ATLANTA (September 28, 2023) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce Partner Edward J. (“Jack”) Hardin as the recipient of the Special Honoree Award from the Gateway Center, presented during its 11th Annual Human Clay 2023 event on September 21. The award was given to Mr. Hardin for his “limitless passion and tireless dedication (that) have been instrumental in ensuring that Gateway Center has had the capacity to meet the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness since the Gateway Center’s inception.” Mr. Hardin is the founder of Gateway Center, which opened in July 2005, and previously served as chairman of the board from 2005 until 2022. He now serves as its chairman emeritus and an active member of the board of directors.
Gateway Center, a 501(c)(3) organization, serves as the front door for the continuum of care for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in metropolitan Atlanta. Gateway Center has demonstrated flexibility and agility in adapting to the changing needs of the homeless community over time.
Jack Hardin’s service to the community at large goes beyond his significant contributions to Gateway Center. He serves as the chairman of the Fulton County Board of Health, co-chair of the Regional Commission on Homelessness, and president of the Georgia Legal Services Foundation, Additionally, Mr. Hardin is a member of the boards of Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation and Partners for Home, Inc., as well as vice chairman of the board of Georgia Works! Inc. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and, with his wife Caroline Hardin, a co-founder of the National Committee for CARE USA.
Due to his extensive service, Mr. Hardin has been the recipient of numerous community service awards, including the 2023 St. Vincent de Paul Hope Builder Award, 2022 Buckhead Rotary Club Annual Rev. Robert Ross Johnson Humanitarian Award; the 2019 Mercy Moves through Me Award; the 2018 Ben F. Johnson, Jr. Public Service Award; 2018 Heroes, Saints and Legends Award; and the 2018 VEO Hero Impact Award from the Veterans Empowerment Organization; In 2016, he received the Leadership Character Award from the Turknett Leadership Group and the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership. Other recognitions include the Justice Robert Benham Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Service from the State Bar of Georgia and the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism; the Emory Public Interest Committee (EPIC) Inspiration Award for Lifetime Commitment to Public Service; the Elbert P. Tuttle Jurisprudence Award from the Anti-Defamation League; the Centurion Award from Travelers Aid of Metropolitan Atlanta; the Alexis de Tocqueville Award by the United Way’s de Tocqueville Society; Voluntary Fundraiser of the Year from the Atlanta Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and Visionary Award by the Georgia Budget and Policy Institution.
Mr. Hardin is a partner in SGR’s Atlanta Corporate Practice specializing in corporate law and governance, as well as banking and financial institutional law. For the past several decades, he has been consistently recognized by his peers and in numerous legal publications as one of the best corporate attorneys in Georgia.
About Gateway Center
Since 2005, Gateway Center (GWC) has been committed to delivering effective, reliable and relevant solutions for disadvantaged individuals and families experiencing homelessness in metro Atlanta. GWC has been a proven leader in the provision homeless services: acting as an advocate for local policy changes and equality and a central point of access for those experiencing homelessness in the city of Atlanta. GWC is adaptable to respond to the needs of the homeless community and has consistently demonstrated that ability through our successful program outcomes. To ensure the alignment of services, GWC has focused our efforts into our Five Keys to Success (1) Housing Placement and Stability, (2) Health and Wellness, (3) Family and Community Engagement, (4) Job Skills Training and Placement, and (5) Literacy. For more information, visit www.gatewayctr.org.
About Smith Gambrell Russell
SGR is a full-service, international law firm that advises regional, national and global businesses on a wide range of legal matters. The Firm’s nearly 400 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 50 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, real estate, insurance/reinsurance, construction, employment law, international, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Founded in 1893, SGR has 14 domestic and international offices, including Atlanta; Austin; Charlotte; Chicago; Jacksonville, FL; London; Los Angeles; Miami; Munich; New York; Southampton; Springfield, IL; Tampa, FL; and Washington, D.C.