Georgia · Buckhead · Kennesaw · Buford
No Senior Should Age Alone.
We combat senior isolation through companionship, community engagement, and caring volunteers who show up.
Not a food bank. Not a generic charity. A human connection movement for seniors.
The problem
Loneliness is not a small problem.
Millions of seniors live alone, unable to drive, disconnected from family, and missing the simple dignity of regular human presence. In Atlanta, behind beautiful neighborhoods, isolation is real.
Shinning Cedars exists because companionship is not a luxury — it is a lifeline. Our volunteers visit, listen, and help seniors stay connected to community life.
“Instead of just providing food, we provide companionship and human connection.”
— Our founding mission
Our impact
Every visit matters.
Our pilot programs are reaching seniors across metro Atlanta — and every visit strengthens the community we are building together.
162
Seniors served
Seniors connected through companionship and pilot programs
10
Active volunteers
Caring people showing up for Atlanta seniors
Weekly
Companion visits
Visit cadence: Weekly
1
Mission
No senior should age alone
How it works
Connection, not charity.
A simple model built on presence, dignity, and community.
We listen
Seniors and families reach out when loneliness, grief, or lack of support makes daily life feel smaller.
We connect
Trained volunteers visit regularly — not to fix, but to be present. Conversation, companionship, and dignity.
We engage
We help seniors stay part of community life — wellness activities, peer connection, and events when possible.
We grow together
Our vision includes community transport so isolated seniors can reach appointments, gatherings, and joy.
Our community
Real people. Real connection.
Photos from our volunteers, programs, and community — shared with permission.
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Our team
Led by people who show up for seniors
A registered 501(c)(3) with a board spanning public health, community outreach, finance, and faith-based service — built to earn donor and grant trust from day one.
Rosa Magaly Solis
Executive Director
Rosa founded Shinning Cedars Charities inspired by her grandmother's lifelong habit of showing up for people who needed care. As Executive Director, she leads daily operations, volunteer coordination, and community partnerships across Buckhead and Greater Atlanta. She is hands-on with pilot programs, senior outreach, and building the culture of presence that defines our mission. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she ensures families and seniors from diverse backgrounds feel welcomed and understood.
Melony G. Fletcher
Board President
Melony brings 38+ years of executive leadership in complex organizations, with deep experience in strategic partnerships, organizational transformation, and consensus-building across diverse stakeholders. A graduate of the U.S. Army War College with a Master of Science in Strategic Studies (Negotiations), she is drawn to servant leadership and mission-driven work that improves quality of life for vulnerable adults. As Board President, she guides Shinning Cedars' governance, partnerships, and long-term strategy as the organization expands senior companionship programs across Georgia.
Vivek Inavolu
Vice Chair
Vivek is a technology and quality assurance leader with more than a decade of experience in healthcare and enterprise systems. As Vice Chair, he strengthens process rigor, compliance awareness, and the operational systems that help a young nonprofit scale responsibly. He supports the board with structured decision-making and ensures program data, volunteer workflows, and reporting meet the standards grantmakers expect.
Kahzir Wright
Board Secretary
Kahzir keeps the board's work organized, transparent, and compliant. He maintains meeting minutes, governance records, and the documentation trail that nonprofits need as they pursue grants and partnerships. His HR and workforce background brings discipline to how the organization tracks decisions, policies, and the people doing the work on the ground.
Markeefe Connally
Treasurer
Markeefe provides financial stewardship for Shinning Cedars as the organization accepts its first donations and prepares for grant funding. He reviews budgets, monitors cash flow, and helps the board make fiscally sound decisions that protect donor trust. His executive experience across multiple businesses gives the nonprofit practical financial leadership during its founding phase.
Pastor Woodrow Teague
Director of Programs & Impact
Pastor Teague leads program development and impact measurement for Shinning Cedars' senior wellness pilots. A licensed minister with deep community roots, he designs programming that blends emotional support, faith-friendly outreach, and measurable outcomes for isolated adults. He mentors volunteers, builds church and community partnerships, and ensures every program reflects dignity, warmth, and real human connection.
Eyelachew Desta
Director of Community Engagement
Eyelachew brings public health expertise and culturally responsive outreach to Shinning Cedars' community strategy. With an MSPH from Johns Hopkins and international field experience, he builds partnerships with senior centers, clinics, faith communities, and neighborhood organizations across metro Atlanta. He helps the nonprofit reach seniors who are isolated but often overlooked, and designs outreach that respects language, culture, and trust.
Ramya Vutukuri
Director of Development & Fundraising
Ramya leads development strategy, grant readiness, and the systems that turn mission into sustainable funding. She supports donor reporting, grant documentation, and the operational backbone nonprofits need to compete for foundation dollars. Her blend of human resources and technology leadership helps Shinning Cedars present a credible, data-informed case to funders while the organization scales its volunteer and program impact.
Programs
Three pilots. One mission: connection.
Community-based programs for adults 60+ experiencing loneliness or lack of social support.
Emotional Wellness Check-In Pilot
Structured weekly emotional check-ins for seniors through group sessions or one-on-one support.
Learn more
Senior Social Connection Pilot
Guided conversations, activities, and peer interaction to strengthen bonds among seniors.
Learn more
Mind & Memory Wellness Pilot
Emotional stimulation, memory activities, and mindfulness exercises for mental clarity.
Learn moreReal stories
One conversation can change a week. One friendship can change a life.
We are collecting stories from seniors and volunteers in our pilot program. Every shared story helps another donor understand why this work matters.
Give with purpose
People donate to outcomes.
Choose how your gift fights senior isolation in Atlanta.
$35
Sponsor a Senior Visit
Fund one meaningful companionship visit — a conversation that reminds someone they matter.
Sponsor a visit$35/mo
Monthly Companion
Provide ongoing connection for a senior who would otherwise spend week after week alone.
Give monthly$100
Community Connection Fund
Support group activities, wellness programming, and outreach that keeps seniors engaged.
Support programs$500+
Transportation Vision Fund
Help us toward a community vehicle so seniors can reach appointments, events, and social life.
Fund mobilityLocal roots
Rooted in Georgia. Serving Buckhead, Kennesaw, Buford & beyond.
Buckhead , Atlanta, Kennesaw, Buford
Our greatest need today is you.
We need volunteers willing to sit with a senior, share a conversation, and remind someone they are not forgotten. One hour can matter more than you know.