The Council for Quality Growth honors Dan T. Cathy, President & CEO of Chick-fil-A, Inc., with its 26th annual leadership award at the Four Pillar Tribute on Thursday, October 1 at the Georgia World Congress Center. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, The Coca-Cola Company Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent, Georgia Power Company Chairman, President and CEO Paul Bowers, and Larry Gellerstedt, President and CEO of Cousins Properties – among others will co-chair the ceremony and tribute to Mr. Cathy.

The event’s theme – “Climb with Care and Confidence” – is one of the many lessons Cathy learned from his late father, Chick-fil-A, Inc. founder S. Truett Cathy. Cathy has been a vocal proponent of investment and community improvement in Atlanta’s most impoverished neighborhoods, especially its 30314 zip code. To support his efforts, the Council for Quality Growth will be making a gift in Cathy’s honor to organizations focused on empowering and improving Atlanta’s Westside communities.

“While Dan is certainly humbled and honored by the Four Pillar recognition, he would tell you that this evening is not about him being recognized with an award. For him, this is an opportunity to bring attention and awareness to the challenges facing the Westside," said Rodney Bullard, Chick-fil-A’s vice president of community affairs and executive director of the Chick-fil-A Foundation. Bullard, also a Tribute Chair, continued, “We hope the evening will encourage other leaders to join Arthur Blank, Richard Dugas, Dan and other Atlanta business leaders in the movement to reinvest in the Westside."

Interactive installations in the welcome reception will highlight these initiatives. Guests will have an opportunity to experience and learn more about organizations working in one of Atlanta’s most challenged neighborhoods.

“We are thrilled that the Four Pillar Tribute is able to help draw attention to the needs of this area of Atlanta,” said Michael Paris, Council for Quality Growth President & CEO. “Dan is a true servant leader, and focusing on these opportunities in our community is the ideal way to honor him.”

An esteemed group of Tribute Co-Chairs will assemble to pay tribute to Cathy for his demonstration of the “Four Pillars” of leadership – Quality, Responsibility, Vision and Integrity. The complete list of Tribute Co-Chairs include:

•     Frank Blake, Former Chairman and CEO, The Home Depot

•     Ted Blum, Managing Shareholder-Atlanta, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

•     Paul Bowers, Chairman, President and CEO, Georgia Power Company

•     Rodney Bullard, Vice President, Community Affairs at Chick-fil-A, Inc.

•     Vince Dooley, Former Head Coach and Athletic Director, University of Georgia

•     Larry Gellerstedt, President and CEO, Cousins Properties

•     Jack Harris, President and CEO, Junior Achievement of Georgia

•     Virginia Hepner, President and CEO, Woodruff Arts Center

•     Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company

•     The Honorable Kasim Reed, Mayor, City of Atlanta

•     H. Jerome Russell, President, H.J. Russell & Company

•     John Stephenson, Jr., President and CEO, College Football Hall of Fame

•     Dr. Charles Wilmer, M.D., Chief of Patient Outreach, Piedmont Heart Institute

While Cathy and his siblings grew up working in the family business, his tenure with the company officially began in 1975. Cathy has served as the President and COO since 2001 and became Chairman and CEO in 2013. As the next generation of leadership for the country’s top quick-service chicken brand, Dan embodies his Four Pillar theme selection through his work in and out of the office. He is committed to upholding Chick-fil-A’s mission to “have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”

The Council is proud to honor Dan Cathy with its Four Pillar Tribute and invites you to celebrate on October 1. For tickets and sponsorship information, please visit http://www.fourpillartribute.com for ticket and sponsorship information.