About Us
700+ Scholarships Awarded Through Scholarships
Helping children of injured workers pursue college, technical, and trade education since 1988.
Our Mission
Kids’ Chance of Georgia, Inc. is dedicated to providing educational scholarships to the children of Georgia workers who have been seriously, catastrophically, or fatally injured in work-related accidents.
As an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, our mission is simple but powerful: ensure that a parent’s workplace injury does not prevent a child from pursuing higher education.
Since our founding, Kids’ Chance of Georgia has awarded scholarships to more than 700 deserving students. Today, scholarships are awarded at $5,000–$6,000 per academic year, helping students pursue college, technical, and trade education with greater financial confidence.
Through the generosity of donors, corporate partners, and community supporters, Kids’ Chance of Georgia continues to provide life-changing educational opportunities for students whose families have been impacted by serious workplace injuries and fatalities.
We envision a time when every eligible child affected by a parent’s work-related injury or death can pursue their educational dreams without financial burden.
Why Kids’ Chance of Georgia Exists
When a worker suffers a life-changing injury or fatal workplace accident, the financial and emotional impact on their family can be immediate and overwhelming. For many students, college plans are suddenly put at risk.
Kids’ Chance of Georgia steps in at this critical moment, providing scholarships that help students remain focused on their education, their goals, and their future.
Many of the students we support attend colleges, universities, trade schools, and technical programs across the country, proving that a workplace tragedy does not have to define a child’s future.
Scholarships are renewable for up to five years (10 semesters) for students who maintain at least a 2.0 GPA and submit required academic documentation.
Our History
Kids’ Chance of Georgia was founded in 1988 by Robert Clyatt, a workers’ compensation attorney from Valdosta, Georgia.
Through his legal work, Mr. Clyatt witnessed firsthand the devastating ripple effects that serious workplace injuries had on workers’ families, particularly their children’s ability to afford college.
With the support of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Georgia Bar, he established the first Kids’ Chance organization in the nation.
What began in Georgia has since grown into a national movement.
Kids’ Chance of America was later formed, and today, Kids’ Chance programs operate in 49 states, providing need-based scholarships to children of seriously injured workers across the country.
Kids’ Chance of Georgia remains proud to be the founding organization and a model for sister programs nationwide.
Our Board of Directors
Kids’ Chance of Georgia is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors made up of leaders from the legal, insurance, medical, and business communities. Their commitment ensures strong stewardship of donor funds and continued expansion of scholarship opportunities for eligible students and families.
Robert M. Clyatt, Esq.
Robert M.Clyatt, PC
Founder & Chairman of the Board
rclyatt@ryan-lawllc.com
Greg S. Dorsey
CPCU, AICCompTrust AGC
President
gdorsey@ctmcic.com
Rebecca K. Halberg
Stottlemyer & Associates, LLC
Vice President
rebecca@stottlemyerlaw.com
Gregg Porter
Savell & Williams, LLP
Secretary/Treasurer
gporter@savellwilliams.com
Michelle Lutz Hays
Comprehensive Care Group
Director
michelle@compcaregroup.net
Heather Froy, Esq.
Sadow and Froy
Director
hfroy@sadow-law.com
Sgt. Fredrick Harper
City of Atlanta
Director
director@defenseandawareness.com
Mike Coan
Barrow-Braselton Joint Economic Development Authority
Director
Tracey Reid
Trinity Medical Management
Director
Tracey@TriMedMgmt.com
Hon. Jeffrey Kight
Superior Court of Georgia,
First District
Director
jhkight@gmail.com
Randy Rizor, MD
The Physicians Pain & Rehabilitation Specialists of Georgia
Director
rrizor@thephysicians.com
Courtney Colina
Paulding County School System
Director
courtneylynn8937@gmail.com
Ben Vinson
GA Board of Workers' Compensation
Director
vinsonb@sbwc.ga.gov
Terry Newsom, Jr.
UA Local Union 72
Director
TNewsome@ua72.org
Cindy Parham
AGC Georgia
Director
parham@agcga.org
Liz Smith
Georgia Power Company
Director
lizsmith@southernco.com
Kids' Chance of America Council of State Delegates
Kids’ Chance of Georgia works closely with national leadership to expand scholarship access and strengthen support for families affected by workplace injuries.
Lori Ellwood, RN, ONC
Resurgens Spine Center Director
ellwoodla@resurgens.com
Richard L. Duhe, M.A., L.P.C.
Mental Health Therapist - Michael C. Hilton, M.D.
richardduhe@michaelhiltonmd.com
Directors Emeritus
We honor the individuals whose leadership and service helped build the foundation of Kids’ Chance of Georgia.
Lendon Gibbs
Dick Dorsey (in memoriam)
Yvette Miller
Doug McCoy (in memoriam)
John Ross (in memoriam)
Polly Hale
Ann Bishop
Connie Chandler
Joe Leman
Hon. Carolyn Hall
Management
Lynda Snyder Smith
Executive Director
lyndasmith@kidschancega.org
Lise Weaver
Financial & General Operations Coordinator
liseweaver@kidschancega.org