More than 600 guests joined CHRIS 180 at The Fairmont in West Midtown to celebrate the 19^th year of the nonprofit’s signature fundraiser, The CHRIStal Ball. As a nod to the behavioral health organization’s impact in the community since 1981, supporters and sponsors helped to raise more than $600,000 a new record for the fundraising gala that brings together corporate and individual donors, partners and CHRIS 180 staff and clients.

A staple of the event includes the presentation of the CHRIStal Vision Award, which goes to a person who has made significant contributions to the organization in the past year. The 2019 honoree is Atlanta homebuilder and CHRIS 180 Board of Directors member, Terry Russell. Russell, a Sandy Springs Resident, is the Southeast Regional President of Stanley Martin Homes and is a community volunteer, giving his time and expertise to a number of organizations in Metro Atlanta. Russell was honored at the gala for his dedication to building and renovating a duplex and three new homes for foster children in CHRIS 180’s care. “To be honored by an organization that does so much for others is amazing and I am touched. The energy in the room at the CHRIStal Ball was obvious and was demonstrated by the astounding support all the guests have for CHRIS 180. I am just happy to play a small role,” said Russell.  As a symbol of Terry Russell’s hard work and vision, CHRIS 180 recently dedicated a duplex in its community in his honor.

Additionally, two young adults who have benefitted from CHRIS 180’s services, Sir Dalvin Holloman and Daijah Proby shared emotional testimonies about how the nonprofit has helped to change the direction of their lives. The CHRIStal Ball comes less than a month after the organization officially opened its Center of Excellence in East Atlanta, following a $15M Capital Campaign to build a new facility for trainings and therapeutic services, including a ropes course and homes in the community for foster children.

“We are grateful for the outpouring of community support!  CHRIS 180 exercises an extremely high level of stewardship, meaning that we earn and leverage funding through contracts so that charitable dollars truly go to support the work that we cannot fund any other way. This is how, together, we help more children, youth and families heal and change the direction of their lives. This is how we build for a new and better tomorrow.” said Kathy Colbenson, LMFT, President & CEO of CHRIS 180.

Major sponsors of the CHRIStal Ball included: Presenting Sponsor, Delta Air Lines and Champion Sponsors: The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Chick-fil-A Foundation, Georgia-Pacific and Mazloom Charitable Fund.  For more information, visit CHRIS180.org