Children’s Museum of Atlanta names Stephanie Blank as the recipient of this year’s prestigious Power of Play Award at the annual Imagination Ball fundraiser, which will be held on Friday, March 21, 2025 at the Atlanta History Center. This honor recognizes individuals who, through leadership, innovation and passion, embody the Museum’s mission to change the world by sparking every child’s imagination, sense of discovery and learning through the power of play. The upcoming grown-ups-only charity ball, co-chaired by Wonya Lucas and Bharath Parthasarathy and presented by Georgia Natural Gas, makes learning through play accessible to children of all backgrounds.

A longtime advocate for children’s well-being, Blank has spent much of her life striving to improve the lives of Georgia’s youth. She has been one of the most crucial champions in the history of Children’s Museum of Atlanta, supporting the work for over 20 years, and chairing the capital campaign to build the Children’s Museum of Atlanta where it currently stands next to Centennial Park. Blank is a committed advocate for children in the state; she served on First Lady Sandra Deal’s Children’s Cabinet and First Lady Kemp’s GRACE Commission (Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion and Education), which combats human trafficking, and chaired Governor Nathan Deal’s Commission on Child Welfare Reform.

Blank has championed many causes in support of children and families. She currently serves as the founding chair of GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, a nonprofit focused on advancing early childhood education in Georgia, and she also co-founded Mothers and Others for Clean Air. Other initiatives include Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where she recently ended her tenure as chair of the quality committee, the REACH Georgia Scholarship Program, Jumpstart for Young Children Inc. and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. She also spent 17 years gaining valuable experience with children’s issues, best practices and not-for-profit management as a trustee of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and currently serves as president of her own charitable organization. 

“Stephanie has been an unwavering advocate for uplifting Atlanta’s children,” said Edwin Link, Executive Director of Children’s Museum of Atlanta. “Honoring her as this year’s Power of Play Award recipient is just one small way for us to thank her for being a champion of play, creativity, and imagination as essential tools for inspiring children to reach their full potential.”

Imagination Ball 2025 attendees will be immersed in a night of creativity and nostalgia designed to rekindle the magic and wonder of childhood. The event will feature passed hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, hands-on activities, a seated dinner and a live auction. Funds raised will help support the Museum’s mission to change the world by sparking every child’s imagination, sense of discovery and learning through the power of play. Sponsorships and Patron opportunities are now available. For more information, visit imaginationball.org or contact the advancement office at 404-527-5908.