The Cobb Chamber’s Smyrna Area Council has selected Rose Diggs, CEO of Down 7 Up 8 Incorporated, as its 2024 Citizen of the Year. The Citizen of the Year Award is given to honor an individual whose impact through the years will be recognized and regarded with pride throughout the area as a role model. These outstanding citizens are chosen for their definable, exceptional deeds, with which he or she have made their community a better place to live. Awards are given based on local area nominations. The 2024 Smyrna Citizen of the Year award was presented at the Smyrna Area Council breakfast at Brawner Hall.

2024 Smyrna Citizen of the Year

Rose Diggs, CEO, Down 7 Up 8 Incorporated

Over the past 13 years, Rose Diggs has dedicated herself to children in the foster care system. Through her leadership at Down 7 Up 8 Inc., non-profit providing a range of programs designed for fostered, adopted, and underprivileged children, Diggs has fostered over 300 children and provided free virtual tutoring for over 700 children across Georgia. In addition, she has provided school supplies and Christmas gifts for hundreds of children, offered training for foster and adoptive parents, and created a legacy of compassion and service. Her advocacy for the rights of foster and adoptive parents through the Adoptive and Foster Parent Association of Georgia has driven meaningful policy changes at both state and national levels.

As a committed community leader, Diggs has held numerous influential positions, including serving as the Region 13 Vice President for the Adoptive and Foster Parent Association of Georgia (2020–current); the President of the Cobb County Foster Parent Association (2015–2022); as was a member of the North Cobb Civitan Club (2019–2022).

Her achievements have been recognized with several awards, including the Hero Award from AmeriGroup, Region 13 Foster Parent of the Year (2018), and Cobb County Foster Parent of the Year (2018).

For more information about Area Councils, contact Katie Guice at [email protected] or 770-859-2334. Thank you to Series Presenting Sponsor, Kaiser Permanente, Program Sponsor Barrow Wrecker Service, and Citizen of the Year Awards Sponsor, Capital City Bank.