We’re thrilled to announce this year’s nominees for the Howard Koepka Collaborative Spirit Award! Established by the Cobb Community Foundation’s Board, this award honors the legacy of Howard Koepka and celebrates nonprofits that exemplify partnership, innovation, and collaboration—the very values Howard brought to his life and work.
Congratulations to Our 2025 Nominees:
- Kidz2Leaders
- MUST Ministries
- Chattahoochee Nature Center
- Skye Precious Kids
- Keystone Village
- LiveSafe Resources
- Waymark Foster
- Kids Care
- Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre
These nine outstanding organizations will be honored at the Human Services Awards Luncheon on December 2nd, where the recipient of this year’s Howard Koepka Collaborative Spirit Award will be announced. Follow CCF’s social channels to find out the winner, and join us. We’re proud to co-present this event with Cobb Collaborative and to celebrate these amazing organizations and their contributions to our community.
—stay tuned for the results on our social channels!
Meet the Nominees:
𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐳𝟐𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Provides a holistic support network for children of inmates, aiming to break the cycle of generational incarceration.
𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Partners with Prison Fellowship/Angel Tree, Tommy Nobis Center, and the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (Notre Dame LEO), along with churches across Cobb and Atlanta.
𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Serves families experiencing poverty with comprehensive programs including food, shelter, and financial assistance.
𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Works with Inspiredu (MUST Inspire), Eastchester Family Services (MUST Care Clinic), and Concrete Jungle, as well as corporate, nonprofit, and government partners.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫
𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Provides environmental education, wildlife rehabilitation, trails, and conservation programs on 127 acres of forest, wetland, & riverland along the Chattahoochee river.
𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Partners with the Georgia Forestry Foundation, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Georgia Public Libraries, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Georgia Wildlife Network, Georgia Native Plant Society, Master Gardeners, and North Fulton Community Charities.
𝐒𝐤𝐲e 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬
𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Provides emotional, financial, and community support to Georgia families caring for children with life-threatening illnesses or disabilities.
𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Collaborates through long-term support with StoneBridge Church, and has helped families by connecting them to caregivers and covering childcare costs over multiple years.
𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞
𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Building a residential community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Collaboration: Supports StoneBridge Church initiatives by sponsoring events, promoting fundraising efforts, and recruiting participants for shared community impact.
𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬
𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Provides safety, shelter, and healing for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse.
𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Works with the Cobb Domestic Violence Task Force, Cobb District Attorney’s Office, Cobb Family Advocacy Center, Kennesaw State University, Junior League of Cobb-Marietta, KIDS CARE, Dave Krache Foundation, Atlanta Women’s Foundation, Georgia Power Foundation, Cobb EMC Foundation, Rotary Club of Marietta, and Marietta Kiwanis.
𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤
𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Supports foster, adoptive, and group-home youth through mentoring, camps, and life-skills training.
𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Engages more than 50 partners, including DFCS, group homes across Georgia, licensed therapists, churches, and nonprofits who provide meals, mentoring, trauma-informed care, and job-skills experiences.
𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞
𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Teaches children empathy and kindness through hands-on service projects.
𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Partners with the Cobb County Police Department, 911 Dispatch, businesses, and local nonprofits through events like “Backing the Need,” “Dispatching Kindness,” and youth-led community drives.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐞
𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Provides arts education and community cultural programming that strengthens civic connection.
𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Partners with Marietta City Schools, leads the Marietta Arts District, and works with the Cobb Chamber on events including Teacher of the Year and Leadership Cobb, while hosting nonprofit showcases and benefit events for community partners.
Here’s to building a stronger, more connected Cobb County—together! Together, we are stronger.
