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12 | OCTOBER 2025 ROUGHDRAFT.NEWS UNPLUGGED OCT NOV 14 OCT . OCT Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center Upcoming Events WITH JOEL BYARS FUNNY FRIDAYS OCT 17 NOCHASER 24 Holiday Road m • ) BLANK SPACE THE UNOFFICIAL TRIBLTE NOV AN IMMERSIVE HOLIDAY SING-ALONG EXTRAVAGANZA 117% SANDY SPRINGS III PERFORMING 00 ARTS CENTER SandySpringsPAC.com | (770) 206-2022 NOV 16 IDS ONELYBOYS N°V 20 SANDY SPRINGS NYO nears completion of $28.7 million capital campaign NYO’s new gym (Northside Youth Organization) d* By Bob Pepalis As the Northside Youth Organization reaches 90 percent of its $28.7 million fundraising goal, it is shifting gears and now asking families and individual supporters of the nonprofit’s athletic programs to help it reach the finish line. Josh Burr, the executive director of the Northside Youth Organization (NYO), told Rough Draft that the capital campaign will fund the addition of a second gym, meeting space, training space, a larger weight room, and renovations to an existing gym. The additional gym space will enable an expansion of girls’ basketball and help facilitate the addition of recreational volleyball to NYO’s programs. The capital campaign began with a large contribution from former Southern Company CEO Tom Fanning and his wife, Sarah, NYO’s first big donors. It funded a new turf field, the largest at Chastain Park. Fanning Field is now a year-round site for baseball and football. Galloway School and NYO partnership runs deep The Galloway School has supported NYO for years, and the school and the nonprofit share athletic facilities. Fanning Field now serves as Galloway’s home field for its boys’ and girls’ soccer matches. Several Galloway teams also use it as a practice space. Galloway basketball and volleyball teams have used the existing gym at Chastain Park. Fanning has coached football, baseball, and basketball at the park. After graduating from high school, he planned to attend West Point to play football. But a broken ankle suffered during practice ended those plans. That’s when he got a call from NYO to help coach, and 43 years later, he’s still volunteering. Fanning and his family have been involved in sports for many years. His brother, wife, and in-laws were athletes, and his daughter and sons played in several NYO programs. Over the years, he’s seen kids he coached come back as adults with their own children enrolling in the programs. The City of Atlanta budgeted $4.5 million toward the capital campaign’s new gym and renovations. Burr said that the initial donation encouraged others to participate. The city has budgeted for and plans to build a 300-space parking garage next door to the gym. Though not part of the NYO capital campaign or using its donations, the garage will provide needed parking for the added demand. High demand for NYO programs NYO, founded in 1949, offers baseball, boys’ and girls’ basketball, softball, cheerleading, flag and tackle football for kids ages 4 to 18. Burr said the organization has more than 7,000 registrations annually. The 2008 Chastain Master Plan determined the park needed more gym space. NYO figures showing annual waiting lists of 150 to 200 kids for basketball support the plan’s conclusions that more access is needed. Burr said that the waiting list continues to grow even though NYO rents another eight to 10 gyms from schools and churches across the city. “Success breeds success, but the demand for participation in NYO programs has outstripped the resources,” NYO volunteer and coach Doug Hertz told Rough Draft. Burr said NYO constantly seeks off site gym space. The obstacle is that those schools and churches often have their own basketball leagues, limiting the time the facilities are available. NYO lost one of its main hubs this year at Sandy Springs United Methodist Church’s gym, which they leased seven days a week. That property was sold in June and the buildings were being torn down for Hillcrest, a mixed-use development by High Street Residential and Third & Urban. Burr said NYO is powered by hundreds of volunteers who donate their time, talent, and treasure. The capital campaign has seen strong engagement and participation from
