The second Beloved Benefit, which had been scheduled for June 4 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, has been postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead, the event’s organizers said they are planning a series of “virtual summits” to study and make strides in addressing the pressing concerns of affordable housing and economic mobility, which are being exacerbated by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“We can’t be together in person this year, but we can be together in spirit and resolve to serve others in this time of economic and emotional crisis,” said Rodney Bullard, vice president of corporate social responsibility at Chick-fil-A Inc. and executive director of the Chick-fil-A Foundation. “Affordable housing and economic mobility are two of the greatest threats to our nation’s overall health and well-being and must be addressed here at home — even as we navigate the COVID-19 crisis.”
In addition to Chick-Fil-A, the event is supported by the Arthur M. Blank Foundation, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Home Depot Foundation, and the WestRock Foundation. It’s honorary chairs were Dan Cathey and Arthur Blank.
The Beloved Benefit is anchored in the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “beloved community” concept, which challenges every citizen of Atlanta to love, respect, and trust one another.
Last year’s event, also hosted at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, raised more than $5 million for Atlanta’s Westside community and directly benefited more than 38,000 residents.
This year’s 2020 Beloved Benefit was on track to raise millions of dollars for a number of nonprofit organizations in Metro Atlanta focused on the issues of affordable housing and economic development.
“The Beloved Benefit is a great opportunity to bring awareness to critical needs in our community. We look forward to hosting the event when it returns in 2021,” said Steve Cannon, CEO of AMB Sports + Entertainment. “Until then, we will continue to work hard and finding solutions to address affordable housing and economic mobility for the city of Atlanta.”
Organizers will return with details of the “Virtual Summits” in the coming weeks.