A former Atlanta mayor, a man known as the “godfather” of America’s food bank movement, and a doctor specializing in brain health were honored last week at the “Heroes, Saints & Legends” dinner at the St. Regis Atlanta.
The annual event benefits Wesley Woods Senior Living and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease care and research at Emory University.
Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin credited former Atlanta Mayors Maynard Jackson and Andrew Young with tutoring her in public policy and teaching her that public officials must stay humble and realize their contributions "were really not about the here and now but about the future, 50 years from now. That is the kind of work that takes place at Wesley Woods."
Honoree Bill Bolling, founder and executive director of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, was quick to acknowledge the work of others. "Shirley spent her political capital working for the homeless and we are still partnering on that," he said. "I'll always thank you for that."
He acknowledged board members, staff and volunteers at the food bank, which he has run since 1979. “The leader is defined by who they surround themselves with. I have not done a single thing in my life alone.”
Dr. Monica Parker received the "Key to a Cure" award for research on Alzheimer's disease and for helping to establish the Registry for Remembrance, a community partnership that informs African-Americans about cognitive disorders and involves them in clinical research to prevent, slow or stop Alzheimer's disease. Parker is a geriatric primary care physician who serves on several health-related community boards.
— Angela Tuck
New movie brings Hamm, Galifianakis to town
Jon Hamm and Zach Galifianakis are in Atlanta filming a new movie, "Keeping Up With the Joneses," a buddy comedy about suburbanites who turn out to be undercover agents. The movie has been filming in Buckhead this week.
The guys were spotted having dinner at Bone Lick BBQ the other night and Hamm ran by Corso in Buckhead Atlanta Monday morning for some coffee. Eco-friendly guy that he is, he brought his own thermos and got his java to go.
— Jennifer Brett
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