Wachovia Foundation Announces $1 Million Each for Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, Center for Civil and Hu...( ATLANTA Jan. 17 /- Fundraising fo...),Health

ATLANTA, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Fundraising for two of Atlanta's most high-profile community initiatives received a big boost Thursday.

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Wachovia's Atlanta President, Kendall Alley, announced $1 million each in funding to the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership and the Center for Civil and Human Rights (CCHR) Partnership from The Wachovia Foundation. The gifts will go toward each initiative's capital campaign.

The $1 million gifts represent the largest individual Wachovia Foundation gifts made to Georgia-based initiatives in 2007.

"The City of Atlanta was built on collaboration and partnership between our political leadership and our corporate and civic community. Today, The Wachovia Foundation is continuing this history of Atlanta corporate citizenship," Mayor Franklin said. "The gift to the BeltLine provides continued momentum to the progress we're making with this unique sustainable project, and the CCHR gift is a fantastic kick-start to the $125 million we need to finance the construction of center."

"The Wachovia Foundation is pleased to contribute leadership funding for these generational projects that are so important to Atlanta's future," Alley said. "The BeltLine and CCHR will provide long-term community development, economic development and educational benefits for families, visitors and businesses. Today's announcement is the result of our work over the past couple of months to look closely at how our local Foundation dollars can have sustained impact."

Each initiative aligns with The Wachovia Foundation's core funding priorities. The BeltLine includes a significant emphasis on community development and workforce/affordable housing initiatives. The Center for Civil and Human Rights will be a landmark educational and cultural center, as well as catalyst for economic development.

"We are grateful for Wachovia's recognition of the BeltLine's extraordinary potential to posi
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