Health-ing hand: Atlanta foundation and nonprofits lead initiative for post-COVID wellness for women

Volunteers for The Center for Black Women's Wellness provide service with a smile while preparing food giveaways for an upcoming event. The organization, established in 1988, is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of underserved Black women throughout the Atlanta community. (Courtesy of Qu West Photography)

When Meredith Leapley arrived at last year’s Numbers Too Big To Ignore Luncheon, an annual banquet held by the Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF), she was overjoyed to see not only a high number in attendance but also donations. The highest number of donations in the foundation’s history, raising over $1.2 million, noted Leapley in a recent Zoom conversation.

In a time when most businesses and organizations are still recovering from financial hits from the COVID-19 pandemic, AWF has continued to rise in funding and familiarity throughout the city.

“I think that Atlanta Women’s Foundation is uniquely positioned in that we are seeing more interest and funding from that period of time,” said Leapley. “People are much more aware and have slowed down.”