Our Story
Kevin and his wife, Gwen, embarked on an unexpected adventure when they attended a local DFACS parenting class. What began as a fun date night led them to foster and ultimately adopt a child into their family. The ensuing years were not easy, but they were life-changing in the best possible way.
Kevin and Gwen knew they wanted to create space for others to experience this kind of "new ground," a place where people could let down their guard, renew their relationships, and grow together. In gratitude to the community that stood with their family through the challenging seasons, they began to share a vision for a foundation that would champion other vulnerable families and multiply the impact of the agencies serving them.
In 2016, Kevin and Gwen found the perfect blank canvas, a tiny white house located on 15- acres of historic farmland in the heart of Canton, Georgia. New Ground Foundation was born out of their experience and desire to create a community center that would be their legacy.
Today, New Ground Foundation delivers world-class hospitality on its beautiful property and supports nonprofits addressing education gaps, food insecurity, language learning, and child welfare. We love celebrating the first responders who uplift our community and often provide scholarships for them to attend our own New Ground-hosted workshops and events.
Our Team
Bio
Kevin Williams has been a Chick-fil-A franchisee for 31 years and is the author of the bestseller, Irrational Kindness: The Crazy Pursuit of an Extraordinary Life. He holds a degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Georgia, and serves on a number of community foundations and boards, including Reinhardt University, Cherokee County Education Foundation, Goshen Valley, UNTOLD, and MUST Ministries, and is a Love Does advocate. Kevin and his wife, Gwen, are the proud parents of four children and grandparents to Declan, Daisy, and Delilah. The best days include a good walk, cheering on UGA, and exploring creative places and spaces.
Bio
Gwen Williams grew up in Raleigh, NC and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She graduated in 1990 with a B.A. in English. She loves animals and serves as the foundation’s farm director. When you’re here, say hello to her special friends, Hazel (the dog), donkeys (Beau and Buck), goats (Jack, Diane, and Alex), and our new sheep, Robert (also known as B-a-a-a-b). Gwen volunteers with Heaven’s Gait Therapeutic Riding Facility, and serves on the Board of Directors of Angel House in Canton. She plays tennis and rides horses. In her spare time she loves going on dates and trying new restaurants with her amazing husband and co-founder of the foundation, Kevin.
Bio
Chantel Adams has worked in the nonprofit space for more than 25 years. In 2018, she founded Mission Driven Woman, a little place on the Internet where she helps growth-minded women reconcile the choices they've made with the legacy they’ll leave. She was a member of the Canton 2040 Visionary Team and past Board Chair of Highland Rivers Health. She currently serves as President of the Atlanta Chi Omega Alumnae Chapter, is on the Board of Directors for Woodstock Arts, and is a school council representative for Woodstock High School. Chantel and her husband, Gavin, live in Woodstock. Her perfect day includes hot tea, a good book, and rocking chair conversations with her best friends.