Head of Sandy Springs Mission Recieves Humanitaran Award

Felix Lora, executive director of the Sandy Springs Mission, received the 2013 Humanitarian Award during the annual Sandy Springs celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The event was held Monday in the Council Chamber at City Hall.

The Sandy Springs Mission is an afterschool program for at-risk students held at Mount Vernon Baptist Church and the Church of the Atonement. It was started by Mount Vernon Baptist Church in 1999, providing food and clothing assistance to many Latino residents in need. Lora brought an education focus to the program when he was hired in 2001.

In addition to motivating students to stay in school through adversity and go to college, Lora picks up more than 100 students for the afternoon program from High Point and Lake Forest Elementary Schools, Ridgeview Charter and Riverwood International Charter School on the Mission school bus, and later takes them home.

See: Sandy Springs Mission is Turning Around Lives of At-Risk Kids.

“As we take this day to reflect on the values and charge led by Reverend King, it is appropriate that we recognize someone in the community who actively demonstrates that philosophy,” said Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos, last week.