Please join us as we say THANK YOU to George Joseph “Joe” Mitchell for his time and service on the DeKalb County Community Foundation Board of Directors.

Joe served on the Community Foundation Board for six years (2018-2023), representing DeKalb. “I love the ethnic, economic, religious, educational, and cultural diversity of DeKalb,” he shared. “The city is a unique blend of urban and agriculture, which brings forth multiple growth opportunities.”

During his six years of service, Joe served on various Foundation committees, including Community Engagement, Community Grants, Executive, Finance, and Impact Investing. He also served as Board Vice President and President.

In a follow-up to his time on the Board, Joe noted one of many committee highlights. “I truly enjoyed serving on the Community Engagement Committee. We reasoned together to proactively provide needed resources throughout DeKalb County. We also took the time to learn about smaller, not commonly known nonprofit organizations and supported them because of the amazing service they provide.”

A favorite memory of Joe’s is serving on the Impact Investing Committee. “Working on this committee from beginning to end was rewarding yet challenging,” he exclaimed. “I’m excited that we have ‘another tool in the toolbox’ to be transformative. After the murder of George Floyd, like many other organizations, the Community Foundation took the time to revisit our mission, vision, and values. It was the first year of my presidency. We authentically looked inside/outside, acknowledged some of our biases, and committed to changes that will lead the Foundation to broader horizons.”

In a final question, we asked Joe to share any final words of wisdom or inspiration. He concluded, “I’m wholeheartedly grateful for the six years I was allowed to serve. DeKalb County is blessed to have an organization like the DeKalb County Community Foundation that is committed to holistic transformation, capacity building, and partnerships. I’m excited to see how the Community Foundation continues to grow in the future.”

Thank you, George Joseph “Joe” Mitchell, for giving your time, talent, treasure, ties, and testimony to DeKalb County. We greatly appreciate your commitment to the Foundation. You are a true philanthropist, and for that, we are grateful!