Hi! Welcome to the Boulevard Bulletin, a monthly update on what's going on with Nicholas House at the Boulevard Shelter and beyond. We hope you'll enjoy these regular reports on the work we're doing and how YOU can help us change the lives of families experiencing homelessness in Atlanta.

A Refreshing Way to Begin the Year

We are honored to share that Nicholas House received a $50,000 grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation, a generous investment that will strengthen our work with families experiencing homelessness in Atlanta.

Our Executive Director Jannan Thomas and Board Member Mark Gannon attended a breakfast hosted by Carlos Pagoaga, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation, where the Nicholas House team was formally presented with this incredible gift. The opportunity to gather alongside fellow community partners and celebrate the impact of this support was both meaningful and inspiring.

We are deeply grateful to The Coca-Cola Foundation for believing in our mission and standing with families as they work toward stability, self-sufficiency, and brighter futures. This partnership helps ensure parents and children have the support they need during a critical time—and we couldn’t do this work without champions like Coca-Cola by our side.

A Touchdown for Families Thanks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

We’re honored to share that Nicholas House received a generous $5,000 donation from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, thanks to Head Coach Todd Bowles and his wife, Taneka Bowles. As part of their incredible tradition, the Bowles family donates to a nonprofit from the away team’s hometown at every Buccaneers home game—and we were grateful to be selected as this season’s recipient.

Our Executive Director, Jannan Thomas, had the honor of attending the game and receiving the check directly from Taneka Bowles. This meaningful gift helps support families experiencing homelessness in Atlanta and reflects the powerful impact of generosity beyond the field.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Coach Bowles, Taneka Bowles, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for using their platform to uplift communities and make a lasting difference for families working toward stability.

We Did It—Together!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, Nicholas House closed out the year exceeding our year-end fundraising goal. In December alone, we raised over $600,000—a powerful testament to what’s possible when individuals, foundations, organizations, and community partners come together for families.

This outpouring of support strengthens our ability to serve families experiencing homelessness today and prepares us for the challenges ahead. Every gift—large and small—represents belief in our mission and trust in the families we serve.

We are deeply grateful to each donor, partner, and supporter who helped make this milestone possible. Your compassion fuels our work, and because of you, families can move forward with greater stability, dignity, and hope. 

Adopt-A-Family: Making Christmas Morning Magical

This holiday season, our Adopt-A-Family program ensured that children at Nicholas House experienced the joy and wonder of Christmas morning—opening presents from Santa, just like every child deserves, no matter their circumstances.

Because of the generosity and care of our community sponsors, 127 families and 385 children were celebrated this year. Sponsors shopped, wrapped, and gave with intention—turning uncertainty into excitement and ensuring families felt supported, valued, and remembered during the holidays.

The smiles, laughter, and excitement on Christmas morning were powerful reminders of what’s possible when a community comes together in compassion. To every sponsor who participated: thank you for being Santa’s helpers and for making the holidays brighter for the families we serve.

With heartfelt gratitude, we thank our 2025 Adopt-A-Family sponsors:

ACU

Apx Exchange

Barnes & Thornberg

Botero Family

Burgher Family

Cepull Family

Christmas Miracles Foundation

Clark Family

Cox Communications

Daphne Gray  

Delta Airlines

Dickerson Family

Eboka Family

Emory Healthcare

Fouche Family

GAWL

Gordon Family

Greater Moses Chapel

Greenforest Community Church

GSU

Hannon House

Harrison Family

Hendrix Family

Holman Family

Hultine Family

J Maley & Family

Jayne Family

JM Law Firm

Kevin & Dianna Morton

Knights of Peter Claver Ladies

Louise Sunday School Class

Main Solutions

Matta Family

Morningside Presbyterian Church

muRata

Never Walk Alone Inc

NLC

Peachtree Pest Control

Peachtree Presbyterian Church

RWC

Sawyer Family

Shekinah Community Church

The Silberman Family

Sills Family

Suber Family

Sylvie Family

Szabo Family

TekStream

The Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church

UUCA

Ware Malcomb

White Family

Wiley Family

Wilson Family

Zion Hill Baptist Church

Nourishing Families on Christmas Day

This Christmas, families at our Boulevard Shelter were surrounded by care, comfort, and community thanks to two incredibly generous families.

The Johnson family provided a special Christmas Day dinner, ensuring families could gather around a warm meal and feel the joy of togetherness on the holiday. Earlier that morning, the Anderson family shared a festive Christmas breakfast, helping families start the day feeling nourished and cared for.

Their generosity transformed Christmas Day into a meaningful, welcoming experience for the families we serve. We are deeply grateful to the Johnson and Anderson families for sharing their time, resources, and hearts—reminding our families that they are not alone this holiday season.

A Christmas Celebration Just for Parents 

This holiday season, parents at our Boulevard Shelter were treated to a special Pizza Christmas Party made possible by De’Amber Pleas and Hair In Peace Beauty Salon. The evening was designed especially for parents—creating space for joy, relaxation, and connection during a season that can often feel overwhelming.

Parents enjoyed pizza, played games, and received thoughtful gifts just for themselves, a meaningful reminder that their hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed. In addition, the group generously distributed packages of non-perishable food items, hygiene supplies, and toys for 48 children, helping ensure the entire family felt supported this holiday season.

We are deeply grateful to De’Amber Pleas and Hair In Peace Beauty Salon for their generosity, care, and commitment to uplifting families at Nicholas House. Your kindness brought warmth, dignity, and celebration to our community during the holidays.

Backpacks Full of Care from The Backpack Project

Nicholas House was honored to be part of The Backpack Project’s Homeless Heroes Day 2025, where hundreds of volunteers came together to pack backpacks for nonprofits serving families experiencing homelessness—including Nicholas House.

These thoughtfully packed backpacks, filled with essentials like toiletries, notebooks, and other fun and practical items, were shared with our children during our Holiday Party—bringing smiles, excitement, and a sense of being truly cared for.

A special thank you to Jen Warren, Director of Development, who spoke at the event and shared the real-world impact of volunteerism and why community support is so critical to the families Nicholas House serves.

We are incredibly grateful to The Backpack Project and every volunteer who made this day possible. Your generosity helped make the holidays brighter and more meaningful for the children and families in our programs.

Sharing a Meal with the Greek Orthodox Church

We are deeply thankful to the Greek Orthodox Church for serving a meal at our Boulevard Shelter and bringing warmth, generosity, and care to our families. Their time and dedication helped create a welcoming and nourishing experience for residents, reminding families that they are supported by a compassionate community.

Thank you to the Greek Orthodox Church for your kindness and partnership. Your service made a meaningful difference for the families at Nicholas House, and we are grateful for your continued support. 

Celebrating December Birthdays with The Birthday Party Project 

This past December, The Birthday Party Project brought joy, laughter, and a sense of celebration to the Boulevard Shelter by honoring the December birthdays of the children and families staying with us. Through a festive, themed birthday party filled with decorations, games, and personalized gifts, every child was made to feel seen, special, and celebrated.

The Birthday Party Project’s mission is simple yet powerful: to ensure children experiencing homelessness don’t miss out on the magic of birthdays. Thanks to their dedicated volunteers and thoughtful planning, our families enjoyed a memorable celebration that created smiles, lasting memories, and moments of pure joy during the holiday season.

We are deeply grateful to The Birthday Party Project for reminding our families—especially our kids—that they matter, their milestones matter, and they deserve to be celebrated. 

A Family Day of Service with Peachtree Presbyterian Church

We are incredibly grateful to Peachtree Presbyterian Church for an inspiring Day of Service at Nicholas House. Their large volunteer group—including children—truly made it a family affair, reminding us that you’re never too young to give back and make a difference.

Throughout the day, this dedicated team tackled an impressive list of projects: raking, bagging, and hauling leaves; painting the side of the house; cleaning our playground areas; and pressure washing the exterior of the shelter. Their hard work helped refresh our campus and create a safer, more welcoming environment for the families who call Nicholas House home.

Thank you to Peachtree Presbyterian Church for your time, energy, and generosity. Your willingness to serve together—across generations—made a meaningful impact and showed our families what community and compassion truly look like.

A Night of Community and Care with Grant Park Supper Club

We are so grateful to the Grant Park Supper Club for generously serving a meal at our Boulevard Shelter this past December. Their time, care, and hospitality created a welcoming evening for our families, offering more than just a warm meal—it provided a sense of community and comfort during the holiday season.

Thank you to the Grant Park Supper Club for showing up for Nicholas House families and helping make the season a little brighter. Your generosity and spirit of service mean so much to the families we serve.