Kaiser Permanente Georgia Partners with Chattahoochee Nature Center to Enhance Community Health and Engagement

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Friday, September 13th, 2024

 Kaiser Permanente Georgia today announced a significant partnership with Chattahoochee Nature Center to sponsor several of the center’s key initiatives, including the Unity Garden, volunteer program, senior programming, and annual Eco Challenge event. The collaboration highlights Kaiser Permanente's commitment to fostering healthy living and strengthening community connections through nature, volunteerism, and education.

 
Established in April 2010, the quarter-acre Chattahoochee Nature Center Unity Garden was developed to produce and provide fresh food to the North Fulton Community Charities food pantry to ensure fresh, seasonal, and healthy food reached those in need. To date, the garden has supplied more than 50 tons of fresh produce, directly benefiting the local community.
 
“Our partnership is crucial to maintaining the garden and bolstering other initiatives across Chattahoochee Nature Center," said David Van Voorhis, Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Sponsorships, and Events at Kaiser Permanente Georgia. "The shared values of active living and community service between our organizations reinforce our collective mission of staying active, being healthy and connecting people with nature. For us, it's about more than just buildings or members; it’s about the entire community’s health. A healthier community means a healthier membership.”
 
Kaiser Permanente Georgia will also provide ongoing support to Chattahoochee Nature Centers’ year-round volunteer program. This includes supplying essential resources such as tents, sunscreen stations, cooling towels and water, ensuring volunteers have what they need while giving back to the community.
 
“Kaiser Permanente’s partnership is vital to the success of our programs,” said Natasha Rice, CEO and President of Chattahoochee Nature Center. “Their support enhances our volunteer activities year-round and allows us to expand our programming for seniors, children and volunteers. We are grateful for this partnership and are thrilled to work together to promote a healthier and more engaged community.”
 
Kaiser Permanente Georgia will also serve as the presenting sponsor of Chattahoochee Nature Center’s upcoming Eco Challenge, a scavenger-type event designed to provide corporations with a team-building opportunity and environmental learning about one of Atlanta’s most precious resources, the Chattahoochee River and watershed.
 
In Georgia, Kaiser Permanente has 330,000 members in 28 counties in metro Atlanta and four counties near Athens. For more information about Kaiser Permanente Georgia, visit georgia.kaiserpermanente.org.
 
For more information about Chattahoochee Nature Center, visit chattnaturecenter.org