The Woodruff Arts Center, one of the largest arts centers in the world, has reached out to Morris, Manning & Martin Partner John Yates to chair its Development Committee. In the board-level position, Yates will oversee the Center’s overall fundraising efforts.

In 2018, Yates chaired the Art Center’s Annual Corporate Campaign, which supported critical operating expenses as well as program funding and educational outreach. Each of the Center’s art partners – the Alliance Theatre, High Museum of Art and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra – has its own fundraising effort as well. As committee chair, Yates will lead the over-arching effort.

“I can’t imagine anyone more well-respected than John Yates to lead this effort, especially given the challenges facing the arts in light of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Woodruff Arts Center President and CEO Doug Shipman. “He is a powerhouse in fundraising who is ideal to help us strategize, pursue our goals and rebuild.”

“While the Woodruff Arts Center is critically important to Metro Atlanta and its economy, it receives a fraction of the public funding as other arts centers,” Yates said. “We must do everything we can to support a vibrant arts community and continue to attract the new businesses, professionals and visitors we need to help the community thrive.”

MMM supports The Woodruff Arts Center as well through Employees for the Arts (EFA) – the Woodruff Arts Center’s workplace giving program. The firm twice earned the Needle Mover Award, which goes to the organization that “moved the needle” with the largest percentage of increase over the previous year’s campaign.

Yates, who leads MMM’s Corporate Technology Practice, has raised millions of dollars for nonprofits over the years. His efforts include chairing the Capital Campaign for the Duke University Law School Board of Visitors and co-chairing the Y It Matters campaign for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta.

He is also on several boards including The Carter Center’s Board of Councilors, Furman University’s Board of Trustees, Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute’s Advisory Council, the Atlanta Master Chorale’s Advisory Council and YMCA of Metro Atlanta. Plus, CURE Childhood Cancer, a nonprofit dedicated to funding disease-fighting research and supporting children with cancer and their families, honored the Yates family with the inaugural Ragab Spirit of Hope Award.