On Saturday, October 3, 2026, one of Atlanta's most storied organizations raised a collective glass — and raised the bar once again. The 100 Black Men of Atlanta gathered at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis for its 40th Anniversary 100 Honors Gala, a night that honored four decades of mentorship, advocacy, and unwavering investment in the city's young people. In a city that has always been a beacon for Black excellence, this milestone deserves not just celebration, but our fullest attention.

A Legacy Born in 1986

When Nathaniel R. Goldston III and a group of visionary men formed 100 Black Men of Atlanta in 1986, they were motivated by a simple but radical belief: Atlanta's young people — especially its young Black men and women — deserved access to opportunity, positive role models, and adults willing to invest in their futures. Forty years later, that founding commitment has not only endured; it has grown into one of the most respected community institutions in the South.

From its earliest days of mentoring, the organization quickly recognized that the challenges facing Black youth were interconnected — that you could not address education without addressing economic stability, or support leadership development without also speaking to health, wellness, and civic engagement. So they did all of it.

More Than Mentoring: A Full-Community Investment

Throughout its four decades, 100 Black Men of Atlanta has expanded its reach far beyond traditional one-on-one mentoring. Members have become deeply engaged in education reform, public policy, economic empowerment initiatives, social justice, health and wellness campaigns, and community advocacy. The organization is frequently called upon by city and state officials to lend its influence to policy discussions that affect Black Atlanteans — because when these men speak, Atlanta listens.

At the center of this work is Project Success, the organization's flagship mentoring and educational initiative. Project Success connects Black youth with professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who serve as mentors, coaches, and guides. The program's impact can be measured not just in graduation rates or college acceptances, but in the countless young people who say a 100 Black Men of Atlanta mentor changed the trajectory of their life.

The 40th Anniversary Gala: Honoring Those Who Lead the Way

The 40th Anniversary 100 Honors Gala was a fitting tribute to a legacy of excellence. The evening honored distinguished individuals and corporations whose leadership and service exemplify the values that have guided the organization since 1986. Among the night's most prestigious honors:

Andrew Young Lifetime Achievement Award — The Coca-Cola Company. Named for the legendary civil rights leader and former Atlanta mayor, this award recognized The Coca-Cola Company's decades of partnership and investment in the Atlanta community and its ongoing commitment to corporate responsibility and diversity.

Maynard H. Jackson Community Impact Award — Bentina C. Terry, President and CEO of Southern Linc and Southern Telecom Inc. Named for Atlanta's first Black mayor, this award honored Terry's extraordinary leadership and her commitment to connecting communities through technology and telecommunications — a mission with deep equity implications for Black Atlanteans.

Nathaniel R. Goldston III Trailblazer Award — Edwin C. Moses, BS Physics, MBA, Sc.D h.c., OLY, Olympic Champion and Advocate. Named for the organization's founder, this award honored one of the greatest athletes and advocates of his generation. Moses, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and fierce champion of clean sport, exemplifies the standard of excellence that 100 Black Men of Atlanta seeks to instill in every young person it touches.

The evening also honored the organization's founding members, generations of volunteers who carried the mission forward, corporate partners who invested alongside them, and — most importantly — the students and graduates whose achievements make the work meaningful.

Why This Moment Matters More Than Ever

We are living in a moment when Black youth face compounding pressures: rising unemployment, attacks on DEI programs in schools and workplaces, cuts to federal programs that disproportionately support Black families, and a broader cultural moment that can feel dismissive of Black ambition and identity. Against this backdrop, organizations like 100 Black Men of Atlanta are not simply valuable — they are essential.

When a young Black man in Atlanta can look across a room and see successful, engaged, deeply committed Black men who look like him — men who mentor, advocate, and lead — it changes what he believes is possible for himself. That is the quiet, profound power of what 100 Black Men of Atlanta has been doing for forty years. And it is why every celebration of this organization is also a call to action.

How You Can Get Involved

The work of 100 Black Men of Atlanta depends on the community it serves. Whether you are a Black professional ready to volunteer as a mentor, a business owner looking for corporate partnership opportunities, a parent seeking to connect your child with Project Success, or a supporter who simply believes in the mission — there is a place for you.

Visit the 100 Black Men of Atlanta website to learn about mentoring opportunities, upcoming events, and ways to contribute. Support their fundraising efforts. Talk to young people in your life about the organization. Share this story. The next 40 years of changing lives depends on all of us showing up.

Atlanta has always produced greatness. For forty years, 100 Black Men of Atlanta has been one of the engines behind it. Here's to the next chapter.