Honoring the Everyday Heroes Who Build Beloved Community By Rodney Bullard

On Thursday, August 14, more than 1,500 people came together under one roof for the 2025 Beloved Benefit. We gathered in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of the Beloved Community and the late Congressman John Lewis’s words, united by a shared belief: if you are born into poverty in Atlanta, you should not face the steepest climb out of poverty of any of America’s 50 largest cities.

The Beloved Benefit exists to change that. It is about promoting social and economic mobility and creating a city where your ZIP code does not determine your future. This year’s event reflected the power of what happens when business, culture, and community lock arms in common purpose.

We saw corporations like Chick-fil-A, Georgia Power, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Truist Charitable Fund, The Home Depot Foundation, UPS, Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo, and more make tangible commitments to this vision. We heard the voices of artists and cultural leaders, including T.I., Ludacris, Maria Taylor, and Rickey Smiley.

Everyday Heroes at the Heart of Beloved

Time and time again, what makes the Beloved Benefit so powerful is the people behind the scenes. It is the countless volunteers who gave their time, energy, and effort to make the evening possible. From setting up tables to welcoming guests and lending a hand wherever it was needed, these men and women embodied the very spirit of service. Their willingness to step forward is what makes Beloved not just an event, but a movement carried by the hands and hearts of many.

It is also the beneficiaries we celebrate, who embody what it means to be an everyday hero. They are on the ground each and every day, fighting to create opportunities across Atlanta. City of Refuge provides safe housing and job training for families in crisis. The Latin American Association empowers immigrants and their children to thrive. Morehouse School of Medicine advances health equity across our neighborhoods. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta connects mentors with young people who simply need someone to believe in them.

And behind every one of these organizations are the people they serve. The single mother who finds a permanent home for her family through Partners for Home. The student at Atlanta Technical College who graduates with the skills to change the trajectory of his future. The parent supported by New Life Community Alliance who can now provide stability for their children. The longtime Westside resident who, with the support of Westside Future Fund, is able to see their neighborhood thrive once again.

Last but certainly not least, we had the privilege of honoring two leaders whose influence has shaped this event from the very beginning: Arthur Blank and Dan Cathy. Both were instrumental in the very first Beloved Benefit, and this year, they both received our Lifetime Achievement Award for their extraordinary leadership throughout Atlanta and beyond.

The Work Ahead

The Beloved Benefit is a celebration, but it is also a call to action. The challenges facing Atlanta will not be solved in a single night or by a single organization. They will be solved when each of us takes ownership of the community we share, when we fight the real fights, not against each other, but against the barriers that keep us divided.

One way to start is by getting involved directly. This October, you can do just that through Hands On Atlanta Week, an opportunity to roll up your sleeves alongside neighbors and make a difference in our city.