ATLANTA, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Fundraising for two of
Atlanta's most high-profile community initiatives received a big boost
Thursday.
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Wachovia's Atlanta President,
Kendall Alley, announced $1 million each in funding to the Atlanta BeltLine
Partnership and the Center for Civil and Human Rights (CCHR) Partnership
from The Wachovia Foundation. The gifts will go toward each initiative's
capital campaign.
The $1 million gifts represent the largest individual Wachovia
Foundation gifts made to Georgia-based initiatives in 2007.
"The City of Atlanta was built on collaboration and partnership between
our political leadership and our corporate and civic community. Today, The
Wachovia Foundation is continuing this history of Atlanta corporate
citizenship," Mayor Franklin said. "The gift to the BeltLine provides
continued momentum to the progress we're making with this unique
sustainable project, and the CCHR gift is a fantastic kick-start to the
$125 million we need to finance the construction of center."
"The Wachovia Foundation is pleased to contribute leadership funding
for these generational projects that are so important to Atlanta's future,"
Alley said. "The BeltLine and CCHR will provide long-term community
development, economic development and educational benefits for families,
visitors and businesses. Today's announcement is the result of our work
over the past couple of months to look closely at how our local Foundation
dollars can have sustained impact."
Each initiative aligns with The Wachovia Foundation's core funding
priorities. The BeltLine includes a significant emphasis on community
development and workforce/affordable housing initiatives. The Center for
Civil and Human Rights will be a landmark educational and cultural center,
as well as catalyst for economic development.
"We are grateful for Wachovia's recognition of the BeltLine's
extraordinary potential to positively transform the City of Atlanta," said
Ray Weeks, Chairman of the BeltLine Partnership. "With this gift, Wachovia
is in good company in the community of corporate supporters who have helped
us reach nearly half of our total goal for the campaign within its first
year."
"We are excited by Wachovia's visionary leadership in providing support
for the Center. Their gift brings us closer to realizing an educational
institution that instructs future generations on the lessons and
inspirations of history," said Doug Shipman, Executive Director of the CCHR
Partnership.
Including these gifts, The Wachovia Foundation provided $6.9 million
during 2007 for funding Atlanta-area education, community development,
health/human services and arts organizations.
About The Wachovia Foundation
The Wachovia Foundation is a private foundation that provides grants to
eligible 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations to support four primary focus
areas: Education, Community Development, Health and Human Services and Arts
and Culture. The mission of The Wachovia Foundation is to build strong and
vibrant communities, improve the quality of life, and make a positive
difference.
About the BeltLine
The BeltLine (http://www.beltline.org) will combine greenspace, trails and
transit, and will attract and organize new development along 22 miles of
historic rail segments encircling the City of Atlanta. The BeltLine will
connect neighborhoods; add 1,200 acres of greenspace incorporating public
art; invest $240 million in affordable workforce housing; support the clean
up of contaminated properties; and generate $20 billion of new economic
development.
About the Center for Civil and Human Rights
The Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, scheduled to open in
2010, will commemorate the groundbreaking contributions of Atlantans and
Georgians to the historic struggle for African-American freedom and
equality, and also serve as a living Center for ongoing contributions to
human rights struggles around the world. The Center will be a space for
ongoing dialogue, study and contributions to the resolution of current and
future freedom struggles of all people at the local, national and
international level. For more information, visit http://www.cchrpartnership.org.
SOURCE The Wachovia Foundation
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Related links:
http://www.wachovia.com
http://www.cchrpartnership.org http://www.beltline.org
CONTACT:
David Oliver of Wachovia, +1-404-214-3970; or
Howard Lalli of BeltLine, +1-404-790-0224; or Victoria Lelash of
CCHR, +1-404-419-9343
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