Wesley Woods Announces 2026 Honorees for Heroes, Saints & Legends Awards

The Foundation of Wesley Woods has announced the honorees for its 2026 Heroes, Saints & Legends Awards, which will be presented at the 37th annual Gala on September 17, 2026, at Flourish in Buckhead. Since its inception in 1990, the esteemed honor and event celebrate individuals in business and philanthropy who have enriched Atlanta's community through a lifetime of leadership, service and philanthropy.

The distinguished honorees for 2026 are:

Kathy N. Waller, Executive Director for the Atlanta Committee for Progress, retired Chief Financial Officer of The Coca-Cola Company, and President, Enabling Services. Waller is the founding chair of The Coca-Cola Company’s Women’s Leadership Council and is a board member of the United Way of Greater Atlanta, The Woodruff Arts Center, Achieve Atlanta, CGI Group, Delta Airlines, among many others.

John W. Stephenson, retired Executive Director of the J. Bulow Campbell Foundation and current Executive Director/Consultant for the Georgia Health Foundation. Stephenson has devoted his career to education and philanthropy, from administrative roles as Vice President of Development at Emory University to trustee and chair positions at notable foundations, including the Courts, Fraser-Parker, and Teague Family Foundations. His many civic engagements include Mission 1:27 and the Atlanta Youth Academy.

Gala proceeds provide essential funding for charitable financial assistance, compassionate pastoral care, and wellness nurses and programming to more than 1,800 older adults residing in Wesley Woods residential communities across North Georgia. To date, the event has honored 119 exemplary leaders and raised over $9.1 million for the Foundation of Wesley Woods.

Diane Vaughan, president of the Foundation for Wesley Woods, praised the honorees for their visionary leadership and enduring commitment to Atlanta. "Kathy Waller and John Stephenson exemplify what it means to serve with both vision and compassion. While their paths have been unique—Kathy leading in economic growth, inclusion and financial stewardship, John shaping philanthropy and education—their collective impact and dedication to uplift our Atlanta community and citizens is extraordinary,” said Vaughan.

Corporate sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 Gala are open now, with individual tickets available beginning in July. "Support from corporate partners is vital to the success of Heroes, Saints & Legends and to the well-being of the older adults we serve," said Vaughan.

Heroes, Saints & Legends will be held Thursday, September 17, at Flourish by Legendary Events, 3143 Maple Drive, Atlanta. For details on sponsorships, honorees, and the Gala, visit www.wesleywoods.org/heroes.

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About Wesley Woods Senior Living:

Imagined in 1954 by innovative leaders of the United Methodist Church and the greater Atlanta community, Wesley Woodsis a mission-driven non-profit creating communities of connection, well-being, and promise for older adults. With 10 senior living communities throughout North Georgia, we offer a range of care, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.

The Foundation of Wesley Woods serves as the connection between the generosity of community supporters and the practical, life-changing work of Wesley Woods. Donor support helps us achieve our mission by providing robust wellness programming, a compassionate pastoral care program, and charitable financial assistance for housing and meals, all of which enable residents to live independently longer, delaying or eliminating the need for them to move to higher, more restrictive, and more expensive levels of care.