Planting Seeds of Stability This Spring

One Incredible Night. Lasting Impact.

Dear Friends,

THANK YOU!!! We want to start there because what you did at Meals with Meaning Benefit mattered tremendously.

Together, we raised over $90,000. That is a record for our organization. More importantly, this money will directly help families in our community who are experiencing housing insecurity. Here is what your generosity means: A parent can stay in their home through our prevention services. A child has a safe place to sleep in our shelter. A family in our aftercare program moves toward stability and independence. These are not abstract outcomes. They are real families, real lives.

To our sponsors:

You made this event possible. Your partnership gave us the platform to bring our community together and to share why this work matters. Thank you for believing in our mission and taking action to support it.

To our donors:

Whether you raised your paddle, bought a golden ticket, participated in the wine pull, or made a direct donation, you are the reason families have hope. We want to especially recognize our first-time donors for choosing to support our work. We look forward to deepening our relationship with you and continuing to be the organization you believe in!

To our board members:

Your commitment, presence, and generosity set the tone for this event. You modeled what it means to invest in your neighbors. Thank you.

To our volunteers:

You made this event possible. Thank you for taking your time to help us ensure this wonderful night ran smoothly and for being such a welcoming face. We truly couldn't do this without you!

To our team and staff:

You worked hard to make this event successful. Every detail mattered because we know that every detail reflects our commitment to the families we serve. Your work directly changed lives. Thank you for your dedication to this mission.

If you attended and did not have a chance to donate, or weren't able to attend our event, you can still support a child in need! Click here to make a gift.

Check out photos from the evening! View our event photos here.

If you want to learn more about our programs and how you can stay involved, join us for Coffee and Conversations. These monthly gatherings are an opportunity to hear directly from families and our team about our prevention, shelter, and stabilization programs. Sign up for Coffee & Conversations here.

Thank you for standing with families in our community. Together, we are making a real difference!

Executive Director

Family Promise of N. Fulton/DeKalb

Meet our newest Family Promise Board Members!

Maria Walden,

Development Committee

Maria Walden is a mission-driven funding strategist with over 20 years of experience in philanthropic strategy, fundraising, and nonprofit leadership. As President of 5T Philanthropy, she partners with organizations to strengthen funding strategies, drive sustainable growth, and translate mission into measurable impact.

Previously, Maria served as Development Officer for the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, where she led major gift strategies and growth initiatives to expand assets from $60M to $120M. She also spent over a decade at Kahootz Consulting leading capital campaigns that generated $8M–$50M annually. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles at FranklinCovey and Provant, driving national initiatives and organizational growth.

Known for her strategic vision and collaborative leadership, Maria works closely with boards, donors, and organizations to build philanthropic capacity, scale impact, and advance stronger, more resilient communities.

Allison Wade,

Development Committee

Allison Wade, Community Engagement Manager at VyStar Credit Union, brings over 25 years of experience in sales, lending, customer service, and team leadership. Known for her results-driven approach, she has a strong track record in performance growth, contract negotiations, and building high-performing teams that deliver meaningful results. Allison holds a degree in Finance from Jackson State University, along with both an MBA and an MPA with a concentration in Non-Profit Management. Her professional background includes leadership roles with Ford Motor Credit, Wells Fargo, SunTrust, and Regions Bank, where she consistently drove success through innovation and relationship-building.

Beyond her professional achievements, Allison is deeply committed to strengthening her community. Her passion for service, combined with her leadership expertise, makes her a powerful advocate for families and children, and a valued partner in creating lasting impact.

Helping a First Responder Mom Reach the Finish Line

She shows up for our community every single day - serving as a first responder, working long hours, and stepping into emergencies when others need help most. But when her shift ends, her work isn't over. She goes straight to class, determined to finish nursing school and build a brighter future for her daughter.

In her final semester, everything was on the line. The financial strain of balancing work, school, and everyday expenses became overwhelming, and she was facing the heartbreaking reality of having to drop out just before the finish line.

That's when Family Promise stepped in.

By providing financial support for her educational advancement, we helped remove the barrier standing between her and her future. Instead of giving up, she stayed enrolled, stayed focused, and stayed on track to graduate—changing the trajectory of her family’s life.

These are the moments we live for. Supporting families who are doing everything right—working hard, sacrificing, and pushing forward—so that one obstacle doesn’t undo all of their progress.

Because when we show up for those who serve us, we don’t just change one life—we strengthen an entire community. Help us keep showing up.

Click here to hear about more inspirational stories from moms in our programs!