(Photo courtesy of City of Sandy Springs)

Sandy Springs is home to many nonprofit organizations serving various segments of the community.

What follows is a list of those nonprofits compiled in the Springboard Sandy Springs project of the Sandy Springs Civic Roundtable. The roundtable created Springboard with the help of the city and a cohort of Georgia Tech students. The purpose was to connect residents and companies with the nonprofits that serve the community.

Environmental causes

Big Trees Forest Preserve is a 30-acre permanently protected old-growth forest offering passive recreation seven days a week.

Environment Sandy Springs’ mission is to preserve the environment for generations to come by restoring ecosystems today.

Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy provides support to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area through environmental education, community outreach, trail maintenance and restoration, facility improvements, water trail enhancements and more.

Friends of Lost Corner’s mission is to maintain Lost Corner Preserve for the appreciation of native plants and animals while enhancing its beautiful and historic environment for Sandy Springs residents.

Sandy Springs Conservancy strives to create and enhance parks, trails, and greenspace for the community. It brings together private and public partners, provides leadership, and jump-start funding to create, conserve, and connect valuable outdoor greenspace amenities.

Keep North Fulton Beautiful is an environmental nonprofit that provides education and conservation programs to Sandy Springs and the surrounding communities. Its volunteers help recycle more than 2.5 million pounds of materials each year.

Sandy Springs Eco-Stewardship Program inspires residents to connect with and protect the local environment. Twelve annual sessions focus on native biodiversity, wildlife observation, and ecological restoration, culminating in an Eco-Steward certificate.

Arts & Entertainment

Arts Sandy Springs (ArtsSS) enhances the presence and enjoyment of art through the acquisition and placement of public art in the city’s parks, public art gallery curation, and art educational programming at the Abernathy Arts Center.

City Springs Theatre Company produces Broadway-quality, musical theatre productions at the Byers Theatre in the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, and professional training for young performers via the City Springs Theatre Conservatory.

Georgia Ensemble Theatre at Act3 offers professional live theatre performances and training in theatre performance and production for all ages, using its home stage and on tour to schools, libraries, senior facilities, and community centers.

Creating Connected Communities has a mission to provide life-enhancing programs for children experiencing hardship by empowering teens to become engaged community leaders and volunteers.

Sandy Springs Arts Foundation supports arts programming in public schools and in grassroots arts nonprofits. It supports arts initiatives in Sandy Springs and its own programming, such as ArtBeat and student-to-student music mentoring.

Services for elderly/disabled residents

Friends of Benson advocates, raises funds, and supports programs and services at the Benson Center for older residents of Fulton County, enabling them to live more active and independent lives.

Friends of the Sandy Springs Library provides financial assistance to the Sandy Springs Library for expanded programs and materials.

Great Prospects Inc. provides meaningful connections for individuals with disabilities through continued social interaction, community outreach and challenging recreational programs.

Families/children

LaAmistad offers afterschool, early childhood education, summer academies, adult education, English courses, and digital and financial literacy workshops to support Latino families.

Los Niños Primero empowers Latino students and their families by offering early childhood education, literacy, arts, sports, mentorship, and college readiness programs, including the Summer Educational Program, Youth Service, and Fostering Family Leaders.’

Horizons Atlanta @ Holy Innocents helps K-8 students in Sandy Springs who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch to thrive by instilling in them the joy of learning with a six-week tuition-free summer learning and monthly enrichment programs during the school year.

Mary Hall Freedom Village empowers women, children, veterans, and families to end the cycle of homelessness, addiction, and poverty by providing substance abuse treatment and numerous wraparound services.

Revved Up Kids is on a mission to protect children and teens from sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking by providing exceptional prevention training programs for children, teens, parents and youth-serving organizations.

Sandy Springs Education Force collaborates with school leaders to provide targeted supplemental STEAM, literacy, after-school, and mentoring programs. These initiatives enhance educational outcomes and address the unique needs of 11 public schools.

Sandy Springs Mission works with first through 12th grade Latino students and their families, providing free after-school, summer, language and cultural programs, college guidance and dual-enrollment classes, and global citizenship instruction.

Service organizations

Rotary Club of Sandy Springs provides service to the community, promotes integrity, advances goodwill, and peace. Its service projects improve childhood education and literacy, support first responders, seniors, veterans, and others in need.

Sandy Springs Citizens’ Leadership Academy empowers residents to engage with local government, fostering informed citizens. It uses a comprehensive curriculum to provide insights into city functions and encourages civic responsibility and leadership.

Leadership Perimeter develops adult leaders from diverse sectors and backgrounds in the Perimeter region, and youth leaders from Sandy Springs high school students who demonstrate a level of leadership.

Rotary Club of Sandy Springs provides service to the community, promotes integrity, advances goodwill, and peace. Its service projects improve childhood education and literacy, support first responders, seniors, veterans, and others in need.

Sandy Springs Fire Corps offers vital support in emergencies, rehabilitation for firefighters, basic life support, community education, and assistance at local events. An eight-week Citizens Fire Academy offers live exercises and emergency training.

Sandy Springs Citizens Police Academy empowers residents to enhance community safety and foster positive relationships with the police. Advanced training and active participation equips volunteers to support police efforts.

Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods serves the homeowner, neighborhood, and condo associations. It engages decision-makers and development interests to ensure community concerns are heard by active participation in policy and land use decisions.

Sandy Springs Masonic Lodge #124 is an individual journey towards becoming a better father, husband, friend, citizen, and man, supported by other men at different points on the same journey. It hosts youth programs and a Breakfast with Santa event.

Sandy Springs Society is a charitable membership organization of women supporting nonprofit groups in the community. It raises monies through “The Elegant Elf Marketplace” in November, and the upscale resale “Tossed Out Treasures” in March, corporate sponsorships, and donations.

Sandy Springs Tennis Association offers youth tennis and nutritional education to the public school children in the community.

Sandy Springs Together actively educates and engages the community, leaders, businesses, young and old on the need for attainable housing while advocating for solutions to create a more inclusive and sustainable housing future.

Sandy Springs Woman’s Club is a notfor-profit organization of women who strive to be of service to others through volunteering, fundraising, caring, sharing, and understanding the needs of others.

Food assistance

Second Helpings Atlanta operates a food rescue program that collects surplus food from local businesses and delivers it, through a network of volunteers, to partner agencies serving those experiencing food insecurity.

Senior Services North Fulton at Benson Center provides services and support for seniors to enhance their quality of life and independence in the community. Its free programs include Meals on Wheels, and transportation to/from medical appointments.

Solidarity Sandy Springs offers a neighborhood food pantry operating as a market that serves as a safety net for workforce neighbors during tough economic times. Volunteers help with programs such as Backpack, Mother’s Day, Easter Hunt, Secret Santa, and others.

Community Assistance Center provides basic needs assistance to prevent homelessness and hunger. It promotes self-sufficiency with rental assistance, food, clothing, household items, adult education, career counseling, tax return aid, and seasonal youth programs.

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Bob Pepalis is a freelance journalist based in metro Atlanta.