has made a three-year $435,000 commitment to the Alliance Theatre Institute. The donation is to support Pre-K arts integration programs in Clayton County and to initiate a project to deliver similar programs in Richmond County. 

The Alliance Theatre Institute partners with school districts and schools to deliver professional learning for educators and arts integrated or theater-based instruction for students. The programs are designed to support school curriculum and individual classroom goals across grade levels and content areas. The Institute’s initiatives are aligned with the Georgia Standards of Excellence and Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards and yield proven results in students’ academic achievement and social-emotional growth.

We are proud to begin a partnership with the Alliance Theater Institute, and grateful for the commitment and creativity of its leaders, team members, and students.

$8 Million Commitment to Atlanta Beltline Partnership for Bike Park at Westside Park

The Chestnut Family Foundation has pledged $8,000,000 to the Atlanta Beltline Partnership for the Bike Park at Westside Park.  The Bike Park will be located in the northeast corner of Westside Park across about 45 acres of wooded land. The Bike Park will have over 2 miles of mountain biking trails which cater to all levels of cycling ability, including beginner and intermediate routes, bridges, natural obstacles, and switchback trails. There will be a ‘gravity trail’ designed to challenge more advanced cyclists.

Westside Park covers more than 280 acres in total. The first phase of redevelopment of the Park opened three years ago.

Atlanta Beltline Partnership leaders see the $8 million pledge as a significant milestone toward creating a unique and inclusive biking facilities in Atlanta.

"We're deeply committed to advancing the vision of the Atlanta Beltline at Westside Park, and we’re thrilled that this donation will give greater access to the sport of mountain biking to the people of Atlanta," commented Ben Chestnut.

For more information on the Westside Park Bike Park, please visit:

https://beltline.org/learn/current-projects/westside-park-mountain-bike-pump-track/

Continued Partnership with the Join Together Society (JTS) America

The Chestnut Family Foundation has donated a further $1.2 million to JTS America. The donation will be used to build and operate schools in some of the poorest areas of India and the Philippines.

JTS America seeks to bring hope, empowerment and self-reliance to the members of underprivileged communities, working with the community members directly. Its work includes the provision of practical support to underprivileged communities affected by disasters, and the development of school education. JTS is staffed by volunteers which ensures that donations are spent fully for the benefit of the communities needing support.

We continue to be very moved by the impact of JTS’s support of communities in need and are honored to be able to support this extraordinary work.

AFCEA Henry M. Chestnut Scholarship Awarded to Two High School Seniors

Abigail Bias (left) and Ria Tamrakar (right) are the 2024 recipients of the Henry M. Chestnut Scholarship awarded through the Augusta-Ft. Gordon AFCEA Educational Foundation. Each student will receive $2,000 to use towards their college degree.

Abigail graduated from Greenbrier High School and plans to major in Biology at the University of Georgia. Ria graduated from Evans High School and plans to major in Public Health at Mercer University.

We created the Henry M. Chestnut Scholarship in 2019 to honor of Ben’s beloved father, Henry M. Chestnut, whose military career helped inspire his love of technology and industrial design. It’s an annual scholarship for two students who have shown excellence in STEM subjects and who plan to seek a bachelor’s degree in a STEM-related field at a four-year institution or community college, so long as they intend to transfer and complete their bachelor’s degree. The Augusta-Ft. Gordon chapter’s scholarship committee selects the recipients every year.

Ben Chestnut was a recipient of an AFCEA scholarship in 1996, which proved to be transformational. We’re proud to give students this same opportunity and wish Abigail and Ria the best of luck as they continue their studies!

2024 Henry M. Chestnut Scholarship Awarded to Students at Bay High School

The Chestnut Family Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Henry M. Chestnut Scholarship in honor of Mr. Pears at Bay High School. This year, the scholarship was awarded to 20 students who will each receive $2,000 to be used towards their college expenses.

• Tyler Fredeking, Gulf Coast State College, plans to major in Nursing or Business

• Christian Samuel, Haney Technical School, plans to focus on aircrafts

• Sakura Ashley, Gulf Coast State College, plans to major in Nursing

• Jarkievia Bowden, University of West Florida, plans to major in Nursing or Psychology

• Karen Fernandez, Gulf Coast State College, plans to major in Psychology and Sonography

• Mary Carroll, Savannah College of Art and Design, plans to major in Illustration

• Kendyl Harry, Flagler College, plans to major in Elementary Education or Special Education

• Kaylee Dupuis, Gulf Coast State College, undecided on major

• Kaya Sunseri, University of South Florida, plans to major in Biomedical Sciences

• Klayton Keen, University of Central Florida or the University of Florida, plans to major in Music Education

• Larkin Johnson, Paul Mitchell Cosmetology School

• Katheryne Corral, Nova Southeastern University, plans to major in Marine Biology

• Jasmine Pender, Florida A&M University, plans to major in Business Administration

• D.J. Cruel, Florida A&M University, plans to major in Theatre Performance and Music Education

• Bella Rose Cook, University of West Florida, plans to major in Exercise Science

• Ranecya Gathers, Florida Atlantic University, plans to major in Architectural Design

• Adriana Cruz Betancourth, Gulf Coast State College, plans to major in Business Management

• Elijah Knox-Brennan, University of Central Florida, plans to major in Engineering

• Estella McGinity, University of Florida, plans to major in Microbiology

• Elizabeth Colwell, University of Notre Dame or University of Florida, plans to major in Architecture

We wish these students the best of luck as they continue their education in college!