2020 Community Heroes Week Honorees
Helping Mamas founder Jamie Lackey, mother of 2 and social worker by trade, saw a devastating gap in children's needs being met. Because Jamie knew motherhood could be overwhelming even in the best of circumstances, she created Helping Mamas in her basement to fill that need. The mission of Helping mamas is to connect helping mamas to mamas needing help. They are the baby supply bank for Georgia. Helping Mamas worked tirelessly to support families impacted by COVID-19. Distributed 350,000 essential items including diapers, wipes, period products and formula during the crisis.
Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman and Fox Sports broadcasters Kelly Crull and Jeff Francoeur surprised Jamie during a ZOOM call and presented her with a $5,000 donation from the Atlanta Braves Foundation. Jamie’s friends and family celebrated her and cheered on the Braves during an at-home watch party complete with Papa John’s pizza.
Dave founded Operation Lunchbox in 2014. Their mission is to provide every child in Georgia with enough groceries every week. Currently, Operation Lunchbox feeds over 2,700 children/week in Georgia counties. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need in their neighborhood increased by 30%. Since March, they have provided over 15,000 hot meals and about 13,000 or 14,000 grocery bags to families, fed about 20,000 families.
Braves third baseman Austin Riley joined Fox Sports South talent Jeff Franceour and Peter Moylan to surprise Dave and Jennifer during a ZOOM call. They also presented Operation Lunchbox with a $5,000 donation from the Atlanta Braves Foundation and $1,000 in Kroger gift cards for future supplies. Operation Lunchbox volunteers and supporters threw Dave and Jennifer a celebratory Atlanta Braves watch party at a local restaurant.
Pam Stickler founded The RECing Crew in 2002, a non-profit which offers a variety of special leisure and recreational programs geared towards all ability levels creating the opportunity for youth and adults with disabilities to socialize with their peers and be part of their community. The RECing Crew was founded after Pam’s son Stephen, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, was unable to find recreational programs in their community for children with disabilities. The program has grown from a one-day-a-week bowling program and once-a-month movie outing to hosting multiple recreational activities including adaptive sports such as baseball, basketball, bowling, dance, jazzercise, martial arts, arts, and chorus classes. The RECing Crew now offers programs in Aiken, North Augusta, and Augusta, Georgia.
Braves alumni and Fox Sports South reporter Paul Byrd joined Braves pitcher Max Fried to surprise Pam and her son Stephen via ZOOM and present the Rec’ing Crew with a $5,000 donation from the Atlanta Braves Foundation. Additionally, Paul announced that Chevrolet will be hosting a baseball clinic for the Rec’ing Crew at Truist Park in 2021 as part of their Chevy Youth Clinics. Pam, Stephen and their friends and family gathered for an Atlanta Braves watch party, complements of Papa John’s.
Using a multigenerational approach, Corners Outreach acts as a catalyst to achieve one-hundred percent high school graduation rates for students and improved career opportunities for their underemployed parents. Founded by Larry Campbell in 2012, Corners Outreach empowers students, parents, and neighbors to reach their potential, break cycles of poverty, and improve communities. Partnered with nine elementary schools in the Atlanta area, Corners Outreach serves over 600 Latino youth and low-income families. The program offers after school tutoring and summer camps at local homework clubs. By offering additional recourses, the program helps students that were significantly behind in school to reach high school graduation. In 2018, Larry expanded Corners Outreach by creating Corners Industries, a jobs program that helps find year-round employment for parents and other community members. Larry is a human rights advocate, who works to empower people to live in connected communities, combat racism, bullying, discrimination, and more.
Larry’s all-time favorite Braves player, Dale Murphy, along with Fox Sports South broadcaster Chip Caray surprised Larry via ZOOM and presented Corner’s Outreach with a $5,000 donation from the Atlanta Braves Foundation. Braves pitcher Will Smith also congratulated Larry during the call. Larry joined his family and Corner’s Outreach families and supporters for a Braves-themed pizza party, compliments of Papa John’s.
Founded by a group of local churches and synagogues in Atlanta, Interfaith Outreach Home is a local non-profit which empowers homeless, working families as they strive for an independent future. Interfaith Outreach Home works to provide safe, affordable interim housing and support services to families committed to permanent self-sufficiency. As executive director and one of only three employees, Deborah Walker-Little is the backbone of the operation. Deborah’s role ranges from fundraising to assisting families in identifying achievable and impactful goals including debt repair, increased earnings, savings accumulation, skill development, and more.
Atlanta Braves legend and Baseball Hall of Famer, Tom Glavine, along with Fox Sports South analyst, Nick Green, surprised Deborah via ZOOM and presented her with a $5,000 check from the Atlanta Braves Foundation for Interfaith Outreach Home. Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson also joined the call to thank Deborah for the work she is doing in the community. Deborah and her family enjoyed a Papa John’s pizza party as they watched the Braves take on the Nationals at a Braves-themed watch party.