Agape Atlanta Youth and Family Center is celebrating 25 years of transformational change and impact in 2022 with the launch of a capital campaign to raise $2.5 million. The campaign is intended to support the organization’s ongoing mission of empowering and supporting under-served families. Since 1997, Agape has served over 500 school-age children in the Atlanta area, offering wrap-around services that include in-school, after-school academic programs, summer camps and more that support entire families. The campaign: Celebrating our Past, Securing our Future, will ensure Agape’s work to end generational poverty will continue for the next 25 years and beyond. 

“We know if we can change the life of one child, then we are changing an entire generation,” said Nell Benn, CEO at Agape. “This entire year at Agape is dedicated to celebrating what we’ve accomplished over twenty-five years while never losing sight of the day-to-day impact our programs make for children and families in our community.”  She continued, “It’s amazing to look back at where we started and recognize now that, on average, our students are part of our program for eleven years by the time they are seniors in high school- taking all they’ve gained with us beyond the classroom and into their future.”

Foundation and History

Agape began as an outreach ministry of Trinity Presbyterian Church. Though Agape has always been separate from Trinity, Agape was the vision of senior pastor at the time, Rev. Dr. Joanna Adams. It was Joanna’s vision that led a core group of members from Trinity Presbyterian Church, as well as other faith-based organizations and community organizations to set down roots in the Atlanta Mission’s building on Bolton Road in 1997. The result was a one day a week after-school program for 25 students from the Hampton Oaks Housing Development and a day program for senior citizens from Marietta Road Highrise. Standing firm in its mission, Agape expanded the organization over the following years to a five-day-a-week program and added additional programs, services, and community initiatives to serve students from other schools and neighborhoods in the community. Due to the increase in the number of children served over the years, Agape offered after-school programs not only at the Agape facility on Bolton Road, but St Anne’s Episcopal Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church. Today, Agape partners closely with Atlanta Public Schools (APS) and currently serves students from:

• Bolton Academy

• E. Rivers Elementary School 

• Scott Elementary School 

• Sutton Middle School 

• North Atlanta High School 

• Atlanta Classical Academy 

Present 

After a successful 8.5 million capital campaign that launched fall of 2015, Agape moved into a new 35,000 square foot facility on Marietta Boulevard in 2018, bringing all programming under one roof. The new facility has afforded Agape the ability to increase capacity and offer new and enhanced programming. It includes a gymnasium, commercial kitchen, computer lab, library and 10 study rooms. During the height of COVID-19, Agape pivoted their programming to virtual and partnered with Atlanta Public Schools to provide students with the necessary technology to participate in their on-line classes. In addition, Agape provided over $125K in grocery gift cards, utility and rent assistance. During fall of 2020, Agape reopened its doors and served as a study pod for students providing accountability, stable technology, and a conducive environment for learning while schools were still offering virtual schooling because of the pandemic. As of August 2021, Agape expanded programming to Scott Elementary, enrolling 26 students.  

Future

Agape is laying the groundwork for the next 25 years with a $2.5 million capital campaign. This effort is intended to drive contributions that will help secure the future of the families and children served. The funds are earmarked for critical investments, including an outdoor recreational and learning space, upgraded technology and STEAM equipment, new buses and the creation of a building maintenance fund and endowment as Agape looks to secure its future. 

For more information on how to donate, visit 25years.agapeatlanta.org