Learning from Juneteenth: A Holiday for Reflection and Growth

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The name comes from the words "June" and "nineteenth," marking the day federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to ensure all enslaved people were freed — two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

In a powerful Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, Jill Savitt, CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, reminds us that Juneteenth matters "not only because of what it marked the end of, but because of what it opened the door to: the long, unfinished struggle to turn freedom into reality for all." She challenges Americans to use this holiday as an opportunity to understand our history with all its pain and promise.

Learn more >

Atlanta's Newest Restaurant is Cooking Up More Than Meals

For justice-involved youth — young people who have been arrested, charged or involved in the juvenile justice system — systemic barriers often block pathways to education, employment and stability. But Café Momentum is transforming these obstacles into possibilities through the power of fine dining.

This award-winning restaurant and training program provides paid internships for young people ages 15-19, combining culinary skills development with mental health support, case management and job placement assistance. The impact is remarkable: 90% of interns comply with or complete court orders while 69% earn industry-recognized certifications.

The newly opened Café Momentum Atlanta aims to serve at least 80 interns in its first year, with a goal of 100% program completion and job placement in living-wage careers. These young people are gaining more than job skills—they're discovering their potential and building futures filled with possibility.

Learn more and reserve your table >

Protecting Paradise: New Fire Truck Serves Montana Community

In Paradise Valley, Montana, where 3,000 year-round residents grow to nearly 4,000 during tourist season, every emergency response counts—especially when the main water truck breaks down.

The Paradise Valley Fire/EMS Department faced a critical challenge: their aging water truck couldn't reliably transport the water essential for fighting fires in this remote region. With no municipal water system, all firefighting water must be trucked to emergency sites, making dependable equipment a literal matter of life and death.

A $300,000 grant from the foundation’s AMB West Community Fund enabled the department to purchase a new truck that doubles its water capacity while replacing the unreliable older unit. "It's our goal to increase our response capabilities to a level where we can lower the insurance rating for our response area, thus lowering home and business owners' insurance costs," explains EMS Captain Billy Watson.

This investment strengthens an entire community's safety net, ensuring first responders can protect the people and places that make Paradise Valley thrive.

Learn more >

This Network of 200 Family Philanthropies Is Revolutionizing Youth Mental Health

With only 1.7% of all philanthropy directed toward mental health, The Goodness Web (TGW) is changing how funders approach youth mental wellness at scale.

This national collaborative of nearly 200 family philanthropies has granted more than $10 million since 2022, supporting evidence-based solutions from college campus prevention to policy advocacy. TGW's approach is strategic: it provides major grantees with million-dollar investments plus coaching, financial management and business planning support, while nurturing earlier-stage organizations with smaller grants.

"There are many people who have been affected by mental health issues and who have the capacity to give but don't know where to give," explains CEO Celine Coggins. The collaborative addresses critical gaps—from training pediatricians to helping parents access services to building the mental health workforce in underserved communities through innovative programs like Reach University's apprentice-based counseling degrees.



By providing support to young people where they are – in schools, communities and online – TGW is helping to accelerate mental health initiatives to improve the lives of America’s youth and those who care for them.

Learn more >

AMBFF In The News

• Girls' Flag Football Expands in West Alabama Thanks to Grants, WVUA 23

• Restoring the Prairie: Blank Foundation Invests in Montana Grasslands, Landowners as Federal Dollars Are Frozen, Bozeman Daily Chronicle

• Reaching Distinct Audiences with Tailored Mental Health Campaigns, Ad Council

• Nonprofit Finds Guaranteed Income Pilot Leads to Financial Stability, Better Health, Atlanta Business Chronicle