2024 Journeys Magazine
In Memory
Remembering Anne Sterchi
The Skyland Trail community mourns the loss of Anne Sterchi, executive director of the J.B. Fuqua Foundation and long-time friend of Skyland Trail. Anne passed away August 17, 2024, at the age of 69.
“Anne was just a phenomenal person,” says Skyland Trail president & CEO Beth Finnerty. “She made a huge impact on so many parts of our city, especially the arts and health care communities.”
Sterchi began working for the J.B. Fuqua Foundation in 2004, helping to implement the vision of the private family foundation under the leadership of first J.B. and Dorothy C. Fuqua and then their son, J. Rex Fuqua.
Working closely with the Fuqua family, Anne Sterchi was an integral part of all of these partnerships, as she was with many nonprofit partnerships across the city. Finnerty recalls that Sterchi took time to learn about populations in need of services as well as the nonprofits working to meet those needs. “She was very thoughtful in advising the Fuquas on their giving and made an impact as a philanthropist herself.”
Finnerty also considered Sterchi a close personal friend. Says Finnerty, “She was loved by many, and she embraced life to its fullest. She was really a force of nature. She will be missed.”
Skyland Trail expresses our condolences to the Sterchi family and all who are mourning her loss.
Remembering Jenny Pruitt
The Skyland Trail community mourns the loss of Jenny Pruitt. Pruitt passed away in September 2024 at the age of 85 after a battle with cancer.
Pruitt was a long-time supporter of Skyland Trail. She was involved in the Skyland Trail Associates, sponsoring the annual Associates Spring Luncheon nearly annually since 2009. She also provided support through our Benefits of Laughter event. As Benefits of Laughter chair in 2020, she helped raise more than $1 million, despite a virtual format due to the pandemic.
Pruitt was a giant in the Atlanta real estate world. She began her career in real estate in 1968, and established Jenny Pruitt & Associates in 1988. She and her business partner, David Boehmig, opened Atlanta Fine Homes – Sotheby’s International Realty in 2007, which employs 575 agents in metro Atlanta and generated more than $3.7 billion in sales in 2023.
In addition to Skyland Trail, Pruitt was active in many civic and philanthropic organizations in Atlanta and was recognized with many awards for her achievements and contributions.
“Jenny was an integral part of Skyland’s Trail growth,” says Beth Finnerty. “In addition to supporting us through her philanthropy, as she introduced newcomers to Atlanta, she introduced them to nonprofits like Skyland Trail. She encouraged civic engagement as an avenue to get to know their new city and their new neighbors. Every Skyland Trail event includes dozens of individuals who learned about Skyland Trail through Jenny. She was a good friend to Skyland Trail and to me.”
