Grove Park Foundation is excited to host its third annual Grove Park Heroes celebration on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, honoring the visionaries and community leaders transforming Atlanta’s Grove Park neighborhood and beyond. The special evening unfolds at the Delta SKY360° Club inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, celebrating the Grove Park community and showcasing the very best of Atlanta. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens will attend to recognize this year’s honorees and the ongoing efforts to strengthen and uplift the Grove Park community.

In the days leading up to the celebration, the Foundation will also host a Grove Park Heroes Mural Dedication on Sunday, October 12 at 1:30 p.m. at the Grove Park Foundation office (1566 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy, Atlanta). This special event will pay tribute to the neighborhood’s enduring spirit of community and creativity.

At the heart of the evening is the recognition of Wendy Stewart, President of Global Commercial Banking at Bank of America, as the 2025 Grove Park Foundation Icon. A trailblazer in equitable development, Stewart’s career and civic leadership have made a profound impact on the city of Atlanta. She chaired two major capital campaigns for the Grove Park Foundation while serving on its board from 2017 to 2023, directly contributing to transformational investments in education, health, housing, and economic mobility.

“We are proud to honor Wendy Stewart for her unwavering dedication to building an inclusive, opportunity-rich future for all Atlantans,” said Gavin McGuire, Executive Director of Grove Park Foundation. “She embodies the type of leadership that doesn’t just talk about change—it delivers it.”

The event also honors four 2025 Grove Park Heroes:

• CJ and Kelli Stewart, 2025 Youth & Education Heroes, whose nonprofit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth (Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct)equips at-risk youth with the tools to lead, succeed, and give back—boasting a 100% high school graduation rate and 93% college enrollment among program participants. Founded in 2007, L.E.A.D. now supports more than 350 students each year, combining academics, athletics, civic engagement, and commerce to shape future leaders. CJ Stewart, an Atlanta native, former Chicago Cubs outfielder, and Amazon #1 Best Selling Author, brings his lived experience of rising out of poverty to mentor the next generation. Kelli Stewart, also an Atlanta native raised in Crawford, Georgia, brings deep expertise in sport-based youth development as a resource for social justice. Rooted in the values instilled by her grandmother, Kelli has dedicated her career to demonstrating how sports can drive social-emotional growth, educational opportunities, and long-term success.

• Eric Pinckney, 2025 Economic Development Hero, whose visionary leadership with The Integral Group has brought equitable housing and economic infrastructure to life in Grove Park. His decades of experience in urban revitalization are a testament to the power of thoughtful, community-rooted development. With more than 30 years of real estate industry experience, Eric’s portfolio spans $1.5 billion in multifamily development and $1 billion in public improvements. He has overseen landmark projects such as Assembly in Doraville, Georgia, the redevelopment of a 165-acre former General Motors plant, and most recently, Integral’s engagement with Microsoft.

• Leah LaRue, 2025 Community Champion, known for her boundless energy and commitment to civic engagement as Director of Atlanta’s Neighborhood Planning Units. Through her storytelling, events, and advocacy, she helps shape the cultural and social fabric of Grove Park. A past president of the Grove Park Neighborhood Association, Leah was the visionary behind Grove Park Gives, an initiative that has provided wheelchair ramps and critical home repairs for seniors since 2020. She also manages the City’s warming centers each winter, offering dignity and support to unhoused residents.

Tickets and sponsorships are now available at www.groveparkheroes.com, including the opportunity to purchase a Community Sponsor Ticket that supports a local resident’s attendance alongside your own. All proceeds support programs that benefit current residents of the historic Grove Park neighborhood.

Special thanks to event sponsors Bank of America and Chick-fil-A for their continued support of this powerful evening and the work of Grove Park Foundation.