As Gaslowitz Frankel continues our charitable giving program to celebrate the firm’s 25th anniversary, attorney Celia Patrick Quillian has chosen Clifton Sanctuary Ministries for her donation.
When I asked Celia to discuss the reasons behind choosing her non-profit, she shared this story.
When I was asked to choose a charity to donate $500 to in celebration of our law firm’s 25th anniversary, it was an easy decision for me. I knew that my donation would have a significant impact and would be put to good use at Clifton Sanctuary Ministries (‘Clifton”), one of the few emergency homeless shelters in Atlanta that operates 365 days a year.
For more than twelve years, I have enjoyed preparing and serving dinner at Clifton Sanctuary Ministries to homeless men from all walks of life, from veterans, construction workers, and salesmen to corporate executives. These men have become homeless for various reasons, including disabling injuries or illness, drug and alcohol addiction, or job loss due to the downturn in the economy.
The men at Clifton are homeless, yet hopeful, because of the wonderful services and counseling that the organization provides in helping them overcome the adversity.
From the moment the men greet me to help unload my minivan until I say goodnight, I always feel their gracious and thankful spirit. The one who benefits most from the experience is usually me.
Clifton is a unique homeless shelter located in the midst of a wonderful community of family homes at the corner of McClendon and Connecticut Avenues in the Lake Claire neighborhood of Decatur.
A testament to the success of Clifton Sanctuary Ministries is the amount of support and volunteers that it receives from the surrounding Lake Claire and Candler Park neighborhoods. A former Presbyterian church, Clifton has been operating for 35 years and has served over 15,000 men.
The program supports 30 men each night. The non-profit’s residents (guests) are referred from other Atlanta agencies in partnership with Clifton and are screened and interviewed before being admitted to the program.
In addition to emergency housing, the charity also provides life skills counseling and health-and-wellness programs in order to help its guests find employment and transition to permanent housing.
The men are actually housed in the sanctuary of the old church with their beds neatly lined up in rows, with a trunk for their belongings at the end of each bed. The men receive donations from the clothes closet at Clifton, including suits and business attire for job interviews.
While being current guests at Clifton Sanctuary Ministries, the men share daily responsibilities to care for and maintain the kitchen, bathrooms, living spaces, and property.
Every year, Clifton has a graduation ceremony for the men who have successfully completed its program, and the non-profit boasts a success rate of over 70% in transitioning its guests to permanent housing.
Over 300 volunteers help support Clifton Sanctuary by providing meals, clothing, and supplies to the shelter, as well as by helping to run the computer lab and acting as mentors for the men.
Volunteers also help with Clifton Sanctuary’s Toastmasters Club to coach the residents on their communication, presentation, and leadership skills in order to instill confidence in the men as they are seeking employment.
Here is a short video about what our donation means to Clifton Sanctuary Ministries.
To learn more about Clifton Sanctuary Ministries, please visit:
About the Charitable Giving Project
To mark the firm’s 25th anniversary, Gaslowitz Frankel has decided to give back to the community that has been instrumental in our growth. Our attorneys and staff will choose 25 charities to be the beneficiaries of $500 contributions throughout 2014 calendar year.
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