What is Lend-A-Hand?

The original Lend-A-Hand Project grew out of a desire by the Public Relations Committee of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia to make a contribution to the community in the way of housing. From the initial effort in 1990 to rehabilitate three homes of elderly, disadvantaged citizens in North Fulton county, came the MBAG Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization

The name "Lend-A-Hand" (LAH) describes the operating committee which carries out the charitable functions and fundraisers of the MBAG Foundation. Each year a committee is formed to carry out the details of the project. The chair and those who volunteer for service to the LAH committee direct the functions of the Foundation for one year. Among these functions are: site selection, selection of homes to be rehabilitated, solicitation of laborers, donors, and materials; food for workers, etc. Committees work closely with management personnel in the administration of events and fundraisers.

The project has been recognized by the media, the Governor of Georgia and the Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE). The GSAE presented the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia a Public Service Award for the Lend-A-Hand Project of 1991.

A few of the projects that the Lend-A-Hand committee has taken in recent years:

2008 – $10,000 contribution to the Wednesday’s Child (Freddie Mac Foundation) program, so that 12 foster children could attend a week’s camp at Camp Toccoa in North Georgia. This paid for the children to attend plus furnish them with the necessary equipment for the camp.

2009 – $5,000 contribution to Wellspring Living, a non-profit organization that assists women in healing from childhood sexual abuse and helps girls who have been affected by prostitution. Also contributed funds to MBAG's Valdosta chapter to help a local elementary school in a low-income neighborhood to purchase items for their outdoor reading area, such as: durable outdoor tables, chairs, benches and umbrellas.

2010- Major landscaping project at Camp Sunshine, providing materials and labor. Also sent volunteers to Camp Sunshine's annual Fall Festival and Holiday Open House.

2011- Helped Charis Community Housing to continue their mission by working with disenfranchised neighborhoods in the Atlanta area to restore wholesome, viable, self-sustaining, mixed-income housing, and partnered with Rainbow Village to continue their mission as a transitional housing community for homeless families with children.

2017- MBAG Foundation, in partnership with several Atlanta-based entities, raised over $2000 for relief for victims of hurricanes Harvey & Irma in the fall of 2017. In addition, a large amount of material relief items were donated by both members and non-members.

2018 - MBAG Foundation partnered with GREFPAC, NAMMBA, and NAPMW to host an event to raise money for victims of hurricanes Michael & Florence. 

2019 - Several projects assisting HomeAid Atlanta were undertaken in the years immediately prior to and after the pandemic.