For the third year, the Chrysalis Club hosted a members’ Party with a Purpose Dec. 9 to generate next-generation support for the Visiting Nurse Health Systems in Atlanta.

The full-moon evening at the Northside home of Wick and Gardiner Garrard, two of the group’s founding members, had a festive holiday mood to celebrate the ongoing philanthropic efforts for the Visiting Nurse Health systems.

Donna O’Brien, executive director of Visiting Nurse / Hospice Atlanta, spoke to guests about the needs of the uninsured and the compassionate, interdisciplinary care given to patients and their families by the varied Visiting Nurse programs. Funds of this year’s event went to the nonprofit’s underinsured patients.

Founding members serving as the host committee co-chairs were Wick Gerrard, Paige Vohs and David Ghegan.

Launched in 2009, the club was initiated to attract young community leaders to volunteer opportunities supporting the Visiting Nurse Health System. Guests at the party were introduced to the energetic founding members and urged to sign on to help with special event fundraising and volunteer assignments such as Camp STAR and the compassionate end-of-life Hospice programs for adults and children.

The Visiting Nurse Health System, a United Way community partner, was founded in 1948 and is Georgia’s nonprofit provider of healthcare at home. Its mission is to improve the lives of 22,000 patients and families served in metro Atlanta each year. Financial support comes from individuals, foundations and corporations to provide compassionate care for patients regardless of age, diagnosis or ability to pay.

Information: (404) 215-6012 or www.vnhs.org.

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The nsoro Foundation will present its Mardi Gras Starfish Ball Jan 7 at the St. Regis in Buckhead to benefit young students emancipated from foster care with mentoring and scholarship aid to attend college.

Founded in 2005 by Darrell J. Mays to increase educational opportunities for children in foster care, the nonprofit nsoro Foundation’s name comes from the Ghanan word “nsoromma” meaning “belief in a higher being.” The name is always printed in lowercase letters to signify humility.

The Starfish Ball event name is adopted from “The Starfish Poem” about changing lives. This year’s honoree will be an nsoro scholar who grew up in foster care, graduated from high school, applied and was accepted to college and currently maintains the highest overall GPA of eligible students.

Following the colorful Mardi Gras theme, Queen Millie Smith of Sandy Springs will reign with King Pete Sandore. Smith and her husband Steve, an NBA TV analyst and former Atlanta Hawk, have been donors and supporters through their Steve Smith Charitable Fund since nsoro’s inception. Sandore is president and CEO of Sabre Industries Inc. and a stalwart nsoro patron.

Heading the patron committee lineup are Northsiders Vicki and John Palmer, Sandra Anderson Baccus, Al Longman, Su So-Longman, Jack Sawyer and Dr. Bill Torres.

“In the U.S. only 2 percent of children in foster care get to attend college. We are working to improve this sad statistic,” said Cynthia Moreland, nsoro’s executive director and a Buckhead resident.

The foundation’s mission is to cultivate a “circle of support” that nurtures and inspires emancipated foster-care young adults transitioning from foster homes, group homes and, in some cases, homelessness as they embark on their academic career and college life. It matches each nsoro scholar with a caring adult mentor to provide alternative housing, scholarships, emotional support and encouragement through the journey from high school to college and a meaningful life.

Tickets and information: (404) 574-6763 or www.thenf.org.