The Community Assistance Center raised $500,000 at its annual gala, “Bringing Community Together for Change,” on Saturday, Sept. 19, at The Westin Atlanta Perimeter North.
The funding helps the CAC to keep families housed, expand access to free, fresh, and nutritious food, and create professional pathways toward financial independence.
CAC CEO Francis K. Horton III said that after nearly 40 years, the CAC is evolving from a crisis-response organization to one increasingly focused on helping families move beyond immediate challenges and toward greater stability and long-term financial independence.
“The needs we see coming through our doors every day are increasingly about how we can help a family move beyond a crisis and into a stable position,” Horton said. “That starts with keeping families housed and addressing their immediate needs, but it also means helping people build skills, access resources and pursue opportunities so they can move forward.”
Central Perimeter family support
Horton also emphasized the organization’s commitment to preventing homelessness and alleviating hunger. In 2025, CAC helped prevent 1,108 evictions, and in the first nine months of 2026, it has already helped prevent 830 evictions.
The CAC’s workforce development program also launched in late 2025. Through Thrive, the nonprofit invests in motivated local residents to help them overcome barriers to pursuing career pathways and professional goals.
Of the Thrive participants who have secured jobs in their new career fields, their average annual income was 50% higher than their salaries before starting the program.
During the gala, Thrive participant Zaria Jett shared her experience with the CAC and her path toward a career in nursing. She said she’s gained confidence, stability, and new skills she can build on.
“What I gained from this program goes far beyond certifications and career coaching,” Jett said. “People don’t need someone to do everything for them. They just need an opportunity, some support and someone willing to say, ‘I believe in you. Keep going.’”
$18 million campaign
The gala’s $500,000 in proceeds are part of CAC’s three-year Compassion in Action campaign, which will support the organization’s broader efforts to address the growing needs of individuals and families in Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and portions of Doraville served by Dunwoody schools.
Last year, the nonprofit served nearly 10,000 individuals, distributed 1.1 million pounds of food, provided more than $769,000 in financial assistance and helped prevent 1,108 evictions.
George Northrop, director of advancement at the CAC, said this year’s theme of “Bringing Community Together for Change” reflected exactly what happened in the room.
“Our community came together to invest in our neighbors and in programs that can create meaningful and transformational change,” Northrop said. “This support gives CAC the opportunity to respond to immediate needs while also helping people build a path forward.”
