By Laura Moody, Founding Partner of Purpose Possible and Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta Board Member
The Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta (CVC) is known for supporting member companies to deliver business results through their strategic commitment to civic engagement and social impact. But did you know that a handful of nonprofits are invited to be members each year? Their presence provides a vital perspective on the two-way relationship between corporate partners and the nonprofit community. This quarter, CVC is proud to recognize A.G. Rhodes with its Member Spotlight. A.G. Rhodes provides expert and compassionate rehabilitation therapy and residential care to seniors in metro Atlanta. To learn more about the organization and its business ties to Atlanta, CVC Board Member Laura Moody interviewed fellow CVC Member, Kim Beasley, Director of Communications & Outreach for A.G. Rhodes.
2024 is a big year for A.G Rhodes. Can you tell us about it?
We really couldn’t have planned it any better. This year we are celebrating our 120th anniversary, and we just opened a new Memory Care community in Cobb County. We have 3 locations: A.G. Rhodes Atlanta, the flagship location at Boulevard at Memorial Drive founded in 1904, A.G. Rhodes Wesley Woods on the Emory University campus, and A.G. Rhodes Cobb in Marietta. The new community is at the Cobb location and provides a model of care designed to feel and operate more like a traditional household. There are six different households in the building. Each household has its own separate kitchen, dining room, living room, sunroom space, and most importantly, private bedrooms for each senior.
We believe that regardless of circumstance and regardless of where they come from, every senior deserves that home-like environment. If you move to A.G. Rhodes we want it to be a home for you because you are now a part of our family.
Since you all have had this big anniversary, I know you’ve been thinking about the history of the organization and some of the folks who have been a big part of the organization in the past. Can you tell us who some of your significant corporate partners have been throughout the years?
It’s safe to say that the organization would not exist without the support of the corporate community. Our namesake, A.G. Rhodes, was the founder of Rhodes Furniture. In the late 1800s, he was approached to donate funds toward repairs to the Home for Incurables. Mr. Rhodes felt the home was in poor shape and instead, he donated the land and the funds to build a new facility. That’s how A.G. Rhodes got its start in 1904.
So it all started with corporate philanthropy. Throughout our history, we’ve been generously supported by many prominent members of the Atlanta business community through board leadership, corporate giving, and skilled volunteers. A couple of notable companies and families that have been dedicated to A.G. Rhodes for decades include the William Parker family – Parker was the Vice President of Genuine Parts and Board member of Georgia Power and Post Properties, and James Sibley of King & Spalding and Trustee of the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. They were integral supporters as are many of their descendants today – children and grandchildren. In fact, the Chair of our Board of Trustees is the great-great-grandson of Amos Giles Rhodes, David L. Perdue. Margaret Perdue Denny, great-great-granddaughter serves on the Board of Trustees and Board of Advisors.
Can you share a recent example of a great corporate partnership?
Corporate volunteers come with a different level of support. I’ll use Moe Baker and Georgia Natural Gas as one perfect example. They have been dedicated to supporting A.G. Rhodes for many years. Moe is also on our Board of Trustees where he serves as the Co-Chair of our Communications and Outreach Committee. In addition, he also provides volunteers for our nursing homes. But when I say he brings volunteers, he doesn’t just show up – he comes prepared. They bring their own activity idea and supplies and even snacks for everyone. Moe will also coordinate with media outlets so that both organizations receive media coverage around the work we’re doing. That holistic, proactive approach, along with teams to provide people-power can take a corporate partnership to the next level.
We have a group from JLL that comes every year to work with our Horticultural Therapist to get the grounds ready for spring. They do a big greenhouse clean up and they clear out a lot of the overgrowth from the winter. We’re lucky that we can provide all sorts of volunteer opportunities from indoor, creative craft projects to big outdoor gardening projects. These JLL volunteers love to come and get dirty. What is so meaningful about these types of groups is that they want to come in regularly – and so we know we can count on them. The services they provide through volunteerism save us money on services we would otherwise contract out, and of course, they provide lots of fun!
Thank you Kim for telling us about A.G. Rhodes’ long history of working with corporate philanthropy and volunteers. We’re so happy to celebrate the organization’s milestone year.
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Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta
Kim Beasley, Director of Communications & Outreach – A.G. Rhodes
Laura Moody, Founding Partner – Purpose Possible
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