The Extension, Inc.

04/02/2026

Charity's Story of Hope

A little more than 5 years ago, I felt only pain, desperation, and hopelessness. I could not manage life, myself, my emotions, or relationships of any kind. Today, I am very grateful for having that experience because it motivates me to continue to find deeper levels of an existence that I never dreamed was possible.
On April 8, 2021, I was dropped off at The Extension by the Barrow County Sherriff’s Office to start a journey that the judge strongly suggested I give a try. I had tried before but could not be fully honest with myself and continued to relapse. A few months after being at The Extension, I started to feel many new things. One of those was connection, then a sense of safety started to grow and it seemed as if a new world opened up for me. I finally realized that I truly wanted a better way of living and wanted to be a better person for those who loved me.
As I embraced my spirituality, I discovered the power of giving back. Helping others who are struggling, sharing my story, and providing support have become integral parts of my journey. I am passionate about inspiring hope and fostering healing in those facing challenges similar to mine. I continue to learn more about myself and grow in ways that did not seem possible just several years ago.
Today, I am proud to be a part of a community that I feel supported in and can support in return. I work as a paralegal, alongside a dedicated criminal defense and personal injury attorney. My work allows me to advocate for justice and support clients during their most difficult times, fulfilling my desire to make a positive impact. I continue to stay involved with The Extension and give back to the place that gave me everything. My relationship with my son and the rest of my family continues to grow and heal in new ways and they can now trust me to be consistent and intentional.
My life is a testament to the transformative power of recovery, faith, and service — and I continue to strive toward growth, purpose, and giving back each day.

03/25/2026

The opposite of addiction is connection! No one knows that truth better than our amazing alumni. Last weekend they held a co****le tournament and had a blast spending time together, encouraging one another, and having FUN!
We are incredibly proud of our alumni- they don't just survive, they THRIVE!

03/06/2026

THANK YOU to all of our sponsors, volunteers, committee members, staff, and golfers for making On The Ball a truly special day! Not only did we have a great time seeing everyone's costumes and enjoying the friendly competition, but this was our BIGGEST tournament yet! 🏌️‍♀️⛳️

Thanks to each and every one of you, we raised critical dollars that will go right back into our life-saving mission of recovery!

02/23/2026

Recovery Advocacy Alert

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Schedule SB 277 for a vote

SB 277 enhances the recovery efforts of Georgians suffering from Alcohol Use Disorder

Click Here: http://gc4recovery.org/take-action/ #/44

Take Action: Fight for Recovery Out Loud Join The MovementIncreasing the impact of recovery one life at a time. Sign Up! You have Successfully Subscribed!

02/12/2026

We're only a few weeks away from this year's On The Ball golf tournament! Time to start picking out your Team Name and Theme if you want a shot at the coveted Best Dressed award! 👑
🏌️Think Happy Gilmore, Caddy Shack, and anything fun that represents your team!

We can't wait to see your costumes on March 5th!

02/04/2026

We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the North Georgia State Fair! This grant is an investment in our community and will allow us to transform many lives through recovery!

Last night, the Cobb County Fair Association held its annual meeting, and we’re proud to share some meaningful milestones.

The 2025 Superior Plumbing Presents North Georgia State Fair was officially recognized as the most successful fair in the event’s 93-year history. This achievement reflects the dedication of our board, volunteers, partners, and the community that continues to support the Fair year after year.

At the meeting, Fair President Colin Meaders presented Snyder Turner of Calvary Children's Home with a $100,000 donation, reinforcing the Fair’s commitment to Calvary Children's Home.

The Board also adopted the Giving Committee’s recommendations to award an additional $405,000 in community donations, which will be presented at our Scholarship & Donations Banquet on Monday, June 8, 2026.

The following organizations were selected for support in 2026:

$15,000 grants to:
Circles of Cobb , Cobb Christmas Inc., Cobb Collaborative, Cobb Journalism Fund, Cobb Sheriff's Foundation, Inc., The Earl Smith Strand Theatre, HEAL Atlanta, Loving Arms Cancer Outreach, Marietta Firefighter Support Fund, MDE School, Miss Cobb County Scholarship Program, MUST Ministries, Simple Needs GA, Inc., Special Needs Cobb, and 10 Women of Hope.

$20,000 grants to:
The Center for Family Resources, Waymark Foster, and The Dave Krache Foundation.

$35,000 grants to:
LiveSafe Resources and The Extension, Inc..

$50,000 in matching funds to the Cobb Schools Foundation.

In addition, the 2026 North Georgia State Fair and Drew Exposition Scholarship application is now open. This year, the Fair will award ten $5,000 scholarships to graduating Cobb County high school seniors, continuing our long-standing commitment to investing in local students and the future of our community.

Link:https://www.northgeorgiastatefair.com/sholarships

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helps make the North Georgia State Fair more than an event—by turning success into real, lasting impact across our community.

See you September 24-October 4, 2026 as we celebrate 250 years of the United States of America!

01/22/2026

It may be cold this weekend but On The Ball is heating up!🔥
There's still time to be a part of the fun- sign up as a team today!

👞 No experience or fancy shoes needed!
⛳️ It's not a full day affair, just a long lunch!
🛍️ Shopping more your sport? Do some competitive bidding in our Silent Auction!

🏌️‍♀️Ready to tee it up? Contact betsy@theextension.org for more information!

01/16/2026

Join us in welcoming new Board Member Amanda Arnold!

Amanda began her career with Credit Union of Georgia in 2003 and currently serves as the Director of Community Outreach where she oversees the newly established Credit Union of Georgia Community Foundation, Business Development, and member engagement.
In recent years, Ms. Arnold has been awarded numerous Diamond Awards for Marketing Campaigns at Credit Union of Georgia from the CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council, was published in the Fall Edition of Connections, a quarterly magazine for Georgia Credit Unions, and has been the face of Credit Union of Georgia in commercials and magazine articles.

We are so excited to have Amanda on our Board and grateful to have her talents and expertise on our team!

01/09/2026

We had a great time today with this awesome group of interns from Mauldin & Jenkins CPAs & Advisors! They got to tour our Men's campus, brought resources for our new clients, and learned about resources we offer including Narcan training.

Thank you Mauldin and Jenkins for the opportunity to share our work and thank you for joining our mission of recovery in our shared community!

01/08/2026

FORE!! We're just 2 months away from On The Ball!⛳️
Join us for an afternoon of fun and friendly competition!
Not a golfer? No problem! At TopGolf, anyone can play- no fancy shoes or experience needed!

We have a few more openings for teams so grab your friends and colleagues and we'll see you at the tee!
Ready to go? Email betsymathews@theextension.org to secure your spot!

Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsors CorkHoward Construction and SA White Oil Company for making it all possible!

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! 🎆
We hope you all have a safe and happy New Year’s Day! Thank you to everyone who supported our mission in 2025- whether by volunteering your time, donating goods or financially, advocating for our work in your spheres of influence, or following us on social media! We are excited to continue our work with you in 2026!

12/27/2025

My name is Shawn McKinney.
I was born in February 1978 and raised in Marietta, Georgia.
I am the owner and operator of Handyman McKinney’s L.L.C.
I arrived at The Extension on September 1st, 2017. Broken from a life of bad choices. The Extension was the answer to a lot of desperate prayers. I began to learn about myself, why I lived the way I did and how to change, to never live that way again. As I started to rebuild my life, I began to feel a new belief that I could do more with my life.
That has become a reality in many different ways. I worked the 12 steps, I applied these spiritual principles in my everyday affairs, I got a home group and many different service positions over the years. I started my own company in 2019. I got married in 2018 to my beautiful wife Tarah. We have a beautiful daughter together, Micah (9) and 2 step sons, Tyler (22) and Kaiden (18). We are all very close. My wife and I got baptized in our faith in 2021. We are active in our congregation and study the bible regularly together as a family.
My wife and I are both active in the recovery community. Tarah is an Alumni of Ridgeview herself and holds a service commitment.
I helped start and run a men's AA meeting that has tripled in size. I am currently the president of The Alumni Group at The Extension. I have been committed to the Extension. I do service work, not as a burden but with a joyful attitude. I have been a part of the Sunday night Gratitude Meeting for about 6 years straight. Working with the guys at The Extension is definitely a highlight of my life. I sponsor guys constantly.
In my business I employ men from The Extension as well. I run my company like I run my life, with honesty, integrity, and willingness. I enjoy making beautiful spaces for people and their families. All in all I give praise where praise is due, to God Himself. He always opens doors for me to walk through to better myself and the people around me.