On July 27, The East Cobb Civitan Club announced the 2023 Civitan International “Servant's Heart Award” winner as Chris Brand, President and CEO of Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC). Since 2003, Brand has been devoted to leading FODAC’s mission to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families with disabilities. 

Brand has guided FODAC through tremendous growth in size and scope to become the nation's largest provider of low to no cost refurbished home medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers and other durable medical goods and assistive devices. Over the years FODAC has improved the mobility of hundreds of thousands of people in Georgia and surrounding areas. Brand has personally made a great impact during his tenure by adding opportunities to increase the distribution of durable medical goods in Cobb and surrounding communities.

Brand has a lifetime of experience understanding and supporting people with disabilities. While growing up in Atlanta, his friend of 19 years, who had Muscular Dystrophy, taught Chris the ravages of the disease on an individual and on the family. During this time, Chris saw the challenge that people with disabilities often have when gaining access to mobility items such as wheelchairs. The loss of his friend in 1987 inspired Chris deeply, creating his life-long interest in helping those in need.

Civitan International is a global organization impacting lives at the grass roots level through local service clubs. Members of Civitan share a Servant’s Heart and a desire to create positive change for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities