North Fulton Community Charities Recognizes Partners Of The Year

ROSWELL, GA — North Fulton Community Charities recognized their Partners of the Year at the Annual Community Breakfast presented by WellStar North Fulton Hospital on Nov. 14 at Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church. Each year, North Fulton Community Charities recognizes a business partner, civic partner, faith partner and volunteer of the year at the annual breakfast that bring community partners together for an update on the programs and individual stories that make up the year.

This year the Business Partner of the Year was awarded to DataScan, a technology company based in downtown Alpharetta that has been volunteering and partnering with North Fulton Community Charities for over 10 years. Matt Powell, DataScan’s CFO, serves on the North Fulton Community Charities Board of Directors. DataScan’s parent company, JM Family Enterprises donated $50,000 to North Fulton Community Charities last year in recognition of the good work DataScan has done with the charity in the community.

The Civic Partner of the Year was awarded to the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. North Fulton Community Charities has worked with the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce from the beginning. North Fulton Community Charities participates in and is a beneficiary of their Leadership North Fulton program and enjoys the many opportunities to connect the charity to other partners.

The Faith Partner of the Year was awarded to Cross of Life Lutheran Church. Cross of Life Lutheran Church has been a supporter and donor since the 1980s. The church volunteer “Geaners” pick up and deliver recovered food from area grocers for the North Fulton Community Charities Food Pantry. The church has been one of the primary partners of the North Fulton Warming Center.

The Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Mark Owens. Owens retired from Norfolk Southern company in 2017 after a 40-year career. He quickly found himself looking for his next project. He started as a Food Recovery Volunteer in the North Fulton Community Charities Food Pantry with his wife one day a week and now spends up to four days a week volunteering at North Fulton Community Charities. Owens also serves on the North Fulton Community Charities Advisory Board.

North Fulton Community Charities Executive Director Barbara Duffy was surprised at the end of the breakfast when she was presented with a proclamation from Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger honoring her as an Outstanding Georgia Citizen. Roger Wise presented the proclamation to Duffy.