Doing Good: Two Cobb companies provided ‘holiday magic’ for area youth
To volunteer with Center for Children and Young Adults, go to www.ccyakids.org
For more on the Freedom Powersports and Coregistics carnival for CCYA, go to www.coregistics.com/holiday-carnival-2013
The employees of Kennesaw-based Freedom Powersports, a multi- location motorcycle, ATV and watercraft dealer, and Acworth- based supply chain and logistics company Coregistics developed a unique way to create some holiday magic for a group of underprivileged, and often over- looked, metro-Atlanta youth.
The companies threw open their doors on Dec. 23 and went over the top to spread some holiday spirit to the youth of the Center for Children and Young Adults. The Marietta-based shelter and youth development program for teens never saw a carnival like this one before.
Freedom Powersports employees offered the kids thrilling rides in brand new ATVs around Freedom’s three acre, half-mile ATV test track and obstacle course. GameTruck, a mobile video game theater and laser tag experience, was onsite to give the kids access to virtually all the gaming systems on the market.
“The carnival came at the right time,” said Kim Borna, CEO of CCYA. “Around the holidays, our kids are reminded that they don’t have family and that really brings them down. They left with such a great feeling giving them positive memories of the holidays as well.”
CCYA youth, ages 11- 17, face tough circumstances. The center serves homeless youth and young adults who have been abused, abandoned, neglected, or are at risk and offers development to ensure they have successful lives.
Additionally, throughout the day, the staff took the merriment further by also taking the opportunity to speak with, mentor and encourage the youth at the event. To the kids, the people they met were fascinating and the youth walked away inspired to work hard and do amazing things in their future, added Borna.
The carnival provided holiday fun, but Borna added that the community can be involved year-round. Hosting a collection drive for basic essentials, volunteering on the campus, serving meals or even making homemade birthday cards with positive messages can make all the difference for the kids.
Eric Wilhelm, owner of Freedom Sports and Coregistics, couldn’t imagine a better way to give back to the community. “This is just a continuation of making an impact in our community,” he said. “You get to benefit a kid’s life and let them have some fun while leaving with some positivity and good energy. I consider myself to be very lucky. It would be awfully selfish when you have all of this luck and don’t try to make it better luck for someone else.”
In other news: McDonald’s and Six Flags Over Georgia raised $14,863 for Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities. The money raised will allow nearly 30 families with ill or injured children to stay at one of the Houses for an average of eight nights while their child receives medical care in Atlanta.
