Leadership Sandy Springs Awarded $12,000 Grant

By Anne Boatwright

Leadership Sandy Springs was recently awarded a $12,000 grant by the Couchman Noble Foundation, a Sandy Springs private foundation headed by David and Melanie Couchman.

The grant will help Leadership Sandy Springs to expand its leadership development curriculum and inclusivity initiative for both its adult and youth programs. Since 2003, the Couchman Noble Foundation has focused on strengthening nonprofit organizations that serve Sandy Springs’ diverse community.

Passionate about reaching all demographic sectors of Sandy Springs, David and Melanie Couchman provide opportunities for under-resourced groups that might not otherwise be available to them.

“It’s for everybody’s benefit to welcome diversity,“ David Couchman said. “Our strength in community is because of our diversity.”

Melanie Couchman added this diversity is a “very positive thing.”

Specifically, this grant allows Leadership Sandy Springs to shepherd leaders from diverse and individual backgrounds through an intensive leadership development program that exposes them to experts with a variety of perspectives. Adult and youth classes are drawn from a cross section of the community. Through the grant, Leadership Sandy Springs develops and trains these emerging leaders, including employees from small businesses and nonprofits, who otherwise cannot afford the full tuition costs, yet bring invaluable insights about shaping Sandy Springs’ future.

Additionally, the grant offers student scholarships for Leadership Sandy Springs’ junior program to families who cannot afford the tuition and to attract students from all socio-economic backgrounds.

“One of the strongest aspects of Youth Leadership Sandy Springs is that students meet and work with others from varied backgrounds,” said Youth Leadership Sandy Springs Director Polly Warren. “This blend of backgrounds, experiences, and diversity enriches our activities and discussions.”

One of the most complicated aspects of organizing the youth program is arranging student transportation to the many venues. The grant funds buses for program days, allowing students to travel together to courtrooms for a mock trial, to the jail from ChatComm or to visit businesses for Economy Day.

“Our program would be impossible without donors like the Couchmans,” Warren added. “Tuition covers only a fraction of the costs.”

The Couchmans strongly support Leadership Sandy Springs’ role in training emerging local leaders, many of whom later serve on boards and committees of Sandy Springs nonprofit organizations and volunteer for community organizations.

David Couchman praised Leadership Sandy Springs Executive Director “Carolyn Axt and her team for doing a “great job of educating individuals and inspiring them to become active.”

Couchman added that his organization and Leadership Sandy Springs both share the mutual philosophy of bridging barriers and empowering individuals to bring value to the larger community.

(Photo: Melanie Couchman (foreground) speaks to the Youth Leadership Sandy Springs students as Hope Garrison (far left) of Riverwood International Charter School, Youth Leadership Sandy Springs volunteer Howard Austin, David Couchman, Derek Liu and Chandler Grove of Mt. Vernon Presbyterian School listen. Credit: Leadership Sandy Springs)