Atlanta, Georgia – A round of golf at Chastain Park turned into a six-figure boost for Atlanta students this week, with the 2026 Mayor’s Cup raising $161,518 for young people pursuing education beyond high school.
The money will go directly to the Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Program, adding new support at a time when more than 150 Atlanta students are already receiving assistance while attending 50 universities during the current school year.
The annual Mayor’s Cup Golf Tournament brought 130 golfers to Chastain Park Golf Course on Wednesday, Sept. 23. But the event stretched well beyond the players on the course. About 230 people attended overall, including community leaders, City employees and students who have benefited from the scholarship program.
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Before golfers headed out, Mayor Andre Dickens pointed to the practical impact behind the fundraising total.
“What we’re doing here really makes a difference,” Dickens told participants.
This year’s $161,518 contribution adds to a scholarship effort that has already distributed substantial funding. More than $500,000 has been awarded through the Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Program this semester alone. Since Dickens took office, the program has awarded more than $2.5 million.
That means the latest tournament total is part of a much larger flow of assistance reaching students across Atlanta. With recipients currently enrolled at 50 universities, the program’s reach extends well beyond one campus or one graduating class.
The Mayor’s Cup is one of the ways the City raises money each year for the scholarship program, helping students cover the cost of continuing their education after high school.
Corporate and community sponsors also played a major role in the event. Delta Air Lines served as the tournament’s only Master’s Level sponsor, while Hudson/Avolta participated as the Ace Sponsor.
Birdie sponsors included Centennial Yards, AFRCA, Russell, SJAC Food Groups, Digital Realty and Concessions International.
The mix of golfers, sponsors, City workers and scholarship recipients reflected the broader structure of the effort itself: a community event on one day feeding resources into an education program that operates throughout the school year.
For the more than 150 students receiving support this year, the Mayor’s Cup total represents another pool of funding directed toward the next stage of their education.
And for the City, the 2026 tournament added another $161,518 to a scholarship program that has now distributed millions of dollars under the current administration, continuing an annual effort built around one straightforward goal, helping more Atlanta students afford what comes after high school.
