HOWARD KOEPKA, COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT
When he was running security for bands like Guns ‘n’ Roses, Van Halen, Metallica and Bon Jovi, Howard Koepka probably never imagined himself loading food boxes or directing hundreds of cars through a food
distribution site. Like many, he received a calling. The calling wasn’t just to join the ministry, however, it was to help connect and mobilize people, businesses and churches to serve. He took part in everything from organizing community service days to serving the homeless, single moms, and foster children in greater Atlanta to building a school, church and orphanage in Haiti to leading disaster relief efforts in Puerto Rico.
Fortunately for Cobb, Howard joined Noonday Association of Churches in late 2017 and began focusing on implementing the organization’s C4 Strategy not just with churches, but with communities. For Howard, this strategy – Care, Connect, Coach and Collaborate – was much more than a career objective. It was was his identity.
As part of his role, he was asked to be on point for the non-profits in the community providing food and began hosting a weekly call with other nonprofits looking for ways to collaborate. When the pandemic struck, he became the onsite food coordinator for the Cobb Community Food Fleet, an initiative of Cobb Community Foundation in partnership with Noonday Association, the Atlanta Braves, and numerous other organizations that received 168,000 boxes of food over the course of the pandemic through the USDA’s Farmers to Families program.
Howard epitomized the term “servant leader,” always putting others first and encouraging everyone around him to do the same. For this reason and many others, he was the recipient of the 2020 Visionary Philanthropist Award.
Howard’s words, “At the end of your life, it won’t be about the likes you got, but the love you showed”, are 
ever present in our minds. Howard passed away on October 11, 2021 after contracting COVID.
THE AWARD
Announced in September of 2022, the Howard Koepka Collaborative Spirit Award was created by the Board of Cobb Community Foundation as a tribute to the spirit of collaboration that Howard modeled and inspired. The award will be presented annually to recognize and honor a Cobb nonprofit that is broadly recognized as exemplifying the spirit of collaboration that Howard personified.
ELIGIBILITY AND NOMINATION CRITERIA
Nonprofit, faith-based and government organizations are encouraged to nominate one or more nonprofit organizations who embody the spirit of collaboration, and have been providing services in Cobb County for a minimum of five years. Please note that nominations are for nonprofit organizations, not individuals. Organizations and Board Members may not self-nominate. Previous award recipients are not eligible (see below). Nominees should truly embody the spirit of collaboration. While referring clients can be a step, true collaboration requires working together with others with a focus on what can be accomplished together that could not be accomplished alone and a fundamental belief that we are better together than apart.
TO NOMINATE
To nominate a nonprofit organization, please complete the nomination form here. Nominations must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. The recipient will be selected by a committee comprised of representatives from Cobb Community Foundation, the Cobb Collaborative, and the Northwest Region of United Way of Greater Atlanta. All nominees will be recognized and the recipient will be announced at the Cobb Collaborative’s Q4 General Membership Meeting & Human Services Awards Luncheon co-presented with Cobb Community Foundation on December 2, 2025 (11:30 am – 1:15 pm).
AWARD RECIPIENTS
2024 – Acts 6 Ministry of Stonebridge Church
2023 – First Christian Church of Mableton
2022 – Sweetwater Mission
