Alana Shepherd and her family co-founded Shepherd Center in Atlanta in 1975 to treat patients with spinal cord injuries. Through the years, Shepherd Center has grown from a six-bed unit to a world-renowned, 152-bed rehabilitation hospital specializing in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, spine and chronic pain, and other neuromuscular conditions. Now, Shepherd Center treats about 900 inpatients, 575 day program patients and more than 7,700 outpatients each year. Shepherd Center is ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top 10 rehabilitation hospitals in the nation.
Alana, Harold and James Shepherd were awarded honorary doctorate of humane letters degrees in December 2011 by the University of Georgia, in conjunction with the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, in recognition of their contributions to healthcare and the state of Georgia.
Alana has received many awards, including the 2012 J.W. Fanning Award from Leadership Georgia and the Georgia Hospital Association's 2009 Lifetime Heroic Achievement Award for her lifetime of service to enhancing operations and patient care at Shepherd Center. She also received Atlanta Gas Light’s and WSB Radio’s 2005 Shining Light Award. Alana was included on the Georgia Trend list of Notable Georgians for 2009 and inducted into the National Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame in 2008. She also has been named to Atlanta Business Chronicle’s list of “Who’s Who in Healthcare” multiple times. In 2015, the Georgia Historical Society inducted Alana as a Georgia Trustee, and that same year, she also received the Andrew Young International Leadership Award for Public Service and Advocacy. In 2017, the Delta Air Lines Advisory Board on Disability chose Shepherd Center co-founders Alana, Harold and James Shepherd as the 2017 recipients of Deltas Jay & Hagar Award for servant leadership.
Alana’s numerous civic involvements have included serving as former vice president and current member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, the Greater Grady Task Force and secretary of the board of directors for the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games.
In 1989, Alana was the first woman elected to be a member of the Buckhead Coalition, and in 2003, she became the first woman elected as chairman of the Coalition. She was also the first woman elected to the board of directors of Genuine Parts and the board of directors of Wachovia Bank of Georgia.
Through the years, Alana has been Shepherd Center's chief fundraiser and prime mover-volunteer. Alana is known for her upbeat honesty, business savvy and relentless drive. She continues to serve as secretary of the board of directors at Shepherd Center, and she is a constant presence at Shepherd Center, meeting and offering encouragement to new patients and their families, leading tours and championing Shepherd Center’s mission and vision.
Applications for a 2018 Grant from the Kiwanis Foundation of Atlanta will open on July 30, 2018. The Foundation was founded in 1953 as a nonprofit organization to raise funds from members of the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta to provide financial support to charitable institutions in which the Club has an interest. A major commitment of the Foundation is to provide ongoing support for organizations serving the needs of children and youth in our community. Priority is given to organizations within metropolitan Atlanta, and no grants are made outside the state of Georgia. Active involvement of a current member of Kiwanis Club of Atlanta is preferred. Grants are typically in the range of $1500 to $3500.
Grants are not made to private, primary, or secondary schools, or to individual churches or congregations. The Foundation does not have a religious purpose, but does permit grants to organizations with a religious affiliation for programs serving underprivileged youth.
If you would like to receive a grant application packet, AFTER JULY 30TH, you can download one from the website or contact KiwanisClubAtlanta@gmail.com. DEADLINE: GRANT APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2018 OR RECEIVED IN THE OFFICE BY NOON ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018. NO EXTENSIONS.
Philanthropy in the Classroom is a program designed to familiarize elementary school children with the concept of philanthropy.
The Dates for this fall are:
9-1: Drew Charter
9-28: Centennial Academy
10-26: Stanton Elementary School
We are very excited about expanding our program and will need around 70 volunteers to cover each class. Once you sign up, you will receive more information. There is a general training for all volunteers on August 28, 2018, following out Kiwanis Club luncheon.
During your session, you will:
Read a children’s book about philanthropy to a third-grade class
Discuss the meaning of philanthropy with students
Provide support to students as they create drawings that express what philanthropy means to them
Please note: A background check is required for all Kiwanis volunteers. If you are interested in participating, please check with Karen Losin to be sure your background check is current.
Do you want to let the members of our club know more about you and your business? Do you want to network and cultivate more business contacts? If you answered yes, then you need to sign up to do a "Member Spotlight" at one of our club meetings!
Spotlights are done every 2nd and 4th Tuesday luncheon meeting (and the occasional 5th) each month. You have two minutes to showcase your business and tell the other members how you can benefit them! To get on the schedule, just email Karen at KiwanisClubAtlanta@gmail.com.
Our club is looking for about 6 individuals who are willing to become part of the "Lunch Bunch" team! Team members will help the lunch meetings operate smoothly by working the a/v board and sounds system in the back, ensuring that any a/v the speakers use are properly set up, and working the microphones during the Q&A sessions!
While no technical experience is necessary, volunteers should feel comfortable and confident adjusting sound levels and setting up the computer for power point and video presentations. And the benefit is a dedicated comfy seat at the a/v table during lunch!
Just in case you missed the last couple Member Spotlights at the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta luncheon meeting, we have listed the last few below. The next time you need someone with their expertise, please, "Do Business with a Kiwanian!"
"Do Business" with these Kiwanians!
Elaine Sterling is the owner of The Elaine Sterling Institute of aesthetics, nail care and massage therapy provides programs of excellence in the heart of Sandy Springs. They offer premier spa services to the public in our student clinic. Go to www.elainesterling.com
Don't get the BOOT! Be sure your car has a Kiwanis Club of Atlanta car decal properly displayed on your vehicle.
The security company contracted by Lanier Parking will be booting all cars that are parked in the reserved parking places and that do not have a valid decal on their car identifying them as attending the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta luncheon. So if you arrive prior to 11:45 am on Tuesday, please make sure you have a parking decal on your car. You can get a decal from Karen at the luncheon meeting, and then place it on the right back window (passenger side) from inside your car. They are static cling, so easy to put on and take off!
