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We are a faith-based nonprofit empowering refugees in Metro Atlanta.
We focus on the long-term skills and relationships families need for healthy integration into American life. These services continue long after they arrive in America.
All of our programs incorporate trauma-informed practices to support ongoing mental health and recovery.
We believe every refugee man, woman, and child, of any faith or background, is sacred and worthy of our friendship and support.
As Americans, we believe life in our country is enriched when we welcome the vibrant cultures and hardworking spirits embodied by New Americans.
While we are faith-based, we welcome all faiths–or none at all–and there are no religious requirements to receive our services or to serve alongside us.
While every program is unique in its delivery, the foundation of all our work is built on Friends of Refugees’ core values, which come from Christian community development principles .
We seek to model Christ’s love by investing in relationships with those we serve and work alongside.
We seek to treat all people, as bearers of the image of God, with dignity and worth. Everyone has something to give, and to learn from one another.
We prioritize initiatives that empower individuals and their families to create opportunities for self-sufficiency, as well as contribute to the well-being of their neighbors and communities.

Evening with Friends Annual Fundraiser Dinner

Give

Get to know our new Executive Director

Introducing our New Executive Director

An Important Update from our Executive Director

Changing Policies Impacting New Americans

Friends of Refugees 2025 Annual Report cover

Kevin Kipfer

Marissa Delbrune

Yuni Min

Dr. Rusty Pritchard

Sela Paw

Andrew Song

We are so grateful to The Cousins Foundations for awarding Friends of Refugees $75,000 over the next three years towards General Operations! The Cousins Foundations’ mission is to tackle big problems and build collaborative relationships in support of holistic approaches to achieving solutions that address the root causes of social and economic disparities in the communities we serve. We are so grateful to partner with this incredible foundation to continue providing wrap-around support to empower New American families as they build abundant new lives. Thank you for being a friend!

🎬Behind the scenes at Friends of Refugees! We’re kicking off this series with hearing from Deanna, our Manager of Children’s program at Refugee Family Literacy (Mommy & Me) and what she’s been up to. Follow along to hear more about what’s going on in our programs!

Our Human Resources department just finished leading our staff through a two month Health and Wellness Challenge! We recognized the winning teams and individuals at our recent staff meeting, celebrating the power of working together to encourage healthier habits and movement. One of our organizational core values is relationships, including relationships with one another across departments – which we had the opportunity to do during this wellness challenge! 🎉 Congrats to the winners – and thank you again to our wonderful Human Resources department!

Our Fall Volunteer Day was a wonderful success! Thank you to the 70 volunteers who brought their energy, time, and heart to serve alongside us. Together, we contributed more than 200 hours of hard work and care across five of our sites, making a lasting impact across our refugee community!

Thank you so much Decatur City Church + North Point Ministries and their #berich campaign for their ongoing partnership with Friends. We are so grateful for the incredible generosity and commitment to our mission in helping our refugee friends build abundant lives. You are a beautiful example of what it means to be “Stronger Together” as we walk alongside our New American neighbors and build a stronger community together.

More smiles from Evening with Friends! Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, bid, shared, and volunteered to make this event a success. ✨ We are beyond grateful to share that we surpassed our goal and raised over $207,000! This incredible encouragement enables us to continue walking alongside our refugee friends as they build abundant new lives in America. 🩵 Also, thank you to @frilingos.photos for capturing the magic of this night so beautifully!

Next Saturday is our Fall Volunteer Work Day! Join us to make a positive impact in the Clarkston community and connect with others who share the same excitement for serving with Friends of Refugees. Bring yourself, friends, or a whole group to join us next weekend! Sign up at the link in our story!

This year’s Evening with Friends was not just a fundraising dinner – it was a proud affirmation that we are stronger together! One of the most incredible parts of this evening was watching our staff light up the runway in this year’s fashion show. Resilient joy spread through the room as we celebrated traditions from Myanmar, Togo, Afghanistan, and so many places in between. 💛 Thank you to Muzdha and our incredible staff for making this possible!

On Sunday evening, we had the JOY of celebrating “Stronger Together” with many of you, honoring the incredible impact we can make when we come together. Thank you for being part of this special evening and for standing alongside our New American friends! If you would like to make a contribution, you can still donate! Please write “Evening with Friends” in the comment section if you do. Thank you again to everyone who joined us this year! https://friendsofrefugees.com/donate/

Have you bid yet? Our silent auction ends at 7pm on Sunday! Some of our amazing items include a beautiful beach home in Hilton Head, 6 tickets to Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas show at the Fox, a personal ecological garden consultation, stunning oil paintings, gift cards to restaurants, and so much more! https://secure.qgiv.com/event/eveningwithfriends2026/

📣Our silent auction is officially OPEN! If you haven’t registered to enter it, our virtual tickets are still available at our registration link. To those that have already registered, check out all 25 items in the Givi app! Our silent auction closes this Sunday at 7pm, so be sure to get your bids in!

A big thank you to @hansgrohe_usa for awarding Friends of Refugees $20,000 towards Employment and Entrepreneurship! Your partnership makes it possible to continue empowering New Americans through employment opportunities, career development, and mentorship. Thank you for being a friend! Also, thank you to @mascocorporation for making this donation possible through Masco Millions!

This past Friday, our Friends of Refugees team enjoyed time together at our staff picnic! We shared a delicious potluck meal, played games, and enjoyed fellowship together. We are so grateful for each member of our team! 🧡🩵

We still have a few seats left at our annual fundraising dinner, Evening with Friends! In just two and a half weeks, we will gather with friends and neighbors to celebrate 31 years of being stronger together at Friends of Refugees. We’ll enjoy good food, celebrate stories of courage, and raise essential funding to continue this work. To those of you who have already bought tickets, we cannot wait to welcome you! If ticket sales close before you purchase yours, please reach out to contactus@friendsofrefugees.com to be added to the waitlist and we will be in touch. We hope to see you soon! Check out the link in our stories to register!

Our silent auction opens on Monday, September 28th and will close on Sunday, October 4th at 7pm. We have an array of experiences and specialty items – with all proceeds going to support the ongoing work of Friends of Refugees! One of these items is a pitmaster experience provided by @das_bbq . The winner of this experience can bring up to four people and join one of Das BBQ’s pitmasters for an evening of hands-on eating, drinking, and learning all things barbecue! Register for free virtual access to the silent auction in order to bid on items like this pitmaster experience!

Applications are now open for Start:ME - a free training program for small business owners in four metro Atlanta communities: Clarkston, East Lake, Atlanta's Southside, and Westside Atlanta. Start:ME connects local entrepreneurs to business know-how, supportive networks, and grant capital to build and grow successful businesses. The 2027 program will be primarily in-person with 2 virtual sessions. Learn more and apply by Oct 1st at startmeatl.org/apply!

Did you know that you can still bid in our silent auction without attending Evening with Friends? Our silent auction opens on Monday, September 28th and will close on Sunday, October 4th at 7pm. We have an array of experiences and specialty items – with all proceeds going to support the ongoing work of Friends of Refugees! One of these items is a 7-night stay at a condo in Hilton Head! This cool and cozy condo has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths and is perfect for a family getaway to one of the southeast's most beautiful and popular beaches. The condo comfortably sleeps up to 6 people. These family-friendly resort villas are well-located and boast a host of amenities to enjoy, including pickleball courts, indoor and outdoor pools, bike rentals, and a short walk across the boardwalk to the beach. Register for free virtual access to the silent auction in order to bid on items like this lovely beach vacation! Link in our stories!

We are still looking for a few more volunteers to join our amazing team this fall! If you have a passion for welcoming New Americans and some free time we would love to have you! Our Mommy & Me language and literacy program especially needs extra hands on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. 🫶 Visit the volunteer page on our website to check out our regular volunteer opportunities and begin an application!

Another great board meeting in the books! We’re so thankful for the time, wisdom, passion, and dedication our board brings to Friends of Refugees. Your leadership and commitment help us continue creating opportunities for New Americans to thrive. Thank you for believing in this work and being such an important part of the Friends family! 🤝✨

We have less than 20 tickets left for our annual fundraising dinner, Evening with Friends! You won’t want to miss this night of celebration and joy as we raise essential funding to continue walking alongside New American families. If you’re planning on joining us, get your ticket today! Link is in our story!

📷☀️Summer Rewind: Refugee Youth For our Youth, this summer was filled with friendship, fun, and field trips! From confidence-building projects to world-expanding excursions, our youth students grew as individuals and as a community. As you know from our campaign earlier this summer, we could not have done this without you! Partners like you supported: 🛟Swim lessons ⛺Activities under our new garden tent 🛶Kayaking 🎒Backpacks and school supplies 🖌️Craft projects … and so much more 🫶 After a short break, we look forward to a new semester of after-school programming for these inspiring students! Thanks for following our Summer Recap series – now, onto the new school year!

📷☀️Summer Rewind: Parwana Literacy for Women This summer, our Parwana team hosted weekly sessions blending practical English acquisition with creative arts, movement, community connection, and a trip to explore the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. With the invaluable support of our committed volunteers, students built foundational vocabulary and conversational confidence through gentle yoga, watercolor painting, and interactive language activities in a warm, low-pressure space. This fall, we are eager to welcome our adult learners back into the safe and welcoming Parwana classroom. We look forward to deepening foundational literacy skills and continuing to create a community together where every student feels confident sharing their perspective and wisdom in a new language. 🩷

🎟️Evening with Friends ticket prices increase at midnight tonight! Prices of individual tickets will go from $115 to $140 - so be sure to buy yours before 11:59pm today. We hope you will join us for our annual fundraising dinner as we celebrate 31 years of being stronger together! 🫶

📷☀️Summer Rewind: Embrace Birth Support This summer, our Embrace team poured extra love and attention into new moms and babies through a sweet new initiative called "Babies Matter,” in partnership with the UK program of the same name. Aku Dogbe led this weekly group for seven mothers and their babies — including one grandma and her grandson — full of connection, laughter, and emphasizing one simple truth: babies matter. 💜 As fall approaches, we're looking forward to settling into the rhythm of full childbirth classes, walking alongside our pregnant and new PEACE moms and babies, and continuing to show up for one another along the way!

We are looking for sponsors for Evening with Friends! If you're interested in supporting this special event, please reach out to kristy@friendsofrefugees.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. We’d love to highlight your partnership while extending the impact of this night of fundraising. 🫶 Also, early bird prices increase next Tuesday, so grab your tickets soon!

📷☀️Summer Rewind: Jolly Avenue Garden This summer has been busy at the Jolly Avenue Garden! In addition to hosting our youth camps, growers have been harvesting produce, volunteer groups have supplied manpower for maintenance issues, and the continual rain has led to a plentiful bounty of produce… and grass that needs cutting every 6 days. (Our Garden Manager has stayed busy!) We look forward to what the fall harvest will bring to the growers and their families. Also, thank you to the groups that came from @perimeteratl last month to tackle some much-needed weeding in the back of our property!

📷☀️Summer Rewind: Mommy & Me For most of the summer, our Mommy & Me language and literacy program has been able to take a well-deserved break from the school year. A few year-round staff members have been working on a hallway beautification project – removing outdated artwork and pictures to make room for brand new murals that will likely be completed by Labor Day weekend. There will be 8 new photos on the walls following the theme of our "Beloved Community". Memorial Drive Ministries has also deep-cleaned each classroom, so we have wonderful, shiny floors for our children to return to! We can’t wait for these halls to be filled with the sounds of students in just a few weeks!

After two months as our Executive Director, Kevin Kipfer shares a bit about his time on staff so far. It is such a privilege to work with so many incredible staff members, all seeking to empower refugees to build abundant lives. 🫶 Kevin’s full letter is in our newsletter that went out this morning. If you’re not already on our newsletter list and want to stay in the loop with Friends of Refugees, you can sign up on our website! Thank you for being a friend. 🧡🩵

We are exactly two months away from this year’s Evening with Friends! 🗓️ You won’t want to miss this special evening of celebration as we share inspiring stories of courage, experience a vibrant cultural fashion show and Burmese dancing, and savor a delicious feast featuring flavors from around the world. P.S. There are less than two weeks left of early bird pricing, so grab your ticket soon! 🎉

Meet one of our newest board members: John Pitt! John has volunteered in several capacities in the past and brings experience in sales and pastoral ministry. “Immigration is the cultural and political crisis of our time, needing compassionate people who will advocate for and serve this population as they seek to simply live and thrive. In addition, these issues are beyond human control and so only God’s hand in all of this will provide…” John is excited to bring “a prayerful and hopeful stance to support and maintain the vision of Friends and for serving and equipping the immigrant and refugee population.” Please join us in welcoming John to the board!

Do you have a passion for welcoming New Americans and some free time? If so, consider becoming a regular volunteer! Each of our programs relies on volunteers to compassionately support our program participants. This looks like… 🚙 driving a mother to her prenatal appointment, 📝 helping elementary schoolers with homework, 🎤 singing and dancing with toddlers, or 🗣️ being a conversation partner with a student in our language and literacy programs Visit the volunteer page on our website to check out our regular volunteer opportunities and begin an application! https://friendsofrefugees.com/volunteer/

Thank you to our friends at First Presbyterian Atlanta who generously provided 30 backpacks for our youth program! As hard as it is to believe, school is just around the corner. These backpacks and school supplies will help set up 30 youth students for success in the new school year! Thank you again, First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta!

🗓️🎉Mark your calendars! October 4th is this year’s Evening with Friends. This annual fundraising dinner’s theme is “Stronger Together.” Join us as we celebrate with our New American friends and feature stories of courage and feast on a delicious array of global cuisines. There will be a beautiful fashion show and a special Burmese dance. Early bird registration is open now – reserve your seat before ticket prices increase on August 17! Register at the link in our stories.

We are just weeks away from the start of the school year, which means that our language and literacy staff are busy preparing for the semester ahead! If you’d like to donate classroom supplies or other needed materials, visit our Amazon wishlist linked in our story. ✏️These items go directly to our programs - and you can receive a Gift-in-Kind receipt for your donation by visiting our website. Thank you for being a friend!

Excitement is building as we prepare for the biggest event of the year, our annual Evening with Friends Fundraiser Dinner! If you've attended before, you know it's an unforgettable evening filled with powerful stories, incredible cuisine from around the world, and a joyful celebration of the lives, cultures, and journeys of our New American friends. Tickets will go on sale July 23rd (stay tuned!), and we can't wait to share this special evening with you. In the meantime, we need your help! Evening with Friends is the cornerstone of our year-end fundraising efforts, providing vital support for our programs in 2027. You can make a difference by helping us secure sponsors, gather unique silent auction items, and support event preparations. Together, we can make this year's event our most impactful yet! If you'd like to become a sponsor, donate an item for the silent auction, or lend a hand with event preparations, we/d love to hear from you! Please reach out to kristy@friendsofrefugees.com.

At our Mommy & Me literacy program, New American mothers grow in English literacy while their young children develop socially and emotionally in preparation for school. We wanted to share a few quotes from current students about their time at Mommy & Me. 🫶 “My favorite thing is learning and I love my teacher, she [is] always showing love, care, and she is the best.” “I feel safe and confident here. When I have a feeling I feel brave to share it here.” “I am meeting friends who [are] not the same culture or country and having fun together.” It is such a joy to walk alongside these New American friends! We can’t wait for another wonderful year at Mommy & Me. 📚🧡

Our summer youth programs have been getting great use out of our new tent! This covered space in our community garden has provided shade and shelter during our typical Georgia summer of weather. Its first use was to host a somoussa-making workshop, led by one of our incredible summer interns. (You may recognize Ritha as one of our chefs from this year’s Refugee Recipe Celebration! 👀) Thank you again to the amazing volunteers from @deloitte who helped assemble this huge tent! 🫶🫶

Because of your generosity, more young people have the opportunity to participate, grow, and thrive. Thank you to our incredible partners for sponsoring our youth so they can experience the most amazing summer. Your support made a lasting impact, and we're grateful to have you alongside us in investing in the next generation. Thank you for being a Friend!💙

As we celebrate the United States’ 250 years of independence this weekend, we are reminded of the very foundations that brought about this country. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” At Friends of Refugees, we envision a future where New Americans flourish as our neighbors and friends. This means that we strive to empower abundant Life, welcome refugees into Liberty, and, together, pursue Happiness. What a privilege it is to be a part of this community, walking alongside one another every step of the way. Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸❤️💙

There’s still time left! Thanks to those who have made a gift to sponsor our youth this summer. Our youth students will enjoy up to 7 weeks of summer programming that’s full of hands-on workshops, enriching field trips, fun activities and so much more! Sponsor a student today and help make this summer one to remember. 💙Write “youth” in the comment section when making your donation.

As you can see, the garden is truly a special place for our youth. And nobody does it better than our Growing Leaders! 🤣 By sponsoring a youth student, you are helping create meaningful opportunities for hands-on learning and personal growth. Students work together on projects such as building garden fences, benches, hammocks, soccer goals, volleyball nets, cornhole boards, and much more. Through these experiences, they learn valuable skills while discovering what it means to build and care for their own community. Each project gives them a chance to contribute, collaborate, and take pride in something they have created together. These efforts are about more than just building places to play. They are about fostering teamwork, creating a sense of belonging, and making memories that will last a lifetime. We have a few more days for our youth campaign. Will you sponsor a student and invest in seven weeks of learning, friendship, and meaningful experiences? Help a child create lasting memories this summer! Write “youth” in the comment section when making your donation. https://friendsofrefugees.com/donate/

In case you missed this year’s Refugee Recipe Celebration, you can still find all of the recipes on the Atlanta Botanical Garden website. Our four incredible demonstrators shared how to make: 🍜Ohn No Khauk Swe (Burmese Chicken Coconut Soup) 🥟Samoussa 🧆Falafel 🥒Bu Thi Kyaw (Fried Bottle Gourd) A huge thank you to our talented chefs and to our partners at @atlbotanical! And thank you Cydney Rhines of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens for these amazing photos!

Every child deserves a summer filled with adventure, discovery, and joy. By sponsoring a youth student, you're helping provide access to educational excursions, fun summer activities, enrichment programs, transportation, and unforgettable experiences that create lasting memories. Your support opens doors, builds confidence, and gives young people opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Sponsor a student today and help make this summer one to remember. 💙 Write “youth” in the comment section when making your donation.

Making a splash this summer!!! ☀️🏊 This past week, our refugee youth started swim lessons thanks to the generosity of a wonderful donor who opened their pool to our students. For many of these kids, it was their very first time in a pool and their first experience learning this important life skill. Beyond learning to swim, they built confidence and share a day filled with laughter, friendship, and fun. We are so grateful for community members who create opportunities like this and help our youth feel welcomed, supported, and encouraged to thrive. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, 16 youth have already been sponsored for the summer program! We are hoping to sponsor at least 54 youth. Will you help sponsor a child and give them the opportunity to enjoy exciting field trips, enriching activities, and unforgettable experiences this season? 💙 Write “youth” in the comment section when making your donation.

Last Saturday, we welcomed over 350 guests to our Refugee Recipe Celebration! In partnership with @atlbotanical, we hosted four incredible chef demonstrations, watched performances from around the world, and enjoyed the Botanical Garden in its full summer bloom. All of the recipes made in the demonstration area can be found at the link in our story! Thank you to all our incredible partners at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, as well as our chefs and musical performers! Photos courtesy of @atlbotanical

A group of 15 Deloitte employees joined us last week for the company's annual Impact Day. Their impact was felt greatly by the Friends of Refugees community! This team refreshed and improved the landscaping and herb garden at our Hospitality House, and helped to construct the (over 500 lb!) tent structure for our youth program this summer. Additionally, the group of volunteers has made generous donations to help sponsor our summer youth this summer. Thank you, Deloitte!

As of today, you have helped sponsor 13 youth students! Our goal is to reach at least 42 more students this summer. Will you help us reach that number? We are so grateful for our two youth leaders, Emily and Happy who serve our youth program together. Both are deeply loved by our New American youth and play an important role in supporting, encouraging, and investing in their lives every day. “Summer experiences open new worlds and opportunities for our youth. They provide a chance to build community beyond their usual circles and experience different cultures, interweaving Clarkston's youth in a unique way. Summer programming also gives students the opportunity to explore new skills, such as gardening and woodworking, which many find therapeutic and confidence-building. For our middle schoolers especially, field trips offer the chance to see a world beyond Clarkston and broaden their sense of what is possible.” -Happy Will you help make an impact that lasts a lifetime? Any amount makes a difference! $592 sponsors 1 youth student $2960 sponsors 5 youth students $5920 sponsors 10 youth students Let’s help make this the best summer yet for our youth!! When donating, write “youth” in the comment section.

Registration for the Refugee Recipe Celebration closes at midnight tonight! You won’t want to miss this celebration of joy, community, and global cuisine. Be sure to reserve your free tickets today to join us on June 13th! 🔗Link to register is our bio!

We’re joining @crsageorgia on June 20th for World Refugee Day! ❤️💛🩵 This celebration uplifts refugee voices and honors the diversity that strengthens our communities. There will be vendors, performers, and activities for the whole family! 📅 June 20, 2026 📍 Refuge Coffee – Clarkston ⏰ 10 AM – 2 PM We’d love for you to join us! RSVP at the link in our story.

This summer, something really special is ahead for our youth, and we’d love for you to be part of it!! For many of the refugee youth we serve, summer can be a time of isolation. Without access to camps, travel, or extracurricular activities, they often miss out on the kinds of experiences that help build confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging. That’s where this community steps in. Through our summer youth program, we’re creating opportunities for unforgettable excursions and hands-on experiences. Things like visiting new places, trying activities for the very first time, and simply getting to be kids together. These moments may seem small, but they carry lasting impact. They help our youth feel seen, valued, and connected. This is where you come in. We’re inviting you to sponsor a summer experience for one of our elementary or middle schoolers. Your support helps cover the cost of outings, transportation, meals, and program supplies. This helps in removing barriers so every child can participate fully. More than that, you’re helping create memories they’ll carry with them for years to come. Just imagine them heading back to school in August, excited to share with their classmates how incredible their summer was and all the fun experiences they got to be a part of. Will you help make an impact that lasts a lifetime? Any amount makes a difference! $592 sponsors 1 youth student $2960 sponsors 5 youth students $5920 sponsors 10 youth students Let’s help make this the best summer yet for our youth!! When donating, write “youth” in the comment section.

We’re just over two weeks away from this year’s Refugee Recipe Celebration! In partnership with the @atlbotanical, we will be featuring four chef demonstrations – read above to meet the chefs! Don’t forget to register for your free tickets before June 6th! Link is in our stories and our bio.

A few weeks ago, @embracerefugeebirth hosted their annual photo exhibit! This year, the show featured the art of four incredible Embrace participants who generously shared their journeys to motherhood through photography and narrative storytelling. Over 40 friends attended to honor these artists. It was a wonderful celebration of the artists and the strength found in this community!

Did you know your donation may be eligible for a company match that can double or even triple its impact? One of our recent donors, Andrew Song, shared why he partners with Friends. Through his company foundation, his gift was matched dollar for dollar, instantly tripling his support for Friends of Refugees. We encourage you to check with your employer to see if they offer a matching gift program. It is a simple way to make an even greater impact for the New Americans we serve. Thank you, Andrew, and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for your generous partnership! #companymatch

Meet one of our newest board members: Teri Bouchard! Teri comes to us with 14 years of experience as an employment attorney. “I'd like to contribute more to protecting our neighbors - especially our communities that are most vulnerable in this current administration. I've been hoping to get plugged into a board in general because I need to be more of service, but I have waited for an opportunity to present itself… My father-in-law serves on the Friends of Refugees Board and has, for some time, told me I should consider it. This year, it felt like it was the right time.” Please join us in welcoming Teri to the board!

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