$587,500 Gift to Moving in the Spirit

The Chestnut Family Foundation has made a gift of $587,500 to Moving in the Spirit. The donation will be used to expand the size and scope of services, deepen the experience of its students, and strengthen the sustainability of the organization.

Moving in the Spirit uses dance as a medium to teach young people the social, emotional, and cognitive skills they need to thrive. Through programs that integrate high-quality dance instruction with performance, leadership, and mentor opportunities, Moving in the Spirit impacts 250 children and teens annually in Atlanta, GA, encouraging them to overcome the obstacles they face each day and realize their highest potential. Moving in the Spirit seeks to develop its students to be confident, resilient, compassionate leaders, poised to succeed beyond the stage, and make a difference in their communities.

We are delighted to continue our partnership with Moving in the Spirit as it continues to grow and increase the impact of its programs on our community.

$725,460 Commitment to Trail Rangers Kickstart Program with Georgia Cycling Association

The Chestnut Family Foundation has made a three-year commitment to Georgia Cycling Association totaling $725,460 in support of Trail Rangers. In partnership with the Georgia Cycling Association, and Atlanta Falcons Youth Fund, we are proud to help kickstart a new youth mountain bike program in the State of Georgia. The Trail Rangers program is Georgia Cycling’s first program for elementary aged children. The  inaugural season will begin on March 3, 2025, with students in grades 3 through 5. The program is designed to help children learn, play, and connect with others and the outdoors through mountain biking.

The Georgia Cycling Association’s mission is to inspire Georgians to get outside and ride a mountain bike through inclusive programs that champion the interests of everyone who rides or wants to ride a bicycle in our state. Their programs welcome all public, private, and home school students who want to ride a bike.

$1,494,900 Three-Year Commitment to Friends of Refugees

The Chestnut Family Foundation (CFF) has made a three-year $1,494,900 commitment to Friends of Refugees. This donation will support Friends of Refugees’ literacy programs by creating a new Director of Language and Literacy role, providing an expansion of supplies and classroom time for their existing literacy programs, and re-launching their Men’s Literacy Program for pre-literate refugee men.

Language and literacy are the top barriers identified by the refugees supported by Friends of Refugees when it comes to adjusting to life in America. The funding provided by CFF will allow Friends of Refugees to impact an estimated 300+ additional New American children through expanded summer youth programs and after school tutoring. Additionally, the creation of a new literacy program specifically for pre-literate refugee men will impact an estimated 160 New American adult men allowing them to develop a key skill for surviving in America.

Friends of Refugees has worked with our refugee neighbors in their home of Clarkston, GA since 1995. Their goal is to walk alongside resettled refugees and New Americans and support them in their journey to build an abundant, flourishing life in America. Their programs focus on health and well-being, education and employment.

We are proud to support Friends of Refugees’ important work which enables the empowered Americans to thrive in our community!

$100,000 Gift to Helping Mamas

The Chestnut Family Foundation has continued its support of Helping Mamas with a $100,000 donation. This donation was made in support of Helping Mamas’ program expansion in Albany, GA and will provide a full three-month supply of diapers for 150 children.

Since opening their office in Albany, Helping Mamas has seen a tremendous need for services due to the high percentage of children living in poverty in the area. Utilizing their strong relationships with the Georgia Women, Infants and Children and Medicaid offices in the area, Helping Mamas plans to distribute the diapers to local families with a goal to reduce child abuse and neglect and increase family stability. This project will be reviewed as part of a larger scale research effort to understand any correlation between families having access to basic needs, like diapers, and an increase in positive mental, physical and financial health.

We are proud to continue supporting Helping Mamas as they provide essential services to women, children, and families in our community!

$300,000 Donation to Bearings Bike Works

The Chestnut Family Foundation is proud to announce a $300,000 donation to Bearings Bike Works. The donation is intended to support the expansion of Bearings’ Frameworks Fellowship program, where teens and young adults are given skill-building opportunities through real-life work experience. The funds will also be used to sustain the growth of Bearings’ youth programs: Skills for Life and Gearing Up. These youth programs give children the opportunity to earn a bike while developing skills and technical knowledge in a safe, self-paced environment.

Bearings Bike Works’ mission is to put the right tools in the hands of youth enabling them to advance their skills to build productive lives. At Bearings, young people learn and grow through successful, research-based programs connected to bike building, riding, racing and related life and future employment skills. 

We are excited to see all Frameworks fellows grow their leadership skills to succeed in the real world and we are proud to give more kids the ability to earn their bikes through Bearings thoughtful mechanical curriculum.