Atlanta Habitat Commemorates 40th Anniversary with Inaugural THRIVE Awards

Seven homeowners celebrated, numerous community luminaries gather for awards and fundraiser

ATLANTA – November 1, 2023 – Atlanta Habitat hosted its inaugural THRIVE Awards Wednesday, October 25, 2023, as a culminating celebration of the organization’s 40th anniversary. The “cocktails and kicks” themed event honored seven inspiring homeowners and the organization raised more than $345,000 to further support its mission to change the trajectory for generations of families through home ownership.  

“Atlanta Habitat was born on October 25, 1980, so it was special for us to have a 40th birthday celebration on that exact date with the homeowners, funders, partners and staff who embody the mission of Atlanta Habitat,” said CEO Alan Ferguson.

The THRIVE Awards was the final event for Atlanta Habitat’s Built to Thrive campaign which launched on the 40th day of the year, February 9, 2023. THRIVE is an acronym for Teaching Homeowners Responsible Investing for Vision and Empowerment – a nod to the organization’s brand promise to help families build, thrive and grow.  

The event was made possible by Presenting Sponsor Wells Fargo with additional support from Awards Sponsors DeltaAir Lines, Georgia-Pacific, The Home Depot, Novelis and Pratt Industries. Representatives from each sponsor company were honored to present their award to each homeowner.

Award winners include:

• Billie Walker, Community Change-Maker Award, presented by Georgia-Pacific
• Ebony Martin, Best-in-Class Award, presented by Home Depot
• Thomas Clem, Full Circle Award, presented by Pratt Industries
• Angela Pharr, Perseverance Award
• SJMone Jackson-Terry, Habi-Hero Award, presented by Delta Air Lines
• Marilynn Winn, Thrive Award, presented by Wells Fargo

A Night to Remember

The show began with a parade and a drumline performance courtesy of the South Atlanta Hornets Marching Band led by HGTV interior designer and Atlanta Habitat mission ambassador Michel Smith Boyd. Warrick Dunn, community partner and former NFL all-pro running back, highlighted the importance of partnerships and Atlanta Habitat’s involvement in Habitat’s Global Village program, building houses for international families living in substandard housing. Tanisha Wright, head coach of the Atlanta Dream women’s basketball team, highlighted her experience growing up longing for a homeand the opportunity to share her story at Atlanta Habitat’s BOSS Talk panel this fall.

Renowned consumer advocate and radio host Clark Howard led the auction experience, engaging guests in dialogue about their personal reasons for giving. Clark is a long-time Atlanta Habitat mission ambassador who has personally invested in the building of 81 homes since 1996.

Throughout the evening, Atlanta Habitat showcased a variety of heartfelt moments included in the “40 Years, 40 Stories” storytelling program. Each story highlights a special person, family or milestone that illustrates the many ways Atlanta Habitat goes beyond building homes to empower families and strengthen communities.

The show ended with a spirited rendition of the “Happy Birthday” song courtesy of Gospel artists B Chase Williams and ShaBach.  

A Legacy of Service

Atlanta Habitat hosted a Raise the Wall block party February 11, where Clark Howard kicked off his first of three new home builds to be completed in 2023.  

Additionally, two new families were welcomed into their new homes in the Browns Mill Village community. Browns Mill Village, a 31-acre community southeast of downtown Atlanta, was created to help close the affordable homeownership gap in Atlanta. Founded in 2019, it features Atlanta Habitat’s single- and two-story homes, greenspace, a community garden, recreation areas, modern infrastructure and wraparound services to ensure homeowner success beyond the build. A group photo from the block party was the first item placed in the Built to Thrive time capsule which will be sealed later this year.

For 40 years, Atlanta Habitat has worked tirelessly to create a more equitable Atlanta — a place where every family, regardless of their background, can achieve the dream of homeownership. From their first build in March 1984 when the Wallace family moved into their Peoplestown neighborhood home, to today, Atlanta Habitat has built a total of 1,758 homes in 121 neighborhoods across metro Atlanta. The organization has served more than 2,600 families with its first-time home purchases, rehab or critical home repair services, and education programs.