December 2017: After deciding at the first meeting of 2017 to focus this year on homelessness in Atlanta, The Imlay Foundation made grants totaling $510,000 to twelve different homeless serving organizations, nearly 20% of its standard grantmaking for the year.

The roots of this focus go back to early 2017, when the Board of Trustees of the Foundation made a commitment to develop annual learning and significant grantmaking opportunities for board members devoted to one specific focus area each year outside of the Foundation’s regular grantmaking program. The focus area chosen for 2017 was homelessness and those organizations serving this population. Based on input solicited from and offered by board members, six (6) organizations were eventually selected for deeper learning about their respective missions, programs, target clientele, leadership capacity, financial status and key current priorities.

Beginning in early March and continuing through mid-November, groups of board members visited all six organizations on this learning journey, meeting senior staff, board members and clients, drilling deeper into each organizations’ successes and challenges, and striving to understand each one’s greatest needs and priorities as they respectively move forward. In addition, board members learned about broader regional efforts to address and functionally eliminate homelessness in Metro Atlanta.

In all, over half of the board (6 board members) participated in one or more site visits to each of these organizations, including an October 9 debrief meeting at The Imlay Foundation offices on organizations visited to date and preliminary recommendations for possible funding.

Of the six homeless serving organizations visited during 2017, the Board of Trustees approved targeted grants totaling $285,000 for four of these organizations at the December 4, 2017 board meeting, including:

• Atlanta Mission – For the purchase of two new vans for client and client family transport to jobs, healthcare appointments and childcare
• Gateway Center – For Gateway’s 2017 capital campaign
• Mary Hall Freedom House – For the kitchen addition to the new Donna Center 24/7 emergency shelter for women and children
• Rainbow Village – For general operating support

Beyond these four targeted grants, The Imlay Foundation made ten additional grants totaling $225,000 to homeless serving organizations through its three regular grant cycles in 2017, as follows:

• Atlanta Mission
• Covenant Community
• Crossroads Community Ministries
• The Drake House
• Interfaith Outreach Home
• Jerusalem House
• Living Room
• Mary Hall Freedom House
• Midtown Assistance
• Zaban Couples Shelter

ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER

March 2017: Fair Play: The Bobby Jones Story, an exhibition about the career and life of famed golfer Bobby Jones, opened in the newly renovated Imlay Gallery at the Atlanta History Center on March 17, 2017, Mr. Jones’ 115th birthday. John and Mary Ellen Imlay and The Imlay Foundation were among the initial major funders of this exhibition on Bobby Jones, the only individual for whom a permanent exhibit at the Atlanta History Center is dedicated, more than 15 years ago. The Imlay Foundation is very pleased to play a key role in providing support for the current renovation and reinstallation of this tribute to one of Atlanta’s most famous sons.

While dozens of male and female athletes excelled in the “Golden Age of American Sport,” none captured the public imagination quite like Bobby Jones. For a career that launched six decades before the birth of Tiger Woods, Bobby Jones is credited with popularizing golf on an international stage. His sportsmanship called attention to the game’s best traditions, and his success and character on and off the course inspired generations to this day. Bobby Jones transcended sports during the Great Depression and became an American hero at a time when the nation most needed one. Jones is considered the greatest amateur to play the game. Between 1923 and 1930 he won 13 majors, culminating with the Grand Slam season of 1930 when he won the British Amateur, British Open, U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur. Upon his retirement at age 28, Jones founded and helped design the Augusta National Golf Club and co-founded the Masters Tournament, and also founded Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta. Jones was also an accomplished lawyer and prominent businessman in Atlanta up until his death in 1971.

John Imlay was passionate about preserving the legacy of Bobby Jones throughout his life, and the new exhibition and gallery renovation honor John’s passion as well as the continuing impact of Bobby Jones’ life on his beloved community and the game of golf.

April 2016: THE JOHN IMLAY BRIDGE was dedicated to his memory at The Atlanta Botanical Garden on April 17, 2016. This beautiful stone bridge, located in the Storza Woods section of the Garden, is rich in meaning to John’s legacy. Several years ago John was searching for a way to leave in Scotland a lasting testament to his love for his adopted second home. His inspiration was to build classic stone bridges on four of his favorite golf courses, North Berwick, Prestwick, Troon and Carnoustie. Replacing the railroad tie bridges over the wee burns on these courses with the Imlay Bridges has created a beautiful enhancement to his beloved courses. With his team of John Murray, architect; and Steve Reynolds, great personal friend and builder; John personally carried out his mission leaving twelve Imlay Bridges across Scotland.

When The Imlay Foundation was looking for a meaningful way to honor John in Atlanta, we were excited and moved to find this beautiful bridge at the Garden just waiting for the right name. The Garden has been one of our valued partners and the Foundation was thrilled to take the naming rights of this bridge for John Imlay.

Thousands of people visiting the Garden will cross his bridge every year. Most will not know John Imlay but they will know that he was special.