Atlanta households have been served vacation cheer as philanthropist Nehemiah Davis and the Nehemiah Davis Foundation hosted the seventeenth Annual “Gifts From Heaven” Christmas Giveaway.
Source: Joi Stephens / @VeryJoi
From the second company entered the constructing of Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School, the tone of the occasion was unmistakable.
Source: Joi Stephens / @VeryJoi
BOSSIP was readily available as attendees have been greeted by big pink and gold balloon towers and on-site safety, setting the stage for a well-organized celebration that stretched throughout each the gymnasium and parking storage.
Inside, households navigated buffet stations, toy and bike giveaways, bouncy homes, face portray and styling stations, practice rides, and a automobile present, whereas youngsters moved freely between actions with smiles that mirrored the enjoyment filling the area. Live character appearances from the Ninja Turtles, Stitch, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Elsa, and extra added to the immersive vacation expertise.
“Just seeing all the grins and understanding that we’re making a distinction in folks’s lives,” Davis instructed BOSSIP a few standout second from the day. “It feels so good to me understanding that, and I need to preserve making issues like this occur for our group.”
Source: Joi Stephens / @VeryJoi
Seventeen Years Of Service Rooted In Faith And Consistency
Now in its seventeenth yr, “Gifts From Heaven” has grown from a modest act of service right into a large-scale vacation custom pushed by religion, private sacrifice, and consistency.
“I really feel like God needs us to do it, and it don’t take lots to do it,” Davis mentioned. “Just sit down, attain out to my assets, spend some cash and make it occur. I care extra about ensuring different persons are good than myself.”
While the occasion continues to increase in scale, Davis mentioned his imaginative and prescient stays centered on progress.
“We simply need to preserve doing it greater,” he mentioned. “Bigger buildings, greater assets. I couldn’t discover a greater gymnasium. You see seven to 10 moon bounces. I needed 30. So that’s subsequent yr.”
Co-Founder Myra Grant Reflects On Faith And The Foundation’s Roots
Myra Grant, co-founder of the Nehemiah Davis Foundation and Davis’ mom, took within the packed venue stuffed with households, actions, and vacation vitality with gratitude.
“My God is so good and so mighty,” Grant mentioned. “This is like an overflow of every thing in right here, and I’m simply standing in awe of God.”
Grant shared that this yr marked a milestone for the inspiration, because it was the primary time the giveaway was supported by vital donations. In earlier years, she mentioned, Davis personally funded the occasion.
“Out of all these years, it was by no means a problem,” Grant mentioned. “God has all the time been with us to ensure once we do that, He blesses it and builds it as much as make or not it’s excellent.”
Source: Joi Stephens / @VeryJoi
Grant additionally mirrored on how Gifts From Heaven started practically twenty years in the past, when Davis was simply 18 years previous.
“I mentioned, ‘Son, your more money, you need to give it to me, and we’re going to assist the much less lucky,’” she recalled. “We began with a turkey, ham, bread, cheese, mayonnaise. We made sandwiches and took them downtown. They have been gone in two minutes.”
That easy act sparked a lifelong dedication to service.
“For 18 years, 17 years, we’ve been giving again to the group nonstop,” Grant mentioned. “We like to do it. It’s our ardour.”
Sponsors And Community Partners Pour Back Into The Mission
Among the sponsors supporting the occasion have been Coach Okay and Jaquinta Prim, a grant strategist and entrepreneur who credit Nehemiah Davis as a mentor.
Source: Joi Stephens / @VeryJoi
“Giving again is one thing Nehemiah all the time encourages us to do,” Prim mentioned. “He pushes us to be in rooms the place we’re pouring into the group.”
Prim defined that partnering with established group initiatives just like the Nehemiah Davis Foundation additionally helps entrepreneurs place themselves to safe funding that enables them to provide again extra sustainably.
“When we apply for grants, we are able to say we partnered with the Nehemiah Davis Foundation,” she mentioned. “It positions us to get entry to extra funding so we are able to proceed to provide again.”
“One Person At A Time“
As households exited with toys, bikes, and full plates, the core message of the day remained clear.
“One individual at a time,” Davis mentioned when requested how others can begin related initiatives. “That’s the best way. I didn’t begin right here. People see what you’re doing, after which they need to assist.”
