STEPHEN WOODS

WOODS--Stephen J. Innovator, leader, humanitarian, mentor, visionary, lover of life and friend to multitudes, passed away of heart failure on July 25, 2021 at his home in Ocean Ridge, FL. He spent his final days with those closest to him, living life and enjoying nature and passed peacefully with his beloved husband by his side. Growing up in Florida, Stephen developed a passion for nature and the water. His early years were spent terrorizing his parents with multiple daredevil escapades, collecting snakes, driving a hearse and living on a commune. Along the way he discovered a passion for food and cooking which led him to become first the executive chef and later CEO of Open Hand Atlanta, an organization initially founded by Michael Edwards to provide meals for those living with HIV/AIDS. Never one to be confined by boundaries, Stephen challenged the status quo of how nutrition was delivered to those in need. Under his guidance, Open Hand expanded its' mission from feeding 15 souls to over 10,000 per day to those living with chronic diseases. He created a partnership to train underserved individuals in the culinary profession, placing hundreds in paying jobs and introduced the concept of social entrepreneurship to fund Open Hand's mission. His extraordinary vision fed thousands and continues to this day as Open Hand thrives and now provides nutritious meals to those in need throughout the entire state of Georgia. His partnerships over the years with other non-profits enabled them to re-tool their models to stay relevant and continue to serve their communities. He is survived by his husband Mark Cimino, his mother Margaret Woods, his brothers James Woods, Mike Woods, their families and countless friends and colleagues. Donations in his name may be made to Open Hand Atlanta: www.projectopenhand.org