Event Co-chairs - Angel & Aaron Goldman

Gateway Center is incredibly grateful to Angel and Aaron Goldman for serving as Event Chairs for our 12th Annual Human Clay - Strengthening Our Future Together - fundraiser.

Aaron and Angel Goldman are deeply committed to tackling homelessness issues in Atlanta. Their passion for homelessness initiatives, social justice, and community welfare drives their work with organizations such as Open Doors, Partners for H.O.M.E, Cool Girls, Hope Atlanta, Mary Hall Freedom Village, the Atlanta Affordable Housing Fund, and Gateway Center.

Aaron is the President and co-owner of Perennial Properties, Inc., a development, investment, and management firm focused on multifamily rental housing accompanied by retail establishments. He is a founding board member and current board chair of Open Doors. Through networking available apartments to non-profits serving homeless populations, over 700 properties comprising more than 140,000 units are now participating in the collaboration. Open Doors has now housed over 11,000 individuals experiencing homelessness.

Angel is equally committed to addressing and supporting community collaboration. She is a member of the Atlanta Leadership Cabinet of Birthright Israel Foundation and advocates for causes like Moms Demand Action and Fair Fight. Angel has also been committed to their three children's schools - Cliff Valley School, The Paideia School, and Midtown High School, as well as their athletic clubs. Her involvement spans sitting on school/foundation boards, serving as president of the PTA, participating on executive boards/managing sports teams, plus varied involvement in event organization and support for diverse programs designed to enrich the school communities and enhance the educational experience for students.

Together, Angel and Aaron prioritize connectedness and service while raising their family in the heart of Atlanta. Their home is a hub of compassion and activism, where their children learn firsthand the value of giving back and making a difference in their community and world. Angel and Aaron are passionate about the human right to housing and are honored to support Gateway Center in its mission to make homelessness brief, rare, and non-recurring.

Franklin-Hardin Award Recipient - Robin & Marc Pollack

Each year we honor an individual or couple who have distinguished themselves through their meaningful contributions to the community, which have made a direct impact through the promotion of equality and compassion for all. In addition, their advocacy has inspired others to fight for our most vulnerable communities, including the homeless community.  These honorees have exhibited courage, leadership, and a personal commitment to promoting equality, compassion, and the belief that housing is a fundamental right.

The Franklin-Hardin award allows Gateway Center to honor our history and the transformational leadership of two people who inspired the founding of Gateway Center. These individuals include former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and our Board Chairman Jack Hardin. Gateway Center chose this name for our annual award to celebrate the legacy of Mayor Franklin and Mr. Hardin by recognizing individuals and organizations who have distinguished themselves through their service to the community, promotion of equality, corporate citizenship, and generosity. This year we will honor and celebrate a couple who have Strengthened the Future of our community through their advocacy of a strategic plan to end homelessness in Atlanta.

We will be honoring Robin and Marc Pollack with the Franklin-Hardin award for their commitment to Strengthening Our Future Together as a community. Marc and Robin Pollack are distinguished individuals known for their significant contributions to the Atlanta community, particularly in the areas of affordable housing and the arts.

Marc Pollack serves on Gateway Center's Advisory Council and is the Chairman of the Board for Partners for Home, the organization that coordinates the Atlanta Continuum of Care for Homelessness. In 2020, Marc co-founded The Atlanta Affordable Housing Fund, a social impact initiative aimed at creating and preserving affordable housing in the city. His leadership and advocacy have been instrumental in the strategic efforts to end homelessness in Atlanta, making a tangible impact on the community.

Robin Pollack is a celebrated master artist specializing in creating art from natural materials, particularly stoneware and raku ceramics. Robin's creations reflect her dedication to both art and nature. She has been an active participant in the Atlanta art and horticultural communities for decades, teaching at the Chastain Arts Center and volunteering with organizations like the Fulton County Master Gardener program, the Sandy Springs Garden Club and Society, and the Georgia Perennial Plant Association.

Together, Marc and Robin Pollack embody the spirit of the Franklin-Hardin Award through their dedication to service, promotion of equality, and their contributions to the cultural and social fabric of Atlanta. Their ongoing efforts continue to inspire and challenge the community to work towards a more inclusive and supportive future for all. We are excited to honor Robin and Marc this year for their ongoing commitment and dedication to Strengthening the Future of our community!

Keynote Speaker - David Cummings

David Cummings is an Atlanta-based tech entrepreneur who has founded 10 companies employing thousands of people, including Pardot, SalesLoft, and Terminus. David is also the founder of the Atlanta Tech Village - the United States' 4th largest tech hub - and the largest investor in Calendly, the world's most popular scheduling app. After selling Pardot, he was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year winner and one of the 100 Most Influential Atlantans by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. David is currently the CEO of Atlanta Ventures. In late 2023, David Cummings and his partner Jon Birdsong purchased eight square blocks of South Downtown Atlanta with the intention of transforming the district into a vibrant, walkable mixed-use neighborhood. We are excited to have David Cummings join us as our Keynote Speaker for Human Clay this year!