Once enmeshed in poverty and virtually devoid of hope, our revitalized community now includes The Villages of East Lake, affordable and market-rate apartments; Charles R. Drew Charter School, Atlanta’s first public charter school, for children age 3 through grade 8; the Charlie Yates Golf Course, a public, 18-hole golf course that is home to The First Tee® of East Lake, a year-round golf instruction and life skills program for area children; Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Center; and the East Lake Family YMCA.

The East Lake Foundation’s holistic approach to community revitalization is key to its success. The Foundation helps families build brighter futures by sponsoring cradle-to-college academic, enrichment, recreational, mentoring and scholarship programs for children; and counseling, support groups and training for adults. This approach to building a strong community not only helps break the cycle of poverty, but creates a place where people of all ages and incomes now choose to live.

Violent crime is down 95%, while test scores and property values have soared. The East Lake model breaks the cycle of poverty, builds long-term prosperity and is a proven economic success.

Click here to learn more about the economic impact of the East Lake transformation.