ATLANTA, July 13, 2007 - The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation today announced the appointment of Joseph (Jody) Brooks as program officer of Inspiring Spaces. Inspiring Spaces, an initiative aimed at developing a system of great parks in Atlanta, is one of the Blank Foundation’s four impact areas.
Prior to joining the Blank Foundation, Brooks was a physical activity fellow in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity. In the department’s Physical Activity and Health Branch, Brooks chaired the Parks, Recreation, and Sports Workgroup; served as liaison to the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA); and was the secondary contact for the Federal Interagency Workgroup on Recreation and Public Health. In his role, he also served as a member of the Research Application Team, where he promoted the use of parks and recreation facilities as access points for physical activity; and a member of the Disparities Workgroup, where he assisted national partners in promoting physical activity in a range of settings and populations with a focus on disparities in park and trail usage among people of color.
Brooks’ experience also includes positions as an educational consultant at the Chiba City Board of Education in Chiba City, Japan; and volunteer coordinator in the United States Peace Corps. Brooks has an M.S. in Sports Medicine from Oregon State University and a B.S. in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of South Carolina.
Formed in 1995, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is focused on improving early childhood development, enhancing education, preserving green space, sustaining the arts and sparking collaboration among its nonprofit partners, primarily in Atlanta.
Arthur M. Blank is owner & CEO of the Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Force. He co-founded The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, in 1978 and retired from the company as co-chairman in 2001. Through his generosity, the foundation, along with Blank and his wife's personal giving, has granted over $220 million to various charitable organizations.
