Funding Highlights

After a birth, life-supporting blood and tissue remain in the umbilical cord. Traditionally cord blood has been discarded as medical waste, but now it is increasingly being collected, tested for quality and type, processed for use, and stored as a potential source of regeneration for people with life-threatening leukemia, anemia, blood cancers, or other hematologic disorders.

The blood’s stem cells remain young and vigorous, ready to provide a new infusion of life for anyone whose tissue type closely matches, and who desperately needs a regenerative transplant of blood-forming stem cells. Researchers are now exploring the use of cord blood cells in treating other serious conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.

Through the Abraham J. & Phyllis Katz Foundation, Abraham Katz made a philanthropic grant to establish the innovative organization now known as the Cleveland Cord Blood Center, which collects cord blood from two birthing centers in Northeast Ohio and also from Emory Midtown and Piedmont Hospitals in Atlanta, Georgia, where the Katz Foundation is located. Thanks to its diverse pool of donors, the Cleveland Cord Blood Center is helping to increase the number of suitable matches available for the nation’s African American, Latino, and Asian populations.

Grateful beneficiaries report:

Anyone who ever loved summer camp as a child can relate nostalgic details of cabins, hikes, crafts, pranks, and campfires. Any child who ever went to Camp Twin Lakes can do the same, but with a twist. For these campers, the best memories may be about activities that they thought were completely out of reach: Completing a ropes course with a team of new friends. Learning to swim. Performing in the Wacky Olympics or a talent show. Being helped from a wheelchair onto a zip line — or a horse.

Camp Twin Lakes (CTL) offers weeklong summer camp sessions and year-round weekend retreats, which provide life-changing camp experiences for thousands of Georgia’s children with serious illnesses, disabilities and other life challenges. CTL comprises three state-of-the-art, medically supportive, fully accessible campsites, as well as Camp-To-Go programs in children’s hospitals across the state.

A national model, Camp Twin Lakes collaborates with more than 50 local nonprofit organizations (Camp Partners) to provide programs and opportunities that enable campers to have a shared experience with other children who face similar challenges. CTL follows strict operational protocols for safety, practices financial transparency, embraces ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity, and subsidizes 80 percent of the cost for every camper.

Since its first gift to Camp Twin Lakes in 2007, the Katz Foundation has proudly invested, together with CTL, in supporting families and children who have experienced life-changing illnesses or challenges.

The blood’s stem cells remain young and vigorous, ready to provide a new infusion of life for anyone whose tissue type closely matches, and who desperately needs a regenerative transplant of blood-forming stem cells. Researchers are now exploring the use of cord blood cells in treating other serious conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.

Through the Abraham J. & Phyllis Katz Foundation, Abraham Katz made a philanthropic grant to establish the innovative organization now known as the Cleveland Cord Blood Center, which collects cord blood from two birthing centers in Northeast Ohio and also from Emory Midtown and Piedmont Hospitals in Atlanta, Georgia, where the Katz Foundation is located. Thanks to its diverse pool of donors, the Cleveland Cord Blood Center is helping to increase the number of suitable matches available for the nation’s African American, Latino, and Asian populations.

Heard at Camp Twin Lakes:

“On 365 days a year, I can’t walk— but at Camp Twin Lakes, I can fly.”

— a young camper, as she was gently lowered back into her wheelchair after flying down the zip line in a fully supportive body harness

“Camp gives me the strength to face the world for another year.”

— a CTL camper

“CTL campers constantly comment on how powerful it is to feel normal, to be one of the group, and not to stand out because of their various illnesses or challenges.”

— Dan Matthews, Director of Camping Services, Camp Twin Lakes

“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

— a favorite quote at Camp Twin Lakes, by A.A. Milne

Many privileged young people study music as a matter of course, growing up with private lessons, fine instruments and frequent access to professional performances. For potential young musicians in low-income families, however, a desire to play music might never see fruition — without the helping hand of philanthropy.

Inspired by the acclaimed motion picture, “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” which portrays a dedicated music teacher’s impact on generations of students, The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation (MHOPUS) was established in 1996 by the film’s composer, Michael Kamen. MHOPUS donates both new and refurbished instruments to Title I schools that have strong music programs but lack the financial resources to help their band or orchestra thrive and expand.

Often, such programs’ particular challenge is equipment loss — from attrition, depreciation, and wear over time. An infusion of instruments enables more students to participate and to experience the benefits of a high-quality music education.

The Katz Foundation’s partnership with MHOPUS, inspired by accomplished pianist Phyllis Katz and her lifelong passion for music and the arts, has made possible numerous instrument donations, valued overall at approximately $220,000, to numerous public schools in the City of Atlanta, Coweta County, and DeKalb County.