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Partner Spotlight: RAD

In 2015, Michael Rickman started Rickman Architecture and Design. Rickman wanted RAD to have a bigger focus on social impact work compared to what he had seen during his time working with other architecture firms in the past.  While RAD does work on for-profit projects as well as limited-profit and pro-bono projects, a lot of their projects tie back to that social impact vision.  “We've had enough work where a good portion of our work is really tied to social impact work,” Rickman said. “There is some just for profit stuff that we still use to take a lot of profits from and reinvest it in the projects that we can donate to.” Rickman connected with Third Lens through Plywood People. RAD tries to work with Third Lens on at least one project a year. RAD has contributed to the Hope Smiles dental clinic project, the Jonestown, Mississippi, community project and the Friends of Refugees project in Clarkston, Georgia. Currently, RAD is helping with the planning stages … [Read more...] about Partner Spotlight: RAD

Project Spotlight: P.E.S.T. Relief International

In 2015, Andrea Hancock officially founded P.E.S.T Relief International, a non-profit with a focus on bringing Pest Management professionals together to provide comfort and relief to orphaned, abused and at-risk youth through safe shelter, nutrition, education, physical and emotional health and spiritual enrichment.  The seeds for the organization were planted when Hancock learned that so many people in the world live in homes that have bed bugs, because they cannot afford to get rid of them. Back in 2004, Hancock had started Mattress Safe, Inc., a company that manufactures mattress covers.  After learning about the people all over the world suffering from bed bug infestations, she began donating mattress covers to various shelters in the United States. In 2012, she went on a mission trip to Honduras, and she brought mattress covers with her to give to three orphanages.  “I started taking mattress protectors to orphanages down in Honduras, and I caught a … [Read more...] about Project Spotlight: P.E.S.T. Relief International

Board of Directors spotlight: Mark LeCraw

In 2017, Mark LeCraw began working with Third Lens Ministries. He is the president and co-founder of LeCraw Engineering, a Georgia-based consulting and engineering firm. Through his years of experience as a professional engineer, LeCraw has been able to help Third Lens with several projects.  His role involves planning the site for the buildings. “So the process for us is once the project is funded once, the architectural programming has been completed we're provided with a survey and a building footprint and a general idea of what what the needs and expectations are and, and we we put together a site plan,” LeCraw explained. “Sometimes it requires multiple iterations to get to the ultimate plan. But once the site plan is blessed by everybody involved we start to move into our construction design phase, producing a full set of construction documents.” So far LeCraw’s firms has helped with projects for myLifespeaks in Haiti, True Deliverance Holiness Church in Auburn, Alabama, … [Read more...] about Board of Directors spotlight: Mark LeCraw

Project Focus: Jolly Avenue Development Center

In Clarkston, Georgia, a small town proves that one area can be home to a variety of people from all over the world. In the 1990s, refugees from over 150 different ethnic groups moved to the small town located just outside of Atlanta. Around 60,000 refugees have called Clarkston home during their journeys to begin life in America. Friends of Refugees was started in 1995 by Pat Maddox, a resident of Clarkston who now serves as a volunteer and Board advisor. Friends of Refugees became a non-profit organization in 2005. The current executive director is Brian Bollinger. Bollinger first served as a volunteer with Friends of Refugees 14 years ago while he was on spring break in college. He stayed with a newly resettled family, and during that time, learned a lot about the process of refugee resettlement.  Friends of Refugees has several projects including a career hub, a community garden, a family literacy program, youth programs, and a program to help expectant and new … [Read more...] about Project Focus: Jolly Avenue Development Center