Corporations Support Local Seniors at 2nd Annual Claws for a Cause Local businesses recently teamed up with newly opened 6 Bridges Brewing in Johns Creek to sponsor Claws for a Cause, a crawfish and shrimp boil benefiting Senior Services North Fulton. The event raised money for Meals on Wheels and a transportation program that helps get homebound seniors in north Fulton to their medical appointments. Nutritious food and regular visits to the doctor make a big impact on the health and well-being of our senior population, said Ron Harlow, executive director for Senior Services North Fulton, which relies on corporate partnerships to keep its programs and services running at no cost to clients and without wait lists.The event raised enough money to provide over 1,200 meals to hungry seniors, or almost 90 round-trip rides to medical appointments. We appreciate these companies for sharing in our vision of a community where ALL older adults are revered, cared for, and supported to live meaningful and productive lives, Harlow said. To donate or learn more about Senior Services North Fulton, visit SSNorthFulton.org, or call 770-993-1906.
Blood Marrow Transplant Program Among Best Nationally for 10th Year For the 10th consecutive year, the Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute has been recognized as having among the best survival outcomes in the United States for bone marrow transplants. The data was reported by Be The Match, which manages the largest and most diverse marrow registry in the world. Northside ranks in the top 20% of transplant programs in the country in terms of volume of allogeneic transplants performed. According to the data reported by Be The Match, the one-year survival of patients transplanted at Northside was 79.4%, which exceeds the survival expected for the hospital. The hospitals BMT Program is one of only two adult programs in the nation (out of 177) that has achieved survival outcomes that significantly exceed the expected survival rate for the last 10 consecutive reporting cycles, and is the longest running adult program in the Southeast to exceed expected survival rates.H. Kent Holland, M.D., medical director of the BMT Program at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute, believes that these results are a direct reflection of the hard-working dedication of Northsides physicians and staff. We have a very experienced team that spearheads the amazing work that takes place in our inpatient and outpatient BMT units, our stem-cell laboratory, and blood donor center, he said. In addition to state-of-the-art facilities and expert leadership, innovative treatments and research are major components of the BMT Program. Northside recently began offering chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and other immunotherapy treatment options, including novel clinical research trials, and is the lead site for a consortium with the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network, which conducts large multi-institutional clinical trials that address important issues in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and furthers the understanding of the best possible treatment approaches. For more information about the BMT Program at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute, visit BuiltToBeatCancer.com and BMTGA.com. For more information about Be The Match, visit BeTheMatch.org.
Alpharetta Business Association Celebrates 25 Years Back in 1994, a group of downtown Alpharetta merchants banded together to promote their shops and restaurants in an effort to draw customers to the area. Now, 25 years later, that determination has paid off. That small group of business owners has transformed into the Alpharetta Business Association (ABA), and Alpharetta has become one of the best cities to live, work, and play in metro Atlanta. The Alpharetta Business Association was originally known as the Downtown Alpharetta Business Association (DABA). Today, the Alpharetta Business Association remains committed to the historic Alpharetta area, as it continues to grow, change, and provide unlimited opportunities. The ABAs reach now extends beyond downtown to every corner of Alpharetta. The organization welcomes all businesses in Alpharetta and the surrounding areas to join. ABAs membership includes dedicated business professionals who work together to improve the business climate in Alpharetta.
High Style with Heart Recently, fabrik Avalon showcased the brands in-house designed line, Asher, and hosted Asher designer Kristi Robinson to share about the heartbeat behind the collection.Launched in 2011, fabriks Asher Collection is named for founder Dana Spionlas adopted daughter who was abandoned on the side of the road in Ethiopia at six months old. A portion of proceeds from the Asher Collection help to fund basic needs, medical care, developmental therapy, and educational opportunities for orphans through Project 82 Kenya. Each of fabriks 42 stores across the U.S. is paired with an Asher baby to provide financial support and lots of love until he or she finds a forever home.
LGE Community Credit Union Gives Back LGE Community Credit Union recently presented a total of $170,000 to fourteen local, nonprofit organizations through the LGE Community Outreach Foundation. The fourteen organizations that received donations were Warehouse of Hope, Safepath Childrens Advocacy Center, City of Refuge, Next Step Ministries, McKenna Farms, Racheals Rest, CASA of Paulding County, Calvary Childrens Home, The Drake House, Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta - Cobb County, Shepherd Center, MUST Ministries, Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, and Mostly Mutts. Each year, LGE employees nominate and select the organizations that will be supported. The LGE Foundation then organizes and conducts fundraisers throughout the year to raise money to contribute to those nonprofit organizations. Every dollar raised by the LGE Foundation is matched by LGE Community Credit Union. Not only is there a monetary contribution, but LGE staff members volunteer over 2600 hours in the community each year.
Donna Lowry Joins Fulton County Schools as Communications Chief Awarding-winning journalist Donna Lowry is joining the district as chief communications officer. Lowry worked as a reporter with WXIA-TV/11Alive for thirty years until her retirement last April. In that role, she was one of metro Atlantas most recognizable faces and voices with her popular Class Act and Class Notes education segments. As the kids and schools reporter, Lowry shined a spotlight on metro Atlanta schools and told the positive, personal stories that involve students and teachers.Education storytelling is my passion, and my work as an education reporter allowed me opportunities to showcase the innovative, creative, and exceptional things occurring every day inside schools, Lowry said. But, my work as a school district communications director gives me so much more reach to change the way the public views education and the way parents can be involved in their childs school life. I am delighted to join Fulton County Schools as its chief communications officer and look forward to serving the districts students, staff, parents and community.
Kathy Swahn of Drake House Wins 2017 Nonprofit Leader of the Year Award The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) recently honored the many great nonprofits that make north Fulton such a great place to work and live. GNFCC is proud to celebrate and support nonprofit leaders in the community for their dedication to the service and welfare of others. The Nonprofit Leader of the Year award was created to honor these individuals for their extraordinary contributions on behalf of their organizations. This years winner was Kathy Swahn, executive director of The Drake House. Kathy is responsible for the organizational management, development and assets management for The Drake House, a crisis housing and empowerment program for local, homeless, single mothers and their minor children.Under her administration, the organization has grown the assets to include The Drake House, a sixteen-unit apartment complex; three Drake Closet resale boutiques, located in Roswell, Alpharetta and Sandy Springs; and the recent acquisition of The Drake Village, a sixteen unit, affordable apartment community serving successful Drake House graduates.
Northside Hospital Offers New Diagnostic Imaging Tool for Detection, Staging and Restaging of Rare Neuroendocrine Tumors A new tool available at Northside Hospital aims to help doctors find disease that they were unable to see before.According to the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation, more than 12,000 American people are diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) each year. Most NETs are not harmful. They often form in the intestine, pancreas or lungs, but sometimes trigger a rare form of cancer that can be difficult to diagnose with current imaging techniques.The Northside Hospital Cancer Institute is one of the largest and most respected providers of cancer care services in the southeast and treats more than 300 newly diagnosed cases of NETs each year. The hospital is one of only a handful in the southeast to offer NETSPOT, a product recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the preparation of Gallium-68 (Ga-68) dotatate for PET/CT (positron emission tomography computed tomography) imaging.Combined with PET/CT imaging, which offers higher resolution, three-dimensional and more rapid imaging than other imaging technologies, NETSPOT gives doctors a better picture of the disease and what they must treat. Patients who are diagnosed with NETs early have a better chance of beating or managing the disease.NETSPOT is currently available at Northside Hospital imaging centers in Atlanta, Cumming, Decatur, Fayetteville and Lawrenceville.
Successful enAble of Georgia Foundation, Inc. Wine Event Fundraiser! Recently, enAble of Georgia Foundation, Inc. had a great wine auction event at Bentley Atlanta. A fabulous time was had by over 120 guests who enjoyed wine, food, auction and fun! The wine tasting tables were a hit, and the event raised over $80,000.00 for the individuals who are supported by enAble of Georgias programs!Thanks to the inspiring generosity and enthusiasm of those in attendance, the revenue raised was DOUBLE the amount of last years during their Fund-A-Need portion of the evening, which raised over $20,000! enAble is grateful to everyone who donated, supported and volunteered for the event. Their next fundraising event is a Golf & Tennis Tournament on October 16 at White Columns. For more information, please visit enAbleGa.org, or call 770-664-4347.
Georgia Cancer Specialists The sixth annual Stand Up for Stand Down toiletry drive for Georgias homeless veterans is ongoing through August 11th. Sponsored by the Georgia District Pilot International Clubs and Georgia Cancer Specialists, affiliated with Northside Hospital Cancer Institute, the drive collects much-needed toiletry and personal-care items to fill comfort bags for veterans who attend Stand Down events throughout north and central Georgia. Stand Down is a military term that refers to the time when troops are brought back from the battlefield for rest and recuperation. Travel/sample-size toiletry and personal-care items are needed. Donations can be dropped off at any of the 26 Georgia Cancer Specialists locations in Georgia. For a list of locations, visit GaCancer.com. For more information or to volunteer, call 770-864-5347, or visit Facebook.com/SU4SD.