Ann Schmitz is a mother of three battling acute lymphocytic leukemia, and this weekend the Vinings community is getting together to hand out support to Ann and her family. The event will aim at providing financial and emotional support, and will also help to further education about the disease. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is a type of blood cancer, and experts estimate that 5,430 people will be diagnosed this year alone. Love Street, a local Vinings gift shop, will donate 25% of their “Life is Good” merchandise profits from this weekend. In addition, the local Step It Up Fitness will also donate 25% of the profits they receive from their July 21- August 15 boot camp class. It is fundraising events like these that get the entire community involved and really make Vinings a special place. The people and business owners in this community make it a point to get involved and educate themselves about issues that affect everyday people and everyday families. So come out this weekend from Friday, July 18 at 10:00 am until Sunday, July 20 at 5:00 pm and support Ann and her family through the Ann Schmitz Fund while enjoying all that the Vinings area has to offer.

Most people don’t go throughout their day thinking about the overburdened social welfare system and the tons of kids that slip through the cracks and face very dangerous situations at home. But the Finance & Technology Director for Kairos, Amy Johnson, decided to be a friend and advocate for these children by volunteering as a CASA in Rockdale County. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate, and describes an ordinary citizen who is trained and then appointed by a judge to be the voice of one of these children. Amy Johnson and others like her typically only take on one case at a time, and commit to finding their child a safe and permanent home. Everyone from Karios would like to congratulate Amy, and thank her for doing something great for the children in Rockdale. If you would like to follow in Amy’s footsteps and become an advocate for a child in your community, check out the CASA national website.

Amy Johnson, who is the finance and technology director for Kairos Development Corporation, recently graduated from the Leadership Rockdale program. In the photo is Amy Johnson with Georgia’s Attorney General, who spoke at the ceremony, and the Leadership Rockdale class facilitators. The fact that Amy took the time to attend all of the courses and meet all of the requirements to graduate shows the devotion and dedication Kairos employees have to their surrounding communities. Amy is now thoroughly involved in Rockdale and will contribute the knowledge gained to the bright future that she hopes the area will soon achieve. Leadership Rockdale is a series of six full-day sessions and one retreat. The idea behind this program is to increase knowledge and awareness of the community and its leaders. Many topics are discussed throughout the duration of the program, like the justice system, government, education, community wellness and industry. Once again congratulations to Amy and we are thrilled to see Kairos so involved!

It’s nice to know that a large development corporation like Kairos spends time trying to better the economy and the environment. Last week they sent out their property manager, Velda Simpson, to Washington D.C. to battle our nation’s lawmakers and try to convince them on ways to better the real estate industry. I sure hope they listened to her because she did make some excellent points.

Simpson spent much of her time trying to get lawmakers to pass legislation promoting green building. Ideally, these laws will increase the number of green projects, both residential and commercial, by increasing tax incentives for energy efficient developments. Of course adding market-based incentives will also contribute an increasing number of energy efficient developments. If the builders can weigh the benefits and the costs, and realize it is to their great advantage to renovate and build energy efficient developments, (more…)