Atlanta area Refugee aid groups merging, announcing new name

Two Atlanta area nonprofits that have a history of working together to help refugees are merging and plan to announce their new name and logo at an Aug. 1 fundraising event.

Refugee Family Services and Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services of Atlanta recently combined their operations at RRISA’s offices on Henderson Mill Road NE in Atlanta. Officials plan to sign legal documents in October to finalize the merger.

Emily Pelton and Paedia Mixon, the executive directors of RFS and RRISA, released a statement about their merger.

“Our shared vision is to build an organization that provides the highest quality services to our clients,” they said. “We believe that as one organization we can provide an unequaled continuum of support and service that extends from refugees’ first arrival in the country, through their education, training, and community integration, and culminates in their becoming American citizens, strong families, and community contributors who give back to others.”

The combined group is holding its second annual "Red, White and New" fundraiser on Aug. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Mason Murer Fine Art, 199 Armour Drive in Atlanta. Find information about tickets and sponsorships for the event here.