Anthony Gates is an Atlanta native, with a heart to serve his city. He is a walking example of the work he and our team are doing, and a testament to God’s grace. He was raised by his mother, had lost his father to suicide by age six, developed a severe stutter by 10, and was diagnosed with ADHD. Held back in the 6th grade, he was also struggling to control his anger. In response to his shortcomings, his mother enrolled him into Atlanta Youth Academy, which was also paired with the Atlanta Speech School. Over time, Anthony thrived in AYA’s loving yet highly structured and demanding environment. Dedicated mentors, caring teachers, and alert community members worked with him on his speech. After graduating from AYA, Anthony attended Whitfield Academy where he flourished academically and athletically. In May 2015, with a business degree from Morehouse College (Atlanta), Anthony became his family's first-ever college graduate. In 2015 he was asked to return to his alma mater and became the Athletic and After-school director of Atlanta Youth Academy. In 2018, he came on to serve as the Director of Operations here at PAWKids and has been here ever since.