Atlanta Heroes to be Honored

April 18, 2008

ATLANTA (April 18, 2008) –Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA) will honor three community leaders and one corporation at its largest fundraising event Hometown Heroes Tribute on April 23 at the Georgia Aquarium from 7 -9 p.m.

Malon D. Mimms, Kathleen Pattillo, CheckFree Corporation and Desmond Brown are celebrated as this year’s Hometown Heroes because of their commitment to improving the quality of life in Atlanta and the life-changing work they do for kids and teens in Atlanta’s communities.

• Malon D. Mimms –Malon Mimms followed in his father’s entrepreneurial footstep and joined the family business developing warehouses with his dad. When Thomas Mimms retired in 1962, Mimms continued the family business. To date, the Malon D. Mimms Company has one of the largest privately owned commercial real estate portfolios in Atlanta. Malon Mimms strongly believes in giving back to his community. Supporting the needs of “at-risk” youth is a cause close to his heart, and he has demonstrated a keen sense of compassion through his support of local Boys & Girls Clubs. Most recently, he was honored in Cherokee County by having a newly built club named appropriately after him, the Malon D. Mimms Boys & Girls Club.
• Kathleen “Katy” B. Pattillo – For the past two decades, Pattillo has been an active education advocate and community volunteer. She devotes much of her time to the Atlanta Public School System, addressing issues that affect student achievement. She is currently serving her second term on the Atlanta Board of Education and recently completed a two-year term as Chair. She is a former board chair and current Trustee of BGCMA. As a friend of the Boys & Girls Clubs movement for many years, Katy Pattillo is a recipient of the Conant Award from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta and was presented The Silver Medallion Award by Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
• CheckFree Corporation – Pete Kight, founder. In 1981, Pete Kight founded CheckFree, an electronic funds transfer service that would revolutionize how consumers pay their monthly bills. Under Pete’s exceptional leadership, the company grew to encompass electronic banking, investment services, and much more. Pete and his wife, Terri, are staunch supporters of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, and their generosity has been instrumental in the success of programs such as Youth of the Year, College Bound and Girl Power Summit. Pete has even welcomed Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta to hold its annual staff retreat at the CheckFree lodge in Norcross.
• Desmond Brown – As the Executive Director of a local A. Worley Brown Boys & Girls Club in Norcross, Atlanta native and former Whitehead Boys Club member Desmond Brown draws upon his own childhood experiences when relating to his club members. Desmond’s dedication and commitment shines through daily as he mentors, encourages and serves as a positive role model for the more than 300 boys and girls entrusted to his care. Desmond also serves as the Chair for the Leadership Association for all the Executive Directors across Metro Atlanta.

“Our Hometown Heroes are visionaries who represent excellence and integrity by positively impacting and strengthening the lives of young people,” said Jerry Tipton, president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. “Simply put, they embody the spirit of Atlanta. Malon, Katy and Checkfree are committed partners and friends, and we are proud to honor them. Desmond is part of our organization, and he changes lives everyday. They are all heroes in our eyes and the eyes of our children.”

All proceeds from the event benefit programs and services of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. To purchase tickets to the Hometown Heroes Tribute or to make a tribute gift in honor of one of the heroes, visit www.bgcma.org or call (404) 527-7079.

The Hometown Heroes Tribute’s co-chairs, Doug and Patty Reid, and emcees Lisa Rayam and Ken Rodriguez of WAGA-TV FOX 5, will join the celebration. The evening’s sponsors include: presenting sponsor Bank of North Georgia; platinum sponsors Goldman Sachs, The Coca-Cola Company, Comcast and a friend of Malon Mimms; and media sponsors Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WAGA-TV FOX 5, and Atlanta Daybook.

ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF METRO ATLANTA