Atlanta-Based Nonprofit The Same House Announces 2025 "Beloved Beneficiaries"
Morehouse School of Medicine was one of the seven organizations that will receive funding from The Same House at next year's Beloved Benefit.
By Crystal Edmonson, Atlanta Business Chronicle
The annual Beloved Benefit is still months away, but the organization that puts on the yearly fundraiser has announced the 2025 cohort of nonprofits that will receive grants.
During its 2024 Impact Event on November 15, The Same House announced seven organizations will receive funding as part of next year’s Beloved Benefit.
The "Beloved Beneficiaries" are Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), Atlanta Technical College, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, City of Refuge, Latin American Association, New Life Community Alliance and Westside Future Fund.
“The Same House concept for Morehouse School of Medicine aligns with our vision and mission [leading the creation and advancement of health equity to achieve health justice]," MSM President and CEO Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice told the audience of about 200 people who gathered at the Delta Sky360 Club at Mercedes Benz Stadium.
Dr. Montgomery Rice said MSM will use the grant funding to expand the youth mental health services it offers at Morehouse Healthcare, the institution's clinical care branch. Last year was the first year the Beloved Benefit added mental health as one of its focus areas.
The Beloved Benefit is an annual party with a purpose that brings together business leaders, community champions and local residents to shine a light on and raise money for some of the region’s toughest challenges, including affordable housing, health disparities and economic mobility.
“Come together to do good together,” said Rodney Bullard, CEO of The Same House. The organization’s name was inspired by a speech given by the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis during the Beloved Benefit event in 2019.
“We’re one people. We’re one family. We all live in the same house,” Lewis said in his speech.
“Tonight is not about us. Tonight we’re asking ourselves to continue the work of the Beloved Benefit,” Bullard said, essentially kicking off the campaign.
The amount of the grants is not yet known. Between now and the Beloved Benefit event, The Same House will raise funds to support the nonprofits.
During last year’s Beloved Benefit, it raised $8.8 million for eight beneficiaries.
The Beloved Benefit has been supported in the past by a long list of corporate and philanthropic organizations, including The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Chick-fil-A, The Home Depot, UPS, Delta Air Lines, Georgia Power, Choate Construction and WestRock.
The 2025 Beloved Benefit will take place August 14 at the Woodruff Arts Center. The entertainment has not been finalized, but Bullard said it will be a “collection of Atlanta’s finest.” Previous headliners included Grammy-award winners Usher, Maroon 5 and John Legend.
The audience at the November 15 event not only heard of The Same House's plans for next year, but also learned about the organization's 2024 accomplishments. This year, The Same House launched a program called Tables Across America to expand the Beloved Benefit concept beyond Atlanta. It has participants addressing community improvement in Salt Lake City; Orange City, Iowa; and Rome. Next year it will add Tampa, Florida, and Indianapolis.
It also partnered with University of Georgia and Chick-fil-A on a leadership development program called Youth LEAD Georgia.