Thriving Together Newsletter

Monthly Insights

March 2026

WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE

Honoring Women in Philanthropy: Women's History Month

Lighting the Way: Faith Communities Power Atlanta's Westside

Giving Teens a New Way to Talk About Mental Health

Big Sky, Bigger Purpose: Land Stewardship in Montana

Honoring Women in Philanthropy During Women's History Month

Women have long been at the heart of American philanthropy, from colonial-era women of faith to today's high-profile givers who are reshaping how wealth flows.

MacKenzie Scott, Melinda French Gates and Oprah Winfrey are examples of women who have transformed giving through unrestricted grants and billion-dollar investments that have lifted communities worldwide.

Molly Blank holding her son, Arthur

Arthur M. Blank’s late mother, Molly Blank, was also a believer in the power of philanthropy. Molly had a unique mix of passion and resilience, and she understood the impact of kindness and the importance of fighting for what’s right. The Molly Blank Fund, within the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, carries forward her dedication to at-risk youth, arts and culture, and Jewish initiatives, ensuring her spirit of generosity reaches future generations.

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Lighting the Way: Faith Communities Power Atlanta's Westside

Atlanta's Black churches have long been pillars of community organizing, and today, they're leading on climate resilience, too.

Southwest Atlanta's Vicars Community Center, run by Community Church Atlanta, became one of the country's first community-owned resilience hubs after installing solar panels and battery storage that can power the building for weeks during an emergency. The system saves the church approximately $6,000 a year in energy costs.

The Vicars project was so successful that it sparked the development of a broader Westside Resilience Corridor, a partnership among four anchor churches and the national nonprofit organization Groundswell. The initiative is making critical home repairs and energy efficiency upgrades to 50 homes in Atlanta’s Westside at no cost to residents, lowering energy bills as much as 30% and training residents for high-wage clean energy careers.

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Giving Teens a New Way to Talk About Mental Health

Seventy percent of teens say they've experienced mental health struggles in the last six months, yet more than half don't feel they have the knowledge or ability to actively care for their mental health. This is where the Ad Council's latest expansion of its "Love, Your Mind" initiative comes to life.

Developed with input from teens themselves, the effort introduces the concept of “zill,” which it defines as “any action to show love to your mind on good, bad or whatever days.” The zill campaign suggests ways teens can feel better—from dancing to stargazing to laughing with a friend—and is designed to make mental health something teens can talk about, celebrate and share.

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Big Sky, Bigger Purpose: Land Stewardship in Montana

Controlled hunting of overpopulated species serves as a powerful conservation tool for preserving grasslands and supporting wildlife management. In Montana, a collaborative effort is underway to manage the elk population by permitting public access hunting on AMB West properties, which include Paradise Valley Ranch, Mountain Sky Guest Ranch and West Creek Ranch.

Launched in 2020, the AMB West Elk Hunting Program partners with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The program restores balance to the ecosystem, benefiting not just elk, but also other species like antelope, deer, wolves and bears, while improving conditions for livestock grazing.

Terance Eichhorn, director of land and livestock at AMB West, said, “Over the last six years, the Elk Hunting Program has had such a positive effect on our local communities, and thanks to Arthur Blank’s vision, our Montana grasslands will continue to be a place where wildlife thrives for years to come.”

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