$390,000 Gift to C5 Georgia Youth Foundation

The Chestnut Family Foundation has donated $390,000 to the C5 Georgia Youth Foundation. This gift will support C5 Georgia’s 5-year strategic plan for growth and impact in the metro-Atlanta area. The funds will be used to enhance staff training, develop a new Mental Health and Social and Emotional (SEL) curriculum, provide student participation in the National Outdoor Leadership School and enable C5 to hire additional staff members.

C5 runs a five-year leadership development program for high-potential middle and high school students from under-resourced communities. By developing these young people as leaders, C5 Georgia creates a new generation of leaders ready not only for personal fulfilment but with the tools and motivation to help the communities for which they came.

We are excited to continue supporting the growth of C5 Georgia’s leadership programs.

$150,000 Gift to Soccer in the Streets

The Chestnut Family Foundation has made a gift of $150,000 to Soccer in the Streets. The donation will be used to expand the Soccer in the Streets in-school programming with a focus on Atlanta Public Schools.

Soccer in the Streets supports underserved communities through the medium of soccer with a focus on access, opportunity, equity, and helping youth discover their potential on and off the field.

Since our first donations to Soccer in the Streets, we have been gratified to see the organization grow and adapt as it increase its impact on our community. We are very pleased to be able to continue our partnership.

$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.