2023 Goshen Valley Volunteers of the Year
2023 Goshen Valley Volunteers of the Year
On Wednesday, May 10th, Goshen Valley staff gathered together to celebrate and recognize their
2023 volunteers of the year at the 2023 Goshen Volunteer Luncheon.
Each department at Goshen is asked to consider and nominate a special volunteer who goes above and beyond to support the mission and the youth and families being cared for by Goshen Valley. Considerations were made by Goshen Valley Boys Ranch, Goshen Homes, Goshen New Beginnings, Goshen Therapeutic Services, and Goshen Community Development. Once nominations were made, we invited the nominees and the Goshen staff to come together and recognize their incredible contributions.
Zach Blend, Goshen Valley CEO kicked off the luncheon with these words “We can’t do this work alone. We rely on these men and women who are willing to go the extra mile, who are willing to understand the delicacy of this ministry, and who are willing to give their time and efforts to sustain and scale the work we know God is doing through Goshen Valley.”
Zach speaks to the importance of our volunteers and our community, and how heavily it impacts the lives of the kids and families that we serve.
Next, leaders from each program came to recognize these volunteers:
Goshen Valley Boys Ranch
Jody & Toby Sklar
Goshen New Beginnings
Bruce Purvis
Goshen Homes
D'Anna Liber
Goshen Therapeutic Services
Lucy Shelton
Goshen Community Development
Dale Alexander & Steven Johnson
The staff members, youth, and families at Goshen are deeply impacted by the work of these volunteers, and we are so grateful and privileged to have them serving our kids day after day.
Thank you to all of you who volunteer for helping to change the lives of the foster youth and families we serve.
Goshen Valley Named AJC Top Workplace
Goshen Valley has been named a 2023 Top Workplace by the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC).
Goshen Valley is thrilled to announce that we have been recognized as an AJC Top Workplace for the third consecutive year in 2023! This honor is a testament to our commitment to creating a positive and empowering work environment for our team members.
The Top Workplace award is based on feedback collected from our staff through an anonymous survey conducted by Energage, a leading provider of employee engagement surveys. This survey measures several factors, including organizational culture, communication, career development opportunities, and work-life balance.
Goshen Valley CEO, Zach Blend, states, “Being recognized as an AJC Top Workplace for the third year in a row is a tremendous honor for our team at Goshen Valley. Our growth in serving children, youth, and families is thanks to the collective investment of our supporters, and so importantly, of our staff. As we continue to serve unique needs and expand our impact, we recognize the importance of providing a work environment that fosters growth, positivity, and excellence. This award is a direct reflection of that focus.”
At Goshen Valley, we believe that our employees are our greatest asset, and we strive to provide them with the support and resources they need to thrive both personally and professionally. Our team is made up of dedicated, compassionate individuals who are passionate about serving the children and families in our care. We foster a culture of teamwork, collaboration, and mutual respect, and we are committed to supporting each other every step of the way.
Not only is this announcement meaningful for Goshen employees, it also makes a major impact on the youth and families that we serve. The 120 kids in our care have had family come in and out of their lives previously, and Goshen wants to ensure the staff and foster parents that work with them are in it for the long haul.
The vulnerable families in need of mental health services coming to Goshen can know that their case worker and therapist will be better equipped to get them back on their feet. Prospective foster families who are considering making a life altering change to bring kids into their home know that they will have the training and support of a great team that will be by their side through the journey.
We are incredibly proud to have been recognized as an AJC Top Workplace for the past three years, and we are committed to continuing to provide our employees with the best possible work environment. Thank you to our amazing team for making this achievement possible!
Goshen Family Resource Center
Goshen Valley Announces the Goshen Family Resource Center
On Thursday, March 2nd 2023, Goshen Valley Foundation sponsored the March “Good Morning Cherokee” breakfast in partnership with SouthState Bank.
This event, put on by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, served as a platform for the official announcement of the Goshen Family Resource Center to our local community.
Goshen Valley’s Director of Development, Evan Ingram, stepped on stage first and spoke about Goshen’s three programs that serve children in foster care. He reminded everyone what it might feel like to be a child in school being called to the principal’s office, only to be told you wouldn’t be going home to your family that day. Evan spoke to Goshen Valley’s mission: bringing Peace and Purpose to youth in foster care.
With this mission in mind, he introduced Goshen’s CEO, Zach Blend, to speak about Goshen’s vision in bringing this same Peace and Purpose to families all over the region by targeting root cause issues at the Goshen Family Resource Center.
“A few years ago, we started to discuss the concept of prevention. Prevention with standard, prevention with class, prevention with that same sense of outcomes that you all have come to expect from Goshen. We started that discussion around root cause issues that are the reasons behind why kids end up in foster care,” Zach states.
He spoke to these root cause issues, such as incarceration, affordable housing, employment security, addiction, and mental and behavioral health. These are not only issues that cause families to fracture and kids to enter foster care, but they’re also common issues that families everywhere struggle with. At the Goshen Family Resource Center, home of Goshen Therapeutic Services, Goshen aims to provide services to address these root cause issues.
Goshen Therapeutic Services (GTS), founded in 2019, will call the Family Resource Center home. Since its inception, GTS has grown to serve 2,440 clients across more than 19 counties in 2022, and that number is set to expand even more in 2023. Due to this rapid expansion Goshen Therapeutic Services needed a new home…
Largely due to the receipt of ARPA funding, Goshen Valley was able to purchase and begin renovations on 230 Marietta Hwy. Canton, GA 30114 as a hub for therapeutic and family support services as the Goshen Family Resource Center.
Located in the heart of Canton, Georgia, this facility will be home to Goshen Therapeutic Services, where GTS will provide essential services to those in the community in need. Services are to include individual and family therapy, insurance based services, group counseling, psychiatry, family visitation, and a community navigator initiative to help those in need find the organizations and resources that can aid them.
The mission behind the Goshen Family Resource Center is the same: providing peace and purpose to our community. This time, Goshen looks through the lens of prevention through root cause solutions.
Goshen looks to open the Family Resource Center in 2023 after the launch of a fundraising initiative in the coming months.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for additional information on how to be involved.
Goshen CEO Named Georgia Titan 100
Goshen Valley CEO, Zach Blend, named a recipient of the 2023 Georgia Titan 100
Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli LLP are pleased to announce Goshen Valley CEO, Zach Blend, as a 2023 Georgia Titan 100.
The Titan 100 program recognizes Georgia’s Top 100 CEOs & C-level executives. They are the area’s most accomplished business leaders in their industry using criteria that includes demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. Collectively the 2023 Georgia Titan 100 and their companies employ upwards of 118,000 individuals and generate over $36 billion dollars in annual revenues. This year’s honorees will be published in a limited-edition Titan 100 book and profiled exclusively online. They will be honored at an awards ceremony on April 27th, 2023, and will be given the opportunity to interact and connect multiple times throughout the year with their fellow Titans.
“The Titan 100 are changing the way that business is done in Georgia. These preeminent leaders have built a distinguished reputation that is unrivaled and preeminent in their field. We proudly recognize the Titan 100 for their efforts to shape the future of the Georgia business community. Their achievements create a profound impact that makes an extraordinary difference for their customers and clients across the nation.” says Jaime Zawmon, President of Titan CEO.
Zach Blend has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Goshen Valley Foundation since January 2016.
Zach has 12 years of experience working for Goshen Valley within all aspects of the organization. Under Zach’s executive leadership, the Goshen Valley Foundation has grown to include four operating agencies (Goshen Valley Boys Ranch, Goshen New Beginnings, Goshen Homes and Goshen Therapeutic Services) that are all focused on a specific demographic within the Georgia state foster care system. Zach has a BA in Sociology from Rollins College, a Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies from Fuller Seminary, and an MBA from Reinhardt University.
“I certainly appreciate the opportunity to be recognized by Titan 100 as one of Georgia’s Top Senior Executives. My ability to lead successfully is in large part due to the amazing team I have the privilege to work alongside at Goshen Valley. Through their sustained efforts, Goshen’s influence and ultimate impact on the state’s foster care system has risen steadily in recent years. We work diligently to ensure that best business practices are in place, resulting in our overall effectiveness when considering the scale and sustainability of our growing mission." - Zach Blend, CEO
Blend will be honored at the Titan 100 awards on April 27th,2023 at Zoo Atlanta: Savanna Hall. One of the city’s most treasured historic buildings, the 1921 building has been revitalized by Zoo Atlanta for its new life today. As home of the Atlanta Cyclorama for more than 90 years, the building is famous for its grand scale and neoclassical architecture. This unique cocktail-style awards event will gather 100 Titans of Industry and their guests for an evening unlike anything that exists in the Georgia business community.
“On behalf of all the partners and associates at Wipfli we congratulate all the Titan100 winners. It’s an honor to recognize this diverse group of leaders in the Atlanta community. We appreciate the lasting impact each leader has made, and continues to make, in building organizations of significance both in Atlanta and abroad. Your ingenuity and creativity have set you apart, and the honor of being seen as an industry Titan is richly deserved,” says Bill Boucher, Partner at Wipfli.
Goshen Valley Boys Ranch Renovations
Goshen Valley Boys Ranch Renovations
Renovations on the four main homes at Goshen Valley Boys Ranch are complete.
On August 15, 2022, Greenheart Enterprises began renovations on the four main residences at Goshen Valley Boys Ranch. With the homes aging, it came time for us to give the houses some updates! The majority of this project was funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. However, thanks to support from the community and a matching gift from Faith Ventures Foundation, the project was completed debt-free.
The homes received new siding, decks, much-needed kitchen updates, shutters, and more. The boys and the houseparents living in these homes have been immensely impacted by the community support enabling us to complete these updates.
The renovations were officially finished in time for our kids to enjoy their Christmas in the newly updated homes. We are excited for all of the memories and healing that will take place in them in the future.
Some of you will also remember The James House - the red barn at the top of the hill.
2022 also marked the completion of total renovation of The James House to become a larger space for our Ranch administrative offices.
As we look around the Ranch, we may see the same buildings and the same homes, but the transformation is clear.
It is a constant reminder of growth and blessing that you, our community, surround Goshen with time after time. Thank you for always cheering our kids on and for showing so much love to our houseparents and staff through these new renovations.
Wishing you Peace and Purpose.
An Evening with Goshen 2022
An Evening with Goshen
An Evening with Goshen 2022 kicked off on December 8th at Woodstock City Church with guest speaker, football and baseball star, Brian Jordan.
This evening gala is a platform for Goshen Valley to come together with community leaders, business owners, and families to raise money for the families and foster youth that we serve while enjoying a beautiful night of entertainment with friends.
As guests arrived, they perused the silent auction items and took part in the delicious turkey dinner provided by Center Cut Catering. VIP guests gathered around hors d'oeuvres as they met and chatted with Atlanta sports great, Brian Jordan. They received a photo op and a signed copy of his children's book "The Mystery Behind Doggy Lane." Once dinner was served, Goshen Valley CEO, Zach Blend, kicked off the event with the announcement we had been waiting for...
This year's Evening with Goshen was centered around a new and exciting venture that Goshen Valley is thrilled to announce: the Goshen Family Resource Center.
The Family Resource Center will serve as a hub for clinical therapeutic services, family and parenting supports, life skills coaching, and so much more. All of these services will be available to the community at a central location in Canton, GA.
Our goal is to raise $500,000 to fund the renovation and launch of this new Family Resource Center in 2023, and An Evening with Goshen was the start to this campaign.
With fundraising in mind, we introduced our evening's title sponsor, Eric Baker, with Eric Baker and Associates. Eric's mission as a real estate agent is much bigger than himself. He helps everyone find home by donating a portion of every home commission to neighbors in need and community organizations like Goshen.
Eric then introduced our guest speaker: Atlanta Sports Icon, Author, and Philanthropist, Brian Jordan.
On stage we sat down at chatted with Brian. We heard stories from his childhood, and of course about his incredible sports career. The overarching message we can all take from Brian is this: keep working hard, because there is always someone out there who is better than you. This was a message he graciously shared with all 40 of our boys and staff at Goshen Valley Boys Ranch earlier in the evening.
Before wrapping up the evening, Goshen Valley Alumni, Edward Tsui had a special message for the audience. He spoke about his years spent at Goshen, the big Goshen family he will always have, and the opportunities and goals he has ahead of him in law school at UGA. Next, he turned his focus to the audience and said...
"I am here because of your love, your time, your resources, and your choice to partner with Goshen. I thank God every day that I have the opportunity to be a part of this organization, and I thank God for you all and your investment in me and in Goshen." - Edward Tsui, Goshen Valley Alumni
Wrapping up the event, Aaron Vincent with Vincent Financial Group, shared his own message, reminding us to be grateful and to be generous with what we have.
We echo that message today as we look back on a wonderful Evening with Goshen. We are so grateful to all of you who joined us and who made this event possible. As we fly through this holiday season, we take this moment to say thank you so much for your generosity and for your support of Goshen Valley and for things to come.
First Annual Goshen Valley Founder's Day!
Goshen Valley Celebrates the First Annual Founders Day
On Friday, October 7th 2022, the staff at Goshen Valley came together to celebrate the First Annual Founders Day!
Founders Day honors all those that have served as part of Goshen Valley over the past 23 years. For the First Annual celebration, we hosted a field day full of crazy games, food, and fun for every staff member at Goshen Valley. The day kicked off with Atlanta Sport and Social Club providing an array of competitions for the staff. Right off the bat, all of the staff members split into teams, donning their team colors and face paint to match.
Atlanta Sport refereed and kept score as all of the teams worked their way through the various games, ending with Tug-of-War. Though there was some heavy competition (and even some smack-talking), the Green Team emerged with the win!
After the games, everyone came back together for lunch, catered by Choate BBQ. As all of the staff members mingled and refueled, Goshen Valley CEO, Zach Blend, spoke a few words of thanks and in doing so honored his father, Goshen’s founder:
“To see all of you gathered here is a testament to John’s vision and his faith in what Goshen could one day become. We’ve proven that collectively we can drive successful outcomes for children and families. As we lean into our vision, I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.”
Goshen values community, service, and faith. This First Annual Founders Day was a reminder of all that has been accomplished and those things still to be accomplished while we celebrated each other. As the day wound down, it was hard to miss the chatter about how grateful everyone was to fellowship and bond with one another.
Now going forward, we remember that day and we remember those values as we continue to serve foster youth and fractured families across North Georgia.
Thank you to MesmerEyes Media for DJing and Photographing the event.
Goshen Valley Awarded Family Resource Center Funding
Goshen Valley is one of 6 organizations in the state of Georgia awarded a 3-year funding cohort through the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services to start a Family Resource Center in Cherokee County.
Joining with and following the standards of the Georgia Family Support Network in October of 2022, Goshen Valley will provide primary prevention services to families in our community.
This Family Resource Center will provide low-cost to free parenting classes, support groups, teen support groups, life skills, behavior management, coordinated community referrals and therapy. We are so excited to begin this journey in serving families in need before they reach the need for DFCS intervention. Goshen Valley will work hand-in-hand with the Cherokee County School District, other community non-profits, local churches, and civic organizations to identify families who would like to participate.
"We understand that foster care is too often the result of something terrible taking place in the life of a child. Now is the time for Goshen to play a more prominent role in keeping the circumstances from ever happening. Our leadership team guided by our Board of Directors is committed to extending its influence by providing a wide range of preventive services in the years to come. This work will be led by our Goshen Therapeutic Services division. The mobilization of our Family Resource Center and the support offered as a result will be at the heart of those efforts."- Zach Blend, CEO Goshen Valley Foundation
Brasfield & Gorrie Ribbon Cutting at Goshen Valley
On August 10th, 2022 Goshen Valley Boys Ranch hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to recognize the official finalization of the projects completed by the Brasfield & Gorrie Atlanta team.
In June of 2022 Brasfield & Gorrie, the 2021 ENR Contractor of the Year, spent two weeks at Goshen Valley Boys Ranch to complete construction on several important improvements and maintenance at the Ranch.
After a month-long process which began with 13 nonprofit applicants, Brasfield & Gorrie selected Goshen Valley to be their partner for their 2021 and 2022 fall fundraisers. This event and partnership have historically raised around $250,000 per year from employee and trade contractor donations to support the chosen nonprofit’s mission.
Brasfield & Gorrie is an industry leader in the construction space, and in 2021, their Atlanta team chose Goshen Valley as their nonprofit partner of the year for 2021 and 2022.
They work on a wide range of project types, from aerospace, to healthcare, to sports and much more. More importantly than their projects, their “purpose is building exceptional people, trusting relationships, great projects, and strong communities.” Brasfield & Gorrie has gone above and beyond to fulfill that mission at Goshen Valley.
Goshen Valley serves over 110 foster youth and many families in the North Atlanta region across four programs. Goshen Valley Boys Ranch was the first program founded, located on 160+ acres in Waleska, GA. Home to 40 young men in foster care, The Ranch was founded to provide the safety of a home, love of a family, and hope for a future to the kids that call The Ranch home.
During the two weeks that Brasfield & Gorrie spent at The Ranch, they completed a host of projects totaling in over $200,000 that would have taken our staff years to complete. Check out the list of projects.
At the ribbon cutting, leaders from both organizations gathered, including the team from Brasfield & Gorrie that initiated and led the projects from start to finish: Keith Johnson, Tate McKee, Trey Sanders, Chris Britton, Dave Reed, Dave Hajjar, and Griffith Haigh.
During the program, attendees heard from one of Goshen Valley’s alumni, Zach Quiros, who came to the Ranch with his little brother in 2016. When thinking about the importance of this project, Zach said it best…
“I didn’t know it at the time, but God knew I was going to need a big family for the next chapter. And what Goshen does would not be possible if it wasn’t for the love from the community that Brasfield & Gorrie is a part of. So, I can’t thank you enough for everything y’all have done at The Ranch, because not too long ago, it was me and my brother at The Ranch.” - Zach Quiros, Goshen Valley Alumni.
The cutting of this ribbon at Goshen Valley Boys Ranch means so much more than just improved facilities, and Zach is a testament to that. Brasfield & Gorrie, we thank you for going above and beyond for your community and for doing it with excellence.
Goshen Valley and the Mandela Washington Fellowship
Goshen Valley and the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders – Alumni Enrichment Institute
In July and August 2022, Goshen Valley joined the participants of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders – Alumni Enrichment Institute (AEI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. Three Goshen leaders were able to share their expertise with a group of 25 young African leaders from 19 countries, equipping them to take new skills and ideas back to their home countries.
The Alumni Enrichment Institutes are a follow-on opportunity of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
YALI was created in 2010 and supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance and enhance peace and security across Africa. Since 2014, the U.S. Department of State has supported nearly 5,100 Mandela Washington Fellows from across Sub-Saharan Africa to develop their leadership skills and foster connections and collaboration with U.S. professionals. The cohort of 25 Participants hosted by Georgia State were part of a larger group of 200 2021 Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni hosted at eight educational institutions across the United States. These institutions represent the diversity of U.S. higher education, including public and private schools, rural and urban campuses, and small and large student populations.
Executive leaders from the Goshen Valley Foundation participated in Professional Networking Opportunities as experts in non-profit organization and leadership. Zach Blend, Evan Ingram, and Rachel Blend were all in attendance and led educational discussions on topics such as nonprofit leadership and management, accreditation, compliance, marketing, and fundraising.
Goshen Valley CEO, Zach Blend, discussed the process of decision making by focusing on an organization’s key indicators. Zach has centered decision-making conversations with his leadership on the key indicators of mission, margin, morale and compliance (3MC) to help leaders weigh the impact and consequences of any significant organizational decisions.
“Across cultures, leadership hinges on sound decision making. Sharing the 3MC model with the class was my way of equipping them with a tool that they can take back to their home communities,” says Zach.
Evan Ingram, Director of Development at Goshen Valley, shared his insight on marketing and fundraising in the nonprofit world.
Evan says, “It was an incredible experience getting to share with this group. We spent time talking about marketing frameworks, donor-centered fundraising, and email marketing. We then spent time working through specific problems that are holding their initiatives back.”
Thanks to the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Goshen was able to assist initiatives in 19 African countries working on issues including suicide prevention, affordable housing, and food insecurity.
Rachel Blend, Director of Accreditation and Grants Management, led an organic discussion on topics such as organizational development, strategic planning, business planning, and PQI/data collection. This opened the floor for an excellent source of information and collaboration between the entire group of participants.
“It’s always a humbling experience to meet with such incredible leaders. Goshen is blessed, and we are grateful to be able to share our journey and bits of knowledge from along the way,” says Rachel.
Goshen Valley has partnered with Georgia State University’s Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute each year since their first trip to The Ranch in 2016. Through the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Goshen Valley has been able to take some part in the huge impact that the program is making across 49 countries in Africa.
“We offer many congratulations to the 2022 participants, and we hope that you will complete your two week Institute with information and inspiration to further enrich you, your communities, and your organizations back home.” - Zach Blend, CEO Goshen Valley Foundation
