About – Andrew J. Young Foundation

GET TO KNOW AMBASSADOR ANDREW j. YOUNG

The Andrew J. Young Foundation’s mission is to feed the hungry, heal the sick, clothe and house the poor, and set at liberty those who are oppressed in global disputes and humanitarian crises.

The Many Lives of
Andrew J. Young

Ambassador Andrew J. Young is a civil rights icon, political figure, and diplomat who has shaped history through his leadership and advocacy. A close ally of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Young played a key role in the civil rights movement and later became the first African American elected to Congress from Georgia since Reconstruction.

Appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in 1977, he championed human rights and African decolonization. As Mayor of Atlanta (1982–1990), he led the city’s economic expansion and global recognition, turning it into an international hub of business, entertainment, art, and prosperity.

In 2003, Young founded the Andrew J. Young Foundation to advance education, health, leadership, and global human rights. His lifelong mission remains empowering communities and fostering peace worldwide.

It is a blessing to die for a cause, because you can so easily die for nothing." - Andrew J. Young

1951

Howard University

As a young child, Andrew J. Young was taught the importance of school. He understood its value, but struggled with its restrictions. He attended, but did not graduate Howard University.

1951

1955

The Minister

An ordained minister with the United Church of Christ for over six decades, he continues to preach and considers the work of the Andrew J. Young Foundation an extension of his ministry and of the Civil Rights movement itself.

1955

1957

The Civil Rights Movement

An icon of the Civil Rights movement, he worked as executive director of SCLC, the Southern Christian Leadership Council, where he became a top strategist and trusted friend to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and witnessed his assassination.

1957

1972

Congress

Andrew Young served in Congress for three terms before being appointed United States Ambassador to the United Nations by President Jimmy Carter in 1977.

1972

1977

The Ambassador

Working On Human Rights Internationally at a scale unparalleled in his time, Andy Young forged an entirely new relationship between the United States and Africa.

1977

1981

The Mayor

With no small help from his tenure as a political ambassador, Andrew J. Young was elected as the Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia in 1981. During his terms, he brought the Olympic games to Atlanta, marking one of the greatest periods of economic development ever seen in The South.

1981

2003

The Foundation

To continue the good work of Andrew J. Young long into the future, the Ambassador established his foundation in 2003.

Ever since its inception, The Andrew J. Young Foundation has worked o feed the hungry, heal the sick, clothe and house the poor, and set at liberty those who are oppressed

2003

Notable Highlights

Andrew Young

Mayor of Atlanta and The Olympics

Ambassador Young’s time as mayor led to his pivotal involvement in bringing the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games to Atlanta and served as co-chair along with Billy Payne.

Civil and Human Rights Icon

Andrew Young was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 and 2018 for his leadership role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act of 1964 and 1965, respectively, and furthering his mission to feed the hungry.

The Many Lives of Andrew Young

In 1981, President Jimmy Carter awarded Andrew Young the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his service to the United States. Most recently, France promoted him to the rank of officer in the country’s Legion of Honor (the highest honor bestowed upon citizens) for his contributions to human rights and equality.