HomeAid Atlanta Receives ‘New Initiatives’ Grant

National home builder Newland Communities has generously helped HomeAid Atlanta this year by awarding them $3,500 from the Newland New Initiatives Grant, which will support HomeAid Atlanta’s Essentials for Young Lives Drive. The grant was funded by charitable events held by Newland Communities throughout the country, including the annual Life is good® Pumpkin Festival in Flowery Branch, Ga. (taking place Oct. 25 at Sterling on the Lake). Hopefully, other companies and individuals in the Atlanta real estate industry will follow Newland Communities’ lead and help raise money to support the non-profit organization of the Atlanta Home Builders Association.

HomeAid provides shelter to those who are temporarily homeless.  The organization has built housing for more than 80,000 men, women and children, and currently has 150 housing projects with more than 60 other projects in development.  Held during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, HomeAid Atlanta’s Essentials for Young Lives Drive returns Nov. 12-19, 2008. In its seventh year, this annual event collects essential baby items such as diapers, wipes, formula, baby food and other items for homeless children living in Atlanta shelters. According to Newland Communities, many of their community events, like the Life is good Pumpkin Festival, are designed to benefit local families in need. Thus, it only made sense to utilize the funds raised by supporting the mission of HomeAid. The generous donation from Newland Communities will help to ensure that the Essentials for Young Lives Drive continues to be a success.

The Newland New Initiatives Grant was established to encourage HomeAid chapters to develop charitable community programs that can be recreated and implemented throughout the United States. The Atlanta chapter, based in Tucker, Ga., was one of four chapters to receive the grant. Currently, HomeAid Atlanta is creating an instructional kit for other chapters to implement their own Essentials for Young Lives Drive.  The kit will include planning timelines, marketing and public relations materials, and volunteer materials. The chapter was chosen to receive the grant by a panel consisting of three HomeAid executive directors, the HomeAid director of program development, the chief operating officer of the national office and a Newland representative. Way to go Newland Communities for supporting such a great cause, and congratulations to our HomeAid Atlanta for being chosen to receive the grant.