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Women Of Impact: Atlanta Is A Town Of Volunteers
Valerie Hartman Levy says one must pitch in.
October 23, 2007
Maneuvering between a startling number of what she calls her "baskets" of civic involvement,
Valerie Hartman Levy says "sometimes I'm a little nuts. I get frustrated because I wish I could
make more of an impact."
Levy says her seemingly broad array of commitments are carefully targeted.
"I focus a lot of my energies on things to do with children, opportunities, education, role
models. Then I have my gender equality basket, women's issues, and opportunities for girls and
women. Then I have a basket which is making impact in the Jewish community, building bridges to
other communities."
The children's theme informs her leadership with the Million Mom March gun control campaign.
She founded its metro Atlanta chapter and carefully navigates the intricate politics.
"I've tried to make it less political," she asserts. "We're just saying there are common
sense things we can do. Having three children, my lens on the community is very much focused on my
role as a mom."
Children's advocacy dovetails into another passion, sports, in her work with the First Tee of
East Lake program at the Charlie Yates Golf Course. Levy was taken with the program's use of golf
to bring life lessons to young people.
"The building of a sense of integrity, all the lessons you learn from playing a sport like
golf translate into every aspect of these children's lives. That's that ripple effect, and it's
just so powerful."
Levy simultaneously aims for a much higher profile impact in sports with her work to bring a
WNBA basketball franchise to town. When she was told that the league isirked and baffl ed by the
lack of an area team, she eagerly agreed to become involved, seeking potential season ticket
holders and a possible franchise owner.
"I get a big kick out of that kind of work," Levy says, "where you bring a lot of people or
communities together that really should know about each other. Put together they can do even bigger
things combined."
Levy says she's been struck by the many opportunities here to make a difference. "I've been
blown away by the fact that if you have the energy and the desire, you can get involved quickly and
make a considerable impact."
Her children and family come first, she says. "And I don't sleep very much. There's
plenty of time to
sleep later on."
