Nuci's Space was created in honor of Nuci Phillips who was a talented musician and student at the University of Georgia until he took his own life in 1996. Nuci suffered from depression, and so the Foundation created a place where musicians could seek mental health treatment without stigma. During our visit, we could see why the foundation has been so successful at attracting musicians and saving lives, from the sound-treated practice rooms to the people behind its mission. We had the opportunity to meet Nuci's mother Linda, as well as Bob Sleppy, who spoke very candidly about their personal motivation behind the cause.
We also met with Heather Benham of Athens Land Trust who is working to create energy-efficient and affordable housing for the Athens community. At the same time, the organization is responsible for protecting 1200 acres of farmland and forestland. We learned that land trusts are playing a large role in natural resource protection--more than 6.2 million acres of greenspace in the U.S. is protected by land trusts according to a recent census.
Our greenbreaking has inspired us to leave a development footprint that's as green and responsible as Athens Land Trust, and to create a hotel environment that's as welcoming and memorable as Nuci's Space. One detail about Nuci's Space that was particularly striking was its location in Athens, just in front of the tower where Athens' most famous band used to practice--how's that for tribute?
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2 comments:
Thank you for including Nuçi’s Space in your plans for Hotel Indigo in Athens. The idea to forgo the traditional groundbreaking ceremony and have a "greenbreaking" instead was a great one. We appreciate the thoughtfulness of your efforts to divert funds, normally reserved for groundbreaking, to support community initiatives in Athens. We are honored to be selected, along with the Athens Land Trust, as a recipient of your generous gift. We will use the gift to continue our fight to prevent suicide, raise depression awareness and promote the overall well-being of musicians. We wish you all the best of luck.
Sincerely,
Bob Sleppy
Nuçi’s Space
www.nuci.org
We'd also like to thank you for the thoughtful donation. This "greenbreaking" gift will be put to good use protecting important greenspace around Athens.
Many Thanks,
Heather Benham
Athens Land Trust
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