The Civic League for Regional Atlanta

Each year when The Civic League issues a call for nominations for its Regional Excellence Awards, the awards committee is overwhelmed by the responses, which honor so many organizations and individuals with an extraordinary commitment to creating a better Atlanta region. This month, we’re pleased to feature three organizations improving the lives of the region's children and youth. 

INSPIRE (Intramural Sports that Provide Inclusion, Respect and Education) - an athletic program for special needs children founded in 2006 by the parent of a special needs child and two Gwinnett County educators. In addition to its soccer, baseball, flag football and cheerleading programs, INSPIRE partnered with Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation in 2008 to build a special needs ball field at Peachtree Ridge Park in Suwanee.

Moving in the Spirit - Founded in 1986, this organization uses the medium of dance to help at-risk Atlanta youth between the ages of 3 and 18 grow into mature, responsible, compassionate leaders.  The first dance class was for a small group of girls at the Stewart Avenue Shelter; Moving in the Spirit now reaches more than 200 students each week.

Smart Start - Smart Start is the early childhood division of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, charged with creating and implementing innovative programs and outreach initiatives to improve the quality of early care and education for all children from birth through age five in the Atlanta region. Smart Start programs increase school readiness with the aim of having every child ready to succeed in school by the time they enter kindergarten.