In 2020, Westside Future Fund launched its Program Related Investments (PRIs). PRIs are low-cost loans made with favorable terms to support the growth of minority enterprises. WFF provided these PRIs to small, minority-owned businesses that are based in or serve Atlanta’s historic Westside. Unlike traditional banking institutions, PRIs offer a viable solution to organizations that are gaining traction and doing important work within the community.
WFF has launched a new series, “Empowering Entrepreneurs on the Westside,” featuring PRI recipients and highlighting their contributions to the historic Westside. In this installment, Georgette “GG” Reynolds, founder of JuicedUp, tells the story of how her son inspired her to create a business that supports health and wellness for all.
When she first got the news In 2017, it was all new to Georgette Reynolds. Her son Gage had just been diagnosed with autism, an often challenging diagnosis for both the individual and the family – but Georgette wasn’t fazed. In fact, she was inspired.
“That day, my son was given his title of superpowers. As a parent, I didn’t know much about autism and I had to go out and seek resources to help. At the same time, I was making this juice and as we know the gut and the brain are deeply connected and if I could take care of his gut I could help his brain function, and boom JuicedUp was born,” said Reynolds. “I first started making juice to help my sick father even before that. I’ve always believed in the power of juice, but the business didn’t start until I realized the value to my son and others as well. When people ask how I got started, I always say it was the father, the son, and my spirit to serve.”
That’s when she started on her mission. For Reynolds, she believes individuals with autism are too often given limitations in life – told what jobs they can and can’t do, what things they can and can’t accomplish when in her eyes and in the eyes of others, they’re just as capable as anyone else.
“JuicedUp exists because autistic people exist. My goal and driven passion is to create jobs, educational resources and additional platforms for autistic individuals to thrive in life,” said Reynolds.
The Westside community has been critical to JuicedUp’s success according to Reynolds. When faced by countless challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to economic turmoil, small business owners have joined together to ensure that nobody was left behind. Seeing how the community came together and given her own history there, she knows the Westside is home for the future.
“I started in a community kitchen called Marddy’s Kitchen, and the role they played was so important. I met so many people, made connections, and everyone supported each other,” said Reynolds. “And for me, this community is personal. I grew up on the Westside, my family is on the Westside, I have to give this to my community. I owe it to myself and I owe it to my community. I got even more specific with the autistic because there aren’t many resources for them in underserved communities, specifically this one and southwest Atlanta.”
When the Westside Future Fund heard about her mission, there wasn’t a question that Reynolds and JuicedUp were playing a critical role for the community, which is why they were named a recipient of the Program Related Investment (PRI) program. The funding from the program immediately went into action according to Reynolds, helping her to establish the company’s first retail space.
WFF’s mission is to advance a compassionate approach to neighborhood revitalization. This mission requires a holistic investment into the communities we serve, including supporting local business owners. Our philanthropic partners make initiatives like WFF’s PRI program possible.
Join us in supporting our work as we continue Our Next Chapter.