East Lake Foundation / 2024 Annual Report

Introduction

Illuminate. Innovate. Ignite

Since 1995, the East Lake Foundation has worked in partnership with residents and community partners to provide equitable access to resources, programs and opportunities for East Lake neighborhood residents and students. Using a holistic approach that includes cradle-to-college and career education, mixed-income housing, community wellness and economic vitality, we work together to ensure East Lake is a community where everyone has opportunities to thrive.

In 2025, as we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we are committed to nurture and create a community of possibility in East Lake. With your support, we will continue to collaboratively build a more equitable future filled with possibility for our neighbors and serve as a model for what is possible when community comes together both locally and nationwide.

Ilham Askia
President & CEO

A Model for Progress

Accelerating Change

The East Lake Foundation collaborates with The Villages of East Lake residents, Charles R. Drew Charter School families, and other key service providers to ensure every member of our community has equitable access to the resources, tools and supports needed to thrive.

The Flourishing Neighborhood Index (FNI) survey captured residents’ perspectives on economic, social, and structural factors.

The Survey Says

Resident Insights Shaping East Lake’s Future

View Survey Results

In summer 2024, in collaboration with Purpose Built Communities, Focused Community Strategies, and the Lupton Center, the East Lake Foundation conducted 169 East Lake resident interviews to understand how they feel about the needs and assets of our neighborhood. The Flourishing Neighborhood Index (FNI) survey captured resident voice across economic, social, and structural indicators. Resident and partner listening sessions took place through the end of 2024 and early 2025 to collect feedback and flesh out the results of the survey.

Highlights of the survey include neighbors feeling a sense of pride in the educational resources available in East Lake and a deep sense of place, meaning that they feel connected to and a part of East Lake. It also spotlighted opportunities for growth by increasing opportunities for residents to convene and adding more affordable housing options.

This community-based data will guide the Foundation’s strategic direction and collaboration with partners and residents. We will work diligently to use the information gained to center resident voices and expand knowledge and support of the Foundation’s work and mission.

Nearly 30 years after the revitalization of East Lake began, residents and students continue to benefit from the East Lake Foundation’s holistic work in the neighborhood. Here we highlight just a few of the many experiences from 2024.

Resident Highlight

Nikki Davis

Nikki Davis, an Atlanta native, has lived in the Villages of East Lake since 2002.

“I am the embodiment of the East Lake Foundation,” she says.

When she first moved in with her 2-year-old son Jeremiah, she was looking for a fresh start. A loving mother, she had always worked but wanted to grow in her career and find a job that allowed her more time to parent her son.

Determined, she connected with the East Lake Foundation’s Resident and Community Support Program (RCSP), participating in job readiness and financial literacy workshops to identify a new career with higher earnings and improved work-life balance. She secured a new, higher-paying job working for Georgia Power and transitioned from receiving assistance with rent to paying market rate.

Her son Jeremiah graduated from Drew Charter School and received scholarships that allowed him to graduate from Kennesaw State University without student loan debt. Today, he runs his own business.

“The East Lake Foundation is changing lives,” Nikki says. “There are so many things that they offer. Being in East Lake, you see what it is to be connected in a community.”

Start:ME East Lake

Toshia Tiller and Sheila Tiller-Tooks

Sisters Sheila Tiller-Tooks and Toshia Tiller have deep roots in East Lake, dating back to the 1970s when their family moved into East Lake Meadows. The youngest of five sisters, they excelled in school, built families, and pursued careers—Sheila in administration and Toshia in sales.

In 2022, they launched CornbreadSisters, inspired by Toshia’s beloved cornbread recipe. Their first client was Souper Jenny, and now their cornbread is served in restaurants across Metro Atlanta.

Graduates of the Start:ME East Lake program, they gained vital resources to grow their business and won a scholarship. Now enrolled in Georgia Tech’s Food and Beverage Accelerator, they aim to bring their cornbread to store shelves.

Their vision? To make CornbreadSisters a lasting legacy for their children and grandchildren. Their advice? “Find a lane and ride until the wheels fall off,” says Sheila.

Donor Highlight

Joel and Rosemary McElhannon

Joel and Rosemary McElhannon are passionate about their community and believe in the power of education.

When they learned that many students are forced to drop out of college permanently due to lack of financial support, they sprang into action by directing their philanthropy to fill the gap.

Since becoming members at East Lake Golf Club, they have supported the East Lake Foundation and Drew Charter School graduates by providing need-based scholarships for higher education.

“East Lake is an example of what can happen when people of good will from all walks of life come together around a common goal,” says Joel. “Our goal is to see every dollar we invest in these scholarships have a transformative impact in the lives of students who need that small amount of money to get across the finish line. It’s powerful seeing people change the trajectory of their lives. We count ourselves as truly blessed to see this all happen.”

Drew Charter School

Illuminating Futures, Igniting Success

Charles R. Drew Charter School serves nearly 1,900 students in Pre-K through 12th grade with an innovative Project-Based Learning approach centered around a STEAM curriculum.

Drew Senior, Junior, and Elementary Academies each rank in the Top 10 in all of Atlanta Public Schools (APS). Drew consistently ranks in the top 10% in APS and top 20% in the State of Georgia.

Drew has continued to focus on Social-Emotional/Counseling support for students, including implementing a mental health and wellness screener for Pre-K -12, providing students with individual counseling sessions, and following and supporting students with individualized year-to-year graduation plans.

In 2024, the East Lake Foundation established a partnership with Harlem Children’s Zone to implement Wealth Builds, a program model addressing generational wealth by promoting financial literacy and inclusion with seven other pillars that support wealth building. As part of the scholarship pillar of the model, two Drew students were selected as members of the inaugural cohort of the Wealth Builds national leadership program.

Drew Charter School, continued

Highlights

98% – Class of 2024 Graduation Rate
$14 million+ in scholarships earned.
97% of applicants were accepted into one or more colleges and universities.
Acceptances to over 140 colleges and universities.
73% of students participated in early college programming.
74 students were served in the Learning Lab, which provides study skills classes and academic support for students to ensure they graduate on time.
7 students graduated from the Atlanta College and Career Academy Scholars program, earning technical pathway certificates.
The East Lake Foundation awarded 36 scholarships including 10 Tom and Ann Cousins Scholarships, 8 Eva Davis Empowerment Scholarships, 3 HBCU Legacy Scholarships, 6 Alumni HBCU Legacy Scholarships, 2 Rob Johnston Community Service Scholarships, 3 Jackson Family HBCU Scholarships, 1 Danny Shoy Excellence in Leadership Scholarship, 1 Rc Pruitt Scholarship, and 2 Fischer Family Scholarships.

Visit Drew Charter School

East Lake Early Learning

Strengthening Early Learning for Lifelong Success

Recognizing the importance of building a strong foundation for learning early in a child’s life, the East Lake Foundation and Drew Charter School work closely with our early learning partners (Cox Pre-K, East Lake Early Learning Academy, and Sheltering Arms East Lake) to ensure a seamless transition as students matriculate through our cradle-to-college and career education continuum.

Highlights

Two Drew alumnae were hired to serve in the second Early Education Fellowship cohort at
Drew’s Cox Pre-K.
299 students served at Cox Pre-K, East Lake Early Learning Academy, and Sheltering Arms East Lake.
79 students attending East Lake Early Learning Academy or Sheltering Arms East Lake are scholarship recipients.

Learn More about Early Learning

Academic Recovery

Academic Recovery Efforts Help Students Soar

Drew Charter School provides academic recovery programming and support to students through a Summer Acceleration Academy, Saturday School, and targeted tutoring to mitigate the ongoing effects of the pandemic on students’ learning and social-emotional development.

Highlights

The Summer Acceleration Academy provided support for 119 rising 1st – 6th grade students in need of intensive academic support. As a result:

95% of 1st graders made at least 10 points of growth from their pre- to post-test in both Reading and Math.
100% of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders made at least 10 points of growth from their pre- to post-test in both Reading and Math.

The Eagles Connect tutoring program addresses learning loss and academic challenges by pairing students with trained tutors in small group settings for one hour a day, two days per week. During the 2023-2024 school year:

24 teachers worked with 149 students across all three academies in grades K-11.
The average student-to-teacher ratio was no more than 5:1 and sometimes as low as 3:1, allowing students to receive critical small group instruction to bridge their gaps.

The Trust at East Lake

Building a Legacy: Expanding Affordable Homeownership

In partnership with The Atlanta Land Trust (ALT), the East Lake Foundation celebrated the completion of Phase I of construction of The Trust at East Lake, the first eight of 40 new, permanently affordable townhomes in East Lake. Working closely with the Foundation’s Resident and Community Support Program at The Villages of East Lake, we collaborate to ensure current East Lake residents are equipped to become homeowners through this partnership.

We are pleased to share that a resident of The Villages of East Lake has become a first-time homeowner at The Trust at East Lake. Phase II construction is underway, with completion of all 40 homes anticipated in 2027.

Learn more about the Trust at East Lake

Resident and Community Support Program

Empowering Residents and Strengthening Community

The Resident and Community Support Program (RCSP) offers comprehensive resources and support to residents of The Villages of East Lake mixed-income housing community, with an emphasis on economic stability, career development and community engagement.

RCSP teams with several community partners to enhance employment readiness through financial education workshops, including financial education, entrepreneurship, homeowner education and career coaching. Residents also receive access to job resources, financial tools, small business startup assistance, and much more.

Highlights

1,586 residents participated in RCSP programming, 78% of whom identify as low-to moderate income.
Assisted 85 families at The Villages of East Lake with over $48,000 in rent and utility assistance.
41 economic stability, mental health, wellness, homeownership, and other community programs offered.
53 community members trained, upskilled and/or reskilled for job opportunities.
98% of individuals who attended financial classes and/or financial coaching opened and maintained a savings account.
Hosted annual egg hunt, back-to-school summer festival, Thanksgiving food distribution and holiday gift events.

Start:ME Program

Elevating Local Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Success

Start:ME East Lake is a 14-session program in partnership with The Roberto C. Goizueta Business & Society Institute at Emory University that offers the assistance promising micro-entrepreneurs need to develop viable and sustainable microbusinesses.

Since its inception, Start:ME East Lake has graduated ten cohorts with 159 total ventures.

Highlights

16 entrepreneurs completed the program.
81% of businesses are incorporated.
63% led by people of color.
81% led by women.
56% led by individuals from low-to-moderate income households.
Five participants are Villages of East Lake residents and six are Drew Charter School parents.

VISIT START:ME

East Lake 5K & Fun Run

5K Unites 400 Community Members

In August 2024, the East Lake Foundation hosted the Run for East Lake 5K & Fun Run.

Presented by the East Lake Family YMCA, the event brought together 400 community members to run through iconic East Lake destinations including The Villages of East Lake, East Lake Family YMCA, Charlie Yates Golf Course, and the back 9 holes of East Lake Golf Club.

Visit the Run for East Lake 5K page

East Lake Healthy Connections

Enabling Vital Healthcare Access in the Community

East Lake Healthy Connections (ELHC), a program in partnership with the East Lake Family YMCA, ensures all eligible East Lake families have access to health insurance, effectively utilize primary and preventive health care services, properly manage chronic diseases, and establish contact with accessible medical homes.

Highlights

365 adults and 72 children were connected to health insurance.
437 individuals were connected with health/dental homes.
200 food boxes were provided to residents in need.
458 individuals participated in mental health, chronic disease management, and other wellness programming.
14 seniors, on average, participated in the weekly Wellness Wednesday opportunities at the Villages of East Lake.

Visit East Lake Healthy Connections

First Tee — Metro Atlanta

Embracing Progress and Development with Every Swing

First Tee — Metro Atlanta is a year-round golf instruction and mentoring program that uses the principles of golf, including discipline, hard work, sportsmanship and integrity to enhance academic achievement and life skills for youth participants (ages 7-17) at several program locations across several program locations in Metro Atlanta, including the Charlie Yates Golf Course in East Lake.

Golf instruction not only provides access to the sport, but also can lead to college scholarships, business connections, and employment.

Highlights

First Tee — Metro Atlanta delivered programming to 13% more young people in 2024 than in 2023.
1,208 total participants served (253 participants served at Charlie Yates Golf Course).
First Tee — Metro Atlanta awarded $21,000 in scholastic aid to 5 Drew Charter School graduates.

Visit First Tee — Metro Atlanta For More Details

Drew Charter School

Drew Charter’s Golf Program Builds Skills, Confidence, and Champions

Golf instruction is an integral part of the Drew Charter School experience. Golf programming not only creates a strong continuum for competitive golf teams, but also instills confidence, builds character, and empowers resilience in participants. Both the Junior and Senior Academy offered golf programming to students four days a week as part of their enrichment in 2024. In spring 2024, 33 players participated in one of six competitive golf teams. Drew also hired an additional women’s golf coach to support the Girls’ Golf Team.

Highlights

Provide approximately 80 students with golf exposure each semester.
Both the Girls and Boys Senior Academy teams won the Metro Atlanta Kickoff Classic.
JaMya Duckworth joined the Class AA All State Golf Teams.
The Girls Junior Academy team was undefeated in the 2024 season.

The East Lake Foundation’s work would not be possible without the generous support of the individuals, businesses and partners that believe in our mission and understand the value of giving back to the community.

Our Donors

Today’s Investment into Tomorrow’s Promise

We are indebted to the donor support that has contributed mightily to our success.

Visionary $25,000+

Innovator $10,000 to $24,999

Leader $5,000 to $9,999

Builder $2,500 to $4,999

Collaborator $1,000 to $2,499

Partner $250 to $999

Advisory Board

Robert L. Johnston

President and Founder, First Communities

Advisory Board

Ray M. Robinson

President Emeritus, East Lake Golf Club; Citizens Trust Bank

Our Partners

The programs and services provided by the East Lake Foundation would not be possible without the support of these committed partners who share our vision.

TOUR Championship

Since 1998, the TOUR Championship has raised more than $40 million for the East Lake Foundation, Focused Community Strategies, Grove Park Foundation and First Tee of Metro Atlanta.

Income and Expense for 2024 — Your dollars at work!

*These unaudited numbers reflect the revenue and expenses of the East Lake Foundation and its charitable contributions to its partners in the East Lake Initiative.

REVENUE
$5,207,677*

EXPENSES
$4,505,947*

Impacting Lives in Our Community

Over the last two decades, the Foundation has proven that working with residents and public and private partners while providing the right combination of comprehensive programs and services is transformative for the community. Learn more on our website or see us in action below.