Most Generous City in America

In a survey released earlier this year, GoFundMe reported that Marietta is the most generous city in America. According to the crowdfunding platform that allows people to raise money for celebrations and challenging circumstances, Marietta residents have given more money to more causes than any other municipality in the country.

The company announced, “The GoFundMe community has made more than 120 million donations, raising over $9 billion for people, causes, and organizations since its founding in 2010.” Marietta was highlighted for its generosity for people and causes.

The most generous cities in America, based on the number of donations per capita on GoFundMe, are as follows:

Marietta, Georgia
Rockville, Maryland
Santa Monica, California
Parker, Colorado
Somerville, Massachusetts
Bowie, Maryland
Beaverton, Oregon
Whittier, California
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Oakland, California

Of course, personal health struggles are a common source of the campaigns on the platform, but donations extended beyond healthcare and far beyond the local communities of the donors. People gave to causes as varied as fire victims in Kyoto, Japan; Hurricane Dorian victims in the Caribbean; and to various campaigns set up to help in the recovery of the Australian brush fires.

“We are changing the way the world gives! Every day we see more people taking an active role in making a difference, and our community continues to grow. In fact, nearly 60 percent of donors were new this year,” said GoFundMe CEO Rob Solomon.

Keep up the giving spirit, Marietta!

Women of Achievement

Cory Sekine-Pettite

liveSAFE Resources honors women who are making a difference in their communities.

On Saturday, March 28, 2020, community leaders from throughout metro Atlanta will be gathering at The Fairmont in Midtown to celebrate the achievements of 15 local women who will be honored for their outstanding leadership in their personal and professional endeavors. This special event is Marietta-based liveSAFE Resource’s 35th annual Tribute to Women of Achievement.

For 35 years, liveSAFE Resources has annually honored local women who are leaders in business, trailblazers in the not-for-profit world, and generous volunteers for their communities. This year’s honorees join the prestigious list of more than 500 women who are forever part of the Academy of Women Leaders. Any worthy woman from Atlanta is eligible to receive this honor and become part of the Academy, liveSAFE says.

The organization has a committee of supporters of its cause who choose the 15 honorees each year. Anyone can nominate women they know who deserve recognition. Those nominees are then asked to fill out an application asking about their work, volunteerism, and community history and involvement, et cetera. The names from these applications are removed and the committee reviews and rates them. They then meet to discuss the ratings and who should be chosen as the 15 honorees.

In addition to the recognition, the annual awards dinner includes a silent auction, which is intended to raise funds for liveSAFE’s vital work. At last year’s event, the organization auctioned off nearly 200 items, such as purses, trips, and experiences/shows/concerts around Atlanta. The event’s hosts will include GBI Director Vic Reynolds and his wife, Holly; Cobb County DA Joyette Holmes and her husband, Bridges; and liveSAFE Board Member Jason Saliba and Executive Director Tracey Atwater.

If you’re not familiar with the organization (formerly the YWCA of Northwest Georgia), it was founded in 1917 and is committed to providing safety and healing to those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse within our community. By providing an emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling, legal advocacy, a 24-hour crisis line and many other services, the organization empowers those it serves to rebuild their lives. By raising awareness and fostering support, liveSAFE Resources is dedicated to building a community free from domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse.

For details on the liveSAFE Resources’ programs and services, or how to be part of the solution, contact 770-427-2902 or visit www.livesaferesources.org. To reach the 24-hour crisis line, call 770-427-3390.

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2020 Women of Achievement

LaSandra Boykin, lead project manager, Delta
Michelle Cooper Kelly, director Cobb Community Foundation
Heidi Dasinger, business development manager, City of Marietta
Kimberley Euston, national business development leader, PwC
Michelle Fernanders, Cobb County Firefighter
Andrea Foard, transit division manager, Cobb DOT
Kellie Hill, judge Cobb County Magistrate Court
Monique Honaman, CEO of ISHR Group and Contender Brands
Lee Hyaduck, operations manager, Center for Young Adult Addiction and Recovery Operations, KSU
Carla Jackson, Cobb County tax commissioner
Kari Love, CEO, The Atlanta Women’s Foundation
Cecelia Patellis, assistant VP of Community Education & Outreach, WellStar
Amanda Seals, senior manager and client relationship executive at Deloitte
Shannon Wallace, district attorney in the Blue Ridge Judicial Court
Caroline Whaley, executive director at Gateway Marietta CID

Children Are Forever

Lindsay Penticuff

SafePath’s mission aligns well with this year’s Gold Sponsor at the annual gala.

With annual medical costs increasing to nearly $6 billion nationally to care for children who are victims of neglect and abuse, it’s even more pertinent than ever for us to come together and learn how we can better America’s youth.

“Children are forever,” says Jinger Robins, CEO of SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center in Cobb County, “and what we do today to ensure they have healthy and safe childhoods will determine what our world will look like in the future.”

Since 2010, the number of children SafePath serves has increased by 69 percent. And recent data from the center’s 2018 report states that between Oct. 1, 2017, and Sept. 30, 2018, they served a total of 1,524 clients — 924 children and 600 caregivers. So as the community looks to commemorate National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, Robins and her team at SafePath are excited to be on the forefront of the fight, hosting year-round trainings, prevention seminars, and more. “Anything SafePath can do to educate our community on the prevention of child abuse is a direct investment in a healthy community,” Robins said.

The annual awareness month also is why the advocacy center celebrates its annual Hearing Children’s Voices Gala each spring. It has been an excellent way to not only educate Cobb residents about the horrific effects of child abuse in the community, but to help raise money to assist in providing the vital intervention services SafePath provides. The theme for the 19th annual gala is “Children are Forever: Mission Possible 20/20,” which Robins believes truly captures the heart of who and what SafePath is committed to being and accomplishing.

“We know our mission; we can see clearly with 20/20 vision what needs to be done to protect children; and we are dedicated to achieving our goals!” she said.

Held on May 9 at the Cobb Galleria Centre this year, the event will once again include a night of fellowship with supporters in the community, music, dancing, a silent auction and raffle, as well as a very special guest speaker, who will be named closer to the event date. This year’s chairs for the gala are Melissa and Brett Cannon, MD, MBA, FACEP, and Susana and Bryant King. “These two couples are wonderful families who live in Cobb County and are actively involved in our community,” Robins said. “I could not have handpicked any better chairs.”

The experience in helping plan this year’s gala has been especially wonderful for Dr. Cannon and Melissa. “There are so many deserving causes to support, but it’s hard to think of a better one than SafePath and helping to protect and care for abused children in Cobb County,” Dr. Cannon said. “It’s a great event … and I promise guests will leave knowing they’ve helped children and made our community a little better.”

Cannon added that Melissa also has a background in catering and event planning, so supporting the gala has been familiar turf for the couple. He’s especially excited to chair this year’s gala with the Kings, who are also their neighbors. “They joined us last year for the gala and were so moved that they volunteered on the spot to help us with this year’s event, and Susana has joined the SafePath Board of Directors with me,” said Cannon, who joined the board several years ago at the recommendation of his friend and colleague Avril Beckford, MD, chief pediatric officer for WellStar Health System.

“She was kind enough to recommend me as a board member,” he recalled. “Touring their facility, and hearing of the work being done makes it absolutely impossible to not want to be a part of such an amazing place.”

WellStar, which treats almost all of the children served at SafePath, has been a longtime partner of the advocacy center. Dr. Cannon also is associated with WellStar in his work as divisional president of ApolloMD, where he brings his expertise in emergency department flow and efficiency, health care economics, and health system logistics, overseeing emergency medicine at 10 hospitals. He joined the team at ApolloMD in 2000.

ApolloMD, a multi-specialty, value-based physician services solution for emergency medicine, anesthesia, hospital medicine and radiology, was started in the early 1980s in what is now WellStar Cobb Hospital in Austell. They are now in 12 states and see more than 3.2 million patient visits each year in more than 100 hospitals.

“The roots of ApolloMD started in this community nearly 30 years ago with our partnership with WellStar,” Cannon said. “Part of our partnership is to maintain focus on enriching the lives of the individuals in this community, especially children.”

ApolloMD is dedicated to providing exceptional patient care, and their work in the communities they serve aligns well with SafePath’s mission to improve the lives of children who have been abused. “Supporting such deserving local organizations like SafePath is important for ApolloMD as a means to give back in ways separate from direct patient care,” says Cannon.

This partnership with WellStar and dedication on behalf of ApolloMD to the community also is why the company has committed to be a presenting sponsor at this year’s Hearing Children’s Voice Gala. “Like most everyone, physicians feel a calling to help people. We’re fortunate in that we get to do it most every day on the job,” Cannon says. “All of us who have practiced [medicine] any amount of time have taken care of children who have been abused, and every case is absolutely heartbreaking.”

However, he adds that there is a difference between helping someone in a clinical setting and supporting a great cause like SafePath. “ApolloMD has a long history of being a partner in the communities that we serve, and supporting SafePath is especially exciting since Cobb County is our hometown,” Cannon said. “This is our third year supporting the gala, and we’re very excited to be the presenting sponsor this year.”

Robins says ApolloMD’s delivery of services and vision are aligned with the manner in which SafePath serves the community. “Key words cross over both organizations as we strive to be the best at what we do: streamlining, aligning customer satisfaction, highest quality of care, trust and partnerships when delivering services,” she says.

And with health care costs for abused survivors in the billions, the partnership between ApolloMD and SafePath is a win-win for everyone. “Mission Possible 20/20 is not a dream, but a reality when we all work together,” concludes Robins.

A Dose of Reality

Amy Meadows

Communities in Schools Teaches Students About Personal Finance with In-School Field Trip

When students walk through the door to take part in Reality U, a financial literacy experience presented by Communities in Schools of Georgia in Marietta/Cobb County (CISMCC), they are no longer teenagers. Suddenly, they’re 26 years old. They have jobs, monthly incomes, credit scores, and possibly student debt. They may even have families that include children. And they have 75 minutes to figure out how to navigate and maintain the new life that literally has just been handed to them on a sheet of paper. From securing a residence and transportation, to purchasing food and personal hygiene products, they quickly learn what it really means — and how much it costs — to be an adult.

“This is an imaginative way to teach budgeting, and it’s as close to real life as you can get,” explains Natalie Rutledge, executive director of CISMCC. “It gives the students an idea of what they need to be thinking about, and it’s a way to prepare them before they have to make those real-life choices that can harm them for many years financially. We don’t want them to have that peril. We want to help mold our next generation into thoughtful and fiscally fit people.”

That’s why, for several years, Reality U has been offered for students in grades 8 through 12 at middle and high schools across Cobb County. The event originally began in 2002 as part of the Pando Initiative and was adopted by CISMCC six years ago. Since then, more than 31,000 students have participated in the in-school experience, which is designed to illustrate how important it is for young people to stay in school and concentrate on their academics as they look towards success in the future. In fact, according to Rutledge, the event aligns perfectly with the tenets of the organization itself, which strives to raise graduation rates by encouraging students to focus on their attendance, behavior, and coursework. And that’s exactly where Reality U begins.

Life as they know it

Before students participate in Reality U, they are asked to complete an online lifestyle survey that asks them to imagine their lives at 26 years old and what they expect, from their occupation and marital status to their use of credit cards. The survey also asks questions about their current grade point average, study skills, and attendance habits. All of that information is then entered into a trademarked software program and transformed into an individualized life scenario for each student. That scenario is described on the first piece of paper that participants receive as they begin the Reality U experience.

“In the survey, we ask them what they want to be when they grow up,” Rutledge says. “The software then propels them to 26 years old. Their credit score is reflective of their study habits and attendance. Do they have good behaviors like turning in their work promptly? Do they attend school regularly? Then chances are that they’ll be a good bill payer. Their GPA shows where they are in terms of their goals for their career. If they say they want to be a doctor but have a 1.8 GPA, then they may not be on track for that. Of course, the end result does not say that this is what you are going to be. But it is an exercise to reinforce the importance of attendance, behavior, and coursework.”

In addition to the life scenario, participants receive a second sheet of paper that serves as their “passport” through the event. It’s on this paper that students must work within their budget, visiting 12 booths to make purchases like homes, cars, auto insurance, food, personal items, and more. They also may have to deal with the costs associated with marriage and raising children, as well as providing or receiving child support, depending on their marital status. There’s even a “Game of Chance” booth at which the students can experience the “oops” or “oh my gosh, that was awesome” moments that happen in life, from breaking and having to replace a smartphone to unexpectedly winning $400.

The booths are manned by community volunteers who are there to help guide the students as they make budgeting decisions and try to complete the entire event without running out of money. If they do max out their budget, they can visit a financial services booth and sell items, secure a second job, or choose another option to garner more funds so they can finish the exercise. And if they end up with more money than they expect, they can look at what to do with those extra dollars, such as paying off credit cards or student loan debt quickly. “This is impactful because it expands the students’ knowledge of what it takes to be an adult,” Rutledge asserts. “It shows them how far or how limited their prescribed income can be and that all consequences have economic effects.”

Lending a hand

According to Rutledge, the 10 to 12 Reality U events that take place each school year could not happen without the volunteers who offer their time to help guide students through the experience. In fact, every session requires the participation of 25 to 30 volunteers from the community. “We have a very diverse community, and we have volunteers from many different areas,” she notes. From parents and church groups to senior citizen, civic and professional organizations, adults from all walks of life across Cobb County and Marietta have shared their expertise with the young participants of Reality U. No pre-training is required, as Rutledge’s team provides an onsite training session before each event. And, more importantly, each volunteer brings his or her own knowledge to share with the students. Rutledge continues, “That’s where our volunteers are so valuable — real life experience. They are giving a wealth of information from their own lives to help mold these young people to have a better tomorrow and to learn from the mistakes of today. They are there to help affirm that these students are on the right track.”

Those opportunities to volunteer will continue to be available and even grow, as CISMCC has set a long-term goal of expanding to every middle and high school in the county, both public and private, as well as during sessions held in the summer or other times of the year in partnership with youth groups and community organizations. For schools, it is a win-win proposition because there is no transportation required and the cost is only $7 per student. In schools where the economically disadvantaged rates are 60 percent or higher, CISMCC works with several community partners and organizations to provide scholarships for students to be able to participate. What’s more, the experience fits perfectly into school curriculum requirements. “It really checks all of the boxes,” Rutledge says. “It meets financial literacy standards, and it’s teaching in a creative way that’s not just from a textbook.”

Making a difference

At the end of each session, students are asked to take an exit survey. And, as Rutledge reveals, Reality U is an eye-opening adventure for those who participate. “The students say things like, ‘I didn’t know how important it was to go to school’ or ‘I didn’t know I was so expensive. I really appreciate my parents,’” she states. One high school student wrote, “I think Reality U is very realistic because they took our GPA and showed us how it would most likely be in the future if we keep following the path that we are on. It showed us that if we want a better life than what we had in Reality U, then we need to start preparing for it now.”

Delivering that kind of motivation is what CISMCC infuses into all of its programming, which includes an array of wraparound services that are managed by site coordinators at several schools throughout the area. Those services range from academic assistance and behavior interventions to college and career prep and family engagement. “Our mission is to surround students with a community of support and give them someone they can talk to and rely on to help them navigate their way through school and develop skills to be successful in life,” Rutledge explains. “We want to eliminate the barriers to their success. We focus on grade promotion and graduation. We want students to walk away with their diploma, a goal and a plan. And it’s important for the community to support us because we are part of the solution.”

And Reality U is just one of the tools used by the organization to fulfill its goal. “Reality U can help students expand their ideas of what they might want to do in life,” Rutledge concludes. “We want to help students achieve greatness. We want to better prepare them to be adults. We want to help build and shape our leaders of tomorrow. This is an investment in our tomorrow.”

Comcast=Smart

Haisten Willis

How Comcast Business is enabling customers, corporations, and cities to be smarter and more efficient.

Comcast provides communications services to businesses and consumers across the country, including Cobb County.

In recent years, the company has been expanding those offerings to the so-called Internet of Things (IoT) through a service called MachineQ. MachineQ is a device-to-cloud platform providing the end user immediate access to the enterprise-grade wireless infrastructure they need to securely collect, transmit, and receive their data. Additionally, the company has quadrupled its fiber optic network over the last four years to provide closer-to-the-customer access. Businesses and government entities are taking advantage of this technology through initiatives like Comcast’s Smart City projects, which focuses on resolving issues such as water run-off, leak detection, trash receptacle overflow, and parking constraints.

Smart City programs are designed to bring cost savings to cities by increasing efficiency. Last fall, Comcast hosted a Smart Cities Summit event in Atlanta, showcasing how its technology plays a role in a host of IoT enterprises. “With our MachineQ technology, we are uniquely positioned to deliver scalable services to meet our clients’ unique needs,” says Alex Horwitz, metro Atlanta-based VP of public relations for Comcast’s South Region, which encompasses Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

Battery Based

At the company’s Central Division Headquarters, more than 1,000 Comcast employees work in Cobb County inside an office overlooking right field at Truist Park, the home of the Atlanta Braves. Comcast is more than just a sponsor of the Braves stadium. The company provides an all-fiber network with multi-terabit capabilities to Truist Park and the surrounding mixed-use development, The Battery.

The partnership between the Braves and Comcast created one of the most technologically advanced mixed-use developments in the entire United States. As part of the arrangement, Comcast provides video, voice, and reliable high-speed internet throughout the 60-acre development, even when it’s filled with 41,000 baseball fans all using their smartphones.

“From the outset, we said the Braves would set a new standard of excellence in every aspect of this project, and building the most technologically advanced ballpark in history and redefining fan connectivity is key to accomplishing that,” Braves Chairman Terry McGuirk said when the partnership was announced. “Our partnership with Comcast will keep us head-and-shoulders above other sports venues and mixed-use communities around the country and allow us to meet our fans’ high expectations for engagement, awareness, and access. Shoppers, hotel guests, and office tenants will also enjoy an experience unlike any other community.”

Comcast’s network at The Battery includes two data centers, with 10,000 fiber connections each, all backed by dual 400 Megawatt generators. “This is a truly unprecedented project and I can’t think of a better partner than the Braves, led by the visionary Terry McGuirk, as we bring record Internet speeds and coverage to fans, residents, and businesses,” said Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts. “We’re also excited to make the community around the park home to 1,000 of our employees as we continue to grow our technology team and develop innovative new products.”

When the partnership was announced in 2015, then-Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal praised the arrangement, saying, “I’m particularly excited by Comcast’s plans to create hundreds of jobs and to invest in a new center for technology collaboration. Georgia benefits when imaginative new technology and economic development initiatives like this come to our state.”

Smart Cities

Today, Comcast is again stepping up its game, offering a host of Smart City initiatives, which are being implemented or considered by municipalities across metro Atlanta, including those in Cobb County.

In January, the City of College Park in Fulton County announced a partnership with Comcast to install smart sensors that would alert designated leaders when city trash bins were full. Utilizing the MachineQ Gateway, Comcast’s sensors connected to the trash receptacles to address concerns by residents and businesses about overflow.

“For College Park to achieve its goal of becoming a smart city, we must begin to take a more progressive approach to how we operate and manage our services,” College Park Chief Information Officer Michael Hicks said in a press release announcing the installation. “Our partnership with Comcast opens the door for us to begin using technology to support our daily operations, making us more efficient and effective in the long-run.”

Hicks added that the smart trash receptacles were needed both to beautify the city and to improve its efficiency. “More important, however, was the need for our city to identify some additional long-term initiatives that we could eventually implement, which led us to Comcast,” said Hicks. “For example, we would like our growing business community to become more engaged with the needs of our residents and visitors. Clearly, having this technology at our disposal will be a game-changer for College Park in the future.”

The trash overflow issues were particularly pronounced near College Park’s MARTA station and near businesses along the city’s largest thoroughfares, Main Street and Virginia Avenue. The city also was able to increase the density of the trash cans so they could hold additional waste.

“We applaud College Park’s vision to become a true smart city,” says Jason Gumbs, Comcast’s regional senior VP in Atlanta. “As the city explores additional options where technology can improve the user experience, Comcast will partner closely with College Park to deliver those advanced solutions.”

But trash bins are only the beginning of what Comcast’s smart cities technology can do. The technology allows cities to link up to 500,000 devices, paving the way for smart parking, smart traffic signals, smart pedestrian counters, and smart self-service devices at cities across metro Atlanta and nationally.

“We have witnessed other cities, such as Detroit, use our technology to provide indoor and outdoor surveillance for 24/7 real-time police monitoring, an initiative known as Project Green Light,” says Horwitz.

In Detroit, Comcast SmartOffice video monitoring was used to provide both indoor and outdoor surveillance to aid local police. The solution was both effective and cost-efficient, allowing small and medium-sized businesses to participate and link into the system.

Along with Comcast, Project Green Light was spearheaded by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Detroit Police Chief James Craig. The program aimed to reduce crime and catch potential offenders in the act. Starting in 2016, police were able to access a live feed from on-site cameras, which were concentrated in areas most vulnerable to theft, such as convenience stores and restaurants.

The cameras record at resolution high enough to capture details like license plate numbers and individual facial features, and Comcast was able to reduce costs for businesses by offering an equipment leasing option, along with service and maintenance.

Duggan has described the program as “a true game-changer in helping to improve security measures across the city.”

After Project Green Light launched, Detroit reported a 50-percent crime reduction in locations where cameras were placed, and more success in post-crime arrests as well.

College Park is now experiencing its own sanitation improvements through Comcast, and the future will bring even more advancement as the company continues to innovate.

“College Park is part of a growing wave of municipalities in Georgia and across the country that are evaluating how smart-city capabilities can benefit their residents, businesses, and visitors,” says Horwitz.

Spring Fling & Sports Showcase

Marietta.com

The Marietta Parks & Recreation is hosting the Spring Fling & Sports Showcase featuring activities, games, and a sports showcase. In addition, there will be Inflatables, concessions, games, dj entertainment, and more.

This free event is for children ages 12 and under and takes place at Franklin Gateway Sports Complex.

Event Schedule

6pm – Gates open, concessions, inflatables, games & DJ
6pm – Soccer Sports Showcase for children 5-10 years old
7pm – Lacrosse Sports Showcase for children 5-10 years old
8pm – Event Closes

Date:
Friday, April 8, 2022

Time:
6pm to 8pm

Location:
Franklin Gateway Sports Complex
1034 Franklin Gateway SE
Marietta, GA 30067

For more information, please call the Marietta Parks and Recreation Department at (770) 794-5601.

Cobb County School System Spring Break

Marietta.com

In Cobb County, Spring Break for the 2024-2025 school year takes place from Monday, April 7 to Friday, April 11, 2025. The break typically begins on the first Monday in April each year. Including the weekends, the Spring Break spans from Saturday, April 5 through Sunday, April 13, 2025.

In line with the trend among metro school systems, the Marietta City School System and the Cobb County School System have both typically set their Spring Break to commence on the first Monday in April. This scheduling decision aligns these two educational districts with several others in the area, including in 2024 the counties of Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett, along with the city districts of Atlanta, Buford, and Decatur. This unified timing for Spring Break facilitates planning and coordination across these regions, ensuring a synchronized break period for students, educators, and families.

Previous Spring Breaks:

In 2024, spring break took place from Monday, April 1 to Friday, April 5, 2024.

In 2023, spring break took place from Monday, April 3 to Friday, April 7, 2023.

In 2022, spring break took place from Monday, April 4 to Friday, April 8, 2022.

In 2021, spring break took place from Monday, April 5 to Friday, April 9, 2021.

In 2020, spring break took place from Monday, April 6 to Friday, April 10, 2020.

In 2019, spring break took place from Monday, April 1 to Friday, April 5, 2019.

In 2018, spring break took place from Monday, April 2 to Friday, April 6, 2018.

Back to Cobb County and Marietta City School Calendars

Marietta Mardi Gras Run 5k

Marietta.com

The Marietta Mardi Gras Run is a fun 5k race presented by Junior League of Cobb-Marietta. All proceeds will be used to benefit the ongoing community projects that are sponsored by the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta. The race is a Peachtree Qualifier and USATF certified.

Date:
Saturday, February 22, 2020
(Rain or shine, sleet or snow! No refunds due to weather!)

Time:
7am to 9:30am

Admission:
$35 5K Run/Walk
$20 1K Fun Run
$15 for Tot Trot

Register:
https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Marietta/MariettaMardiGras5K

Parking:
Marietta Square Parking

Address:
Start and finish on the square in downtown Marietta.
Glover Park
50 N Park Square
Marietta, GA 30060

For more information, please call (404) 259-8815.

Dancing With The Stars of Cobb

Cory Sekine-Pettite

Learn how some Cobb County residents have taken to competitive ballroom dancing — all for a good cause.

Competitive ballroom dancing still is quite popular in America — or at least watching it on television is. In 2019, ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” broadcast its 28th season, and many of the dancers from the hit series now are household names. This classical form of entertainment has proven so popular, in fact, that it has spawned regional and local dancing events around the country — many of which are tied to local fundraising. This year, two such events have been well received by Cobb County residents: Dancing With The Stars of Marietta, and MUST Dance from MUST Ministries.

Dancing With The Stars of Marietta

Each year, the non-profit Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theatre (GMDT) in Marietta holds a fundraiser to help continue its programs of providing quality performances and to further its mission to inspire young dancers to become the next generation of artists and leaders. In January of 2018, the GMDT hosted the fifth-annual “Dancing With The Stars of Marietta” competition, pairing 12 “celebrities” from Marietta with choreographers to perform high-energy dance numbers on-stage at the Earl & Rachel Smith Strand Theatre on the Historic Marietta Square.

Among the six competing teams in 2018 was Cassie Mazloom, director of Cobb Emergency Management Agency; and Ken Johnson, clinical director and licensed professional counselor for East-West Psychotherapy. “While I wanted to support [GMDT], I also saw this as an opportunity to share how those with disabilities can overcome obstacles and not be bound by what we think we cannot do,” said Johnson, who has been wheelchair-bound for the past five years. “That goes for everyone, really, not just me in a wheelchair. Everyone is paralyzed in some way that keeps them from moving forward in their life. My wheelchair is just more visible.”

Johnson and Mazloom first got to know each other through their participation in Leadership Cobb. Johnson said he knew right away that they would make great dance partners. “What we came up with was a storyline in dance of overcoming obstacles and being your very best. That mindset personalized the dance and helped us win the Judges Choice Award,” he said.

“Just knowing Ken is a blessing and his outlook on life is infectious to all who have the opportunity to meet him,” Mazloom added. “Aside from my lack of skill, one of the biggest challenges was maneuvering Ken’s chair with grace and not force. Ken always encouraged me when I felt discouraged and Ashleigh [Whitworth, artistic director of GDMT and the pair’s choreographer] was understanding when I was my worst critic. We practiced about six hours a week until competition time and even more the week of the competition. … What joy and relief I felt when we received the coveted mirror ball for Judges Choice! It was one of the most special moments I’ve ever had in my life.”

The other Dancing With The Stars of Marietta teams in 2018 consisted of: Amber Byrd (owner of Markay Gallery) and George Warren (realtor with Sotheby’s); Jan Galt (director of operations at Marietta History Museum) and Joseph Goldstein (incoming councilman/Ward 7 for Marietta City); Katelyn DeRuyter (assistant solicitor general for Cobb County) and Allen Aschwege (Cobb County firefighter); Paula McVicker (administrator for Marietta High School) and Thomas Sherrer (pharmacist/owner of Poole Pharmacy); and Kristin Moffett (Lower School counselor at The Walker School) and Elizabeth Nesmith (physician at The Kaufmann Clinic).

The 2018 judges were Joanne Feldman (FOX 5 Storm Team meteorologist, Good Day Atlanta – FOX 5 Atlanta); Victoria Hill (Miss Cobb County 2018); and Earl Reece (former director of The Strand and the Cobb County Center for Excellence in Performing Arts). This year’s competition will be held Feb. 9, 2019. For more information on the competition, visit Dancing With The Stars of Marietta.

MUST Dance

When the Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Marietta wanted to help MUST Ministries serve more people in poverty, MUST Dance was born. On July 21, 2018 at the YANMAR Evo Center in Acworth, you can see for yourself how it all comes together, but in the meantime, let’s learn how it got started.

This particular fundraiser will be a new experience for MUST Ministries, which typically raises money to aid the less fortunate in more conventional ways. “We are reaching a new audience and receiving donations from people who are just now learning about MUST Ministries,” says MUST Ministries Special Events Manager Angie Bolton. “The dancers are assisting us with fundraising, even pulling in donations from other states. Our goal is $50,000 for this first year.”

Bolton says the 300-seat event includes a silent auction with saxophone music during cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, a dance competition among six local “celebrities,” a Pro Show, and open dancing with the stars and guests. The professional coaches at the dance studio are working tirelessly to train the guest celebrities and create an exciting atmosphere and memorable event. Speaking of dancers, the local celebrities expected to dance include: Martha Parker, client intake coordinator at MUST Ministries; Aaron Collier, children’s pastor at Piedmont Church; Wezley Barnard, commercial lines specialist with Snellings Walters Insurance and Ambassador for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce; Eric Baker, Keller Williams First Atlanta; Emily McMillan, GM, Nothing Bundt Cakes Kennesaw and Ambassador for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce; and Valerie Jordan, accounting and HR, Heath and Lineback Engineering.

“We are anticipating a sellout crowd,” Bolton said. “The crowd will be energized. Each dancer will have their own VIP section made up of family, friends, and coworkers — their personal cheering section. Knowing the personalities of our celebrities, this will be a lively bunch!”

“We already have celebrities who have asked to be a part of the event next year,” Bolton continued. “We hope to include a sit-down dinner next year as well. MUST is recognized for hosting fun-filled events like the Gobble Jog, golf tournament, and Spring gala party. MUST Dance is a new event that is right in line with our efforts to provide enjoyable ways to raise funds that help our neighbors in need.”

Tacky Sweater Party and Holiday Artisan Market

Marietta.com

Shopping for the holidays can be rough, so Red Hare Brewing Company is making it easy. Swing by on December 13, 2019 at 5pm to get some unique goodies for your loved ones, all while holding a delicious brew during Red Hare Brewing Company’s annual Tacky Christmas Sweater Party🎅 Red Hare’s Coconut Coffee Porter will be available on tap and in 6-packs to go. This is an indoor event – rain or shine, they tacky on.

Date:
Friday, December 13th, 2019 from 5pm to 10pm
Artisan Market: 5-9pm
Tacky Sweater Judging: 9:15pm

Admission:
Tickets can be pre-purchased at an early bird price for $20:
https://www.freshtix.com/events/tacky-christmas-sweater-party

Address:
Red Hare Brewing
1998 Delk Industrial Boulevard Southeast
Marietta, GA 30067

Parking:
Please park at Red Hare Brewing, the office park directly to the right of the brewery (where clearvue mirrors is located), at Bobcat to the left of the brewery, or across the street at Mayfield Diary.

For more information, please call (561) 412-9527 or visit https://www.freshtix.com/events/tacky-christmas-sweater-party

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