The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation today announced a three-year, $4 million grant to the Atlanta Humane Society (AHS). The capital grant will support the expansion of Atlanta Humane’s new westside campus and animal care center set to open in 2022.

“My family and I have always had a deep love for all animals, and I truly can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t have a pet family member at home. Animals bring an abundance of love, joy and companionship to humans, and we need them just as much as they need us,” said Arthur M. Blank, Chairman, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. “Protecting, improving and educating the community about animal welfare is a selfless, vital task, and we are honored to work with the Atlanta Humane Society to help bring this new center to life in hopes of continuing to support and pair thousands of animals with their new families.”

The five-acre campus, which will be named at a later date by Atlanta Humane and the Blank Family Foundation, will be located on Perry Boulevard, adjacent to the new westside Quarry Yards development. The campus will include an adoption, behavior and medical facility, landscaped walking trails, a memory garden and educational spaces for the community to gather.

“The support of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is truly transformational – not only to our new animal care center but to the future of animal welfare within our great city,” said Cal Morgan, President and CEO of the Atlanta Humane Society. “We are extremely grateful to The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for their commitment and aspirational leadership in emphasizing the importance of supporting the pets and people in our community.”

The new campus and animal care center will allow Atlanta Humane to create operational efficiencies so that it can increase its number of animal services including sheltering services; spaying/neutering animals; delivering medical services; and providing resource services to the community. Additionally, the new site will showcase a shelter built to efficiently respond to contemporary animal welfare issues, enhance its shelter medicine program, increase foster care and expand community engagement opportunities.

About the Atlanta Humane Society
The Atlanta Humane Society is a no-kill animal shelter serving more than 60,000 of Atlanta’s animals each year through various services including adoption, veterinary care, and community outreach. Last year, they provided 128,033 of these animal services to people and pets throughout Georgia and the Southeast. They operate out of three locations in metro Atlanta and help find thousands of animals loving homes each year. As Atlanta’s oldest non-religious nonprofit, they have been caring for the Atlanta community and its animals for more than 148 years. For more information, please visit atlantahumane.org.

About The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
After 25 years and more than $800 million in giving, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has committed to significantly accelerating the impact of its philanthropy over the next 10+ years.

The Board is embarking on a journey of deeper learning and strategy setting for its new collective areas of giving, which include: Youth Development, with a focus on workforce development and economic mobility; Democracy, with a focus on key areas of Voting Rights, and Journalism; and Environment, with a focus on key areas of Conservation and Climate Resiliency. Across these portfolios, the Foundation will look for opportunities to address the growing crisis of disconnection in our nation. Geographically, much of the work will continue to prioritize Georgia (with a focus on Atlanta) and Montana, while also considering the potential for greater national impact and influence.

In addition to the collective areas of giving, the Foundation will continue to oversee a large portfolio of Founder-led initiatives, including investment in the transformation of Atlanta’s Westside neighborhoods, mental health and wellbeing, veterans and the military, and stuttering, among others. The Foundation will also continue to guide the seven Associate-led giving committees operating across the Blank Family of Businesses.

Mr. Blank, chairman of the Foundation, co-founded The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, in 1978 and retired from the company as co-chairman in 2001.

For more information and to stay up to date, visit www.blankfoundation.org.

Historic Atlanta charity to remain on property for at least two more years

March 10, 2020
The Atlanta Humane Society closed on the sale of their West Midtown property on Monday, March 9. The close of this property comes after several years of discussions with potential buyers and occurred shortly after the charity finalized the purchase of a 5-acre piece of land. This land, just two miles away, is across the road from the evolving Quarry Yards development and will be where the Atlanta Humane Society builds its new animal welfare and pet community center.

To allow for a smooth transition, the Atlanta Humane Society will remain in their current location while this facility is constructed. Funds from the sale of the Howell Mill property have been allocated towards the new Westside location and will enable the Atlanta Humane Society to reinvest into the city of Atlanta and its animals in a greater way.

“The closing of the sale on our Howell Mill property is the perfect time to celebrate our roots in the city of Atlanta, dating back to 1873, and a long and illustrious history of caring for the animals of our community, while looking forward eagerly to an exciting and bright future,” said Cal Morgan, President and CEO of the Atlanta Humane Society. “We have a deep history in this city, and we are excited to continue to invest in its animals while making Atlanta a community where all pets will be healthy and safe.”

The Atlanta Humane Society was represented in the transaction by Cushman & Wakefield as well as Kwame Benjamin, Esq. and Justice Barber, Esq. of Seyfarth Shaw LLP.

Purchase of 5 acres just west of the city to help Atlanta’s premier animal charity lead the charge on pet wellbeing

October 2, 2019 – The Atlanta Humane Society (AHS) has finalized the purchase of 5 acres of land just west of the city in the Rockdale neighborhood on Perry Boulevard. This property is across the road from the evolving Quarry Yards development and an important new piece in the Atlanta Humane Society’s long history in Atlanta. Boris Garbuz of Cushman & Wakefield represented AHS in the land acquisition.

“To be a part of this burgeoning area of development within the amazing city of Atlanta and its future is incredibly exciting for us,” said Cal Morgan, President and CEO of the Atlanta Humane Society. “We have a deep history in this city, and we are excited to continue to invest in its animals while making Atlanta a community where all pets will be healthy and safe.”

The newly acquired parcel of land, which is more than twice the size of the Atlanta Humane Society’s current property in West Midtown, will provide AHS the opportunity to develop a forward-thinking facility that addresses the ever-changing needs of animal welfare in the community. Croft & Associates has been brought on to assist with the architecture of the new facility. The land is along the same corridor where the Atlanta Humane Society was founded nearly 150 years ago and just a few miles from their current location on Howell Mill Road. The development of the newly acquired property on Perry Boulevard will result in the future sale of AHS’ current West Midtown facility.

Founded in 1873, the Atlanta Humane Society is one of the oldest charities in Atlanta. The organization was founded with a focus on the vulnerable populations of women, children, and animals. Over the years, the focus of the Atlanta Humane Society shifted to that of companion animals. The organization’s services have grown to match the evolving needs of dogs and cats and the communities it serves. Today, the Atlanta Humane Society continues to open their hearts and doors to thousands of animals in need – whether it is finding them new loving homes, fighting cruelty and neglect on their behalf, providing expert care, or helping struggling owners keep their beloved pets. This new property acquisition will allow the Atlanta Humane Society to continue to provide services for Atlanta’s pets, their owners, and those animals in greatest need for decades to come.