disABILITY LINK Awarded Coca-Cola Foundation Grant

disABILITY LINK has been selected as a recipient of funds made possible by the Coca-Cola Foundation, the company’s primary international philanthropic arm.

“This grant provides support to continue our mission of promoting choice and full participation in community life,” said disABILITY LINK executive director Kim Gibson. “Funding from the Coca-Cola Foundation allows our organization to focus on a younger, under-served population to provide skills needed in gaining meaningful careers and not just a job.”

In 1984, then Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company Roberto Goizueta established The Coca-Cola Foundation. Once a local philanthropic presence, over the past three decades, the foundation has expanded its philanthropy globally and is committed to giving back one percent of its previous year’s operating income annually through foundation and company donations.

disABILITY LINK is a 501(c) 3 center for independent living (CIL) led by and for people with disabilities. The non-residential center for rights and resources serves 12 metro-Atlanta counties’ residents with independent living skills training, advocacy, peer counseling and transitional services.

In 2017, The Coca-Cola Company and the Coca-Cola Foundation gave back more than $138 million to directly benefit nearly 300 organizations across more than 70 countries and territories and more than one billion dollars since inception.

“The ultimate goal (of the grant funds),” said Gibson, “is to provide support to young adults with disabilities to develop a career path which will provide sustainable employment and financial independence for their future. It is truly exciting to have been selected to do this project meant to increase the independence of young adults,” she said.

In fiscal year 2018, disABILITY LINK provided informational and referral services to over 3,874 individuals and provided 10,852 individual services to people with disabilities.

disABILITY LINK 2018 Program Highlights

• relocating 14 individuals from institutions to the community of their choice
• hosting the first Empowering our Youth Locating Employment Avenues through Peer Support (EOY LEAPS) summer program with six students with disabilities graduating
• assisting voter registration for over 100 individuals with disabilities
• provided vocational and employment services to over 1,068 individuals with disabilities seeking career options and employment