Overview

Outstanding Atlanta is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing the service, leadership and achievements of Atlanta young professionals, thereby encouraging a collective spirit of community service and civic engagement. We are the premier recognition for the most outstanding young professional Atlantans. Outstanding Atlanta (“OA”), originally known as The Outstanding Young People Of Atlanta (“TOYPA”) organization, was created in 1968 to recognize outstanding young people of Atlanta for their contributions to the betterment of the city. Each year, 10 young leaders of Atlanta would be selected as members of this prestigious organization in recognition of their business and civic accomplishments. Since the organization’s inception a select group of Atlantans between the ages of 21 and 40 who (i) live and work in the metropolitan Atlanta area and (ii) have distinguished themselves in their careers and/or community outreach have been selected as members of OA. Alums of OA include Mayor Kasim Reed, City Council President Caesar Mitchell, anchorwoman Monica Kauffman, Kate’s Club Founder Kate Atwood and former Attorney on the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism Avarita Hanson. Having grown from its initial involvement with the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, OA soon became an independent organization devoted to recognizing some of the most actively involved and dynamic young people in Atlanta who, in turn, helped to promote the leadership qualities that have made Atlanta such an outstanding place in which to live and work. In 1983, the TOYPA officers and Board of Directors, in a move to broaden the appeal of the organization and give past honorees more reason to stay actively involved, proposed adopting a new name for the umbrella organization which would honor The Outstanding Young People of Atlanta. Today, OA has become one of Atlanta’s premier organizations with respect to recognizing and connecting top Atlanta business leaders.