Atlanta Ballet Trustee Chris Carlos was recently named the Philanthropist of the Year by the Atlanta chapter of the Association of Fund-Raising Professionals. Chris was recognized at the National Philanthropy Day Luncheon on November 1, 2016, which was held at the Georgia Aquarium. This annual event recognizes the top philanthropist and volunteer fund-raiser in our area, honoring those who demonstrate exceptional generosity and dedication to area non-profits. Atlanta Ballet was pleased to nominate Chris for this award and garnered support letters from 11 other non-profits, including The Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University, Zoo Atlanta, and Woodward Academy, among others. A common theme amongst all was that Chris is not only a very generous donor, but also a passionate advocate for the causes he believes in, and chief among them is Atlanta Ballet.

In addition to his service on the Ballet Board, Chris has been an actively-involved parent of two students in our Centre for Dance Education for many years. Chris is a regular patron of our performances, and he and his family have been incredibly generous with their resources. The Carlos family provided significant funding for our current facility on Marietta Blvd, which is named for Chris’ father, Michael C. Carlos. Chris’ father also received this prestigious award in 1992, and Chris is carrying on his family’s legacy of philanthropy in this city. We enjoyed celebrating this recognition with Chris at the luncheon, which is typically attended by 1,000 guests representing Atlanta’s top philanthropic, corporate, and non-profit leaders.