Carolyn Polakowski

She has consistently exceeded goals and objectives in progressively challenging leadership positions. She was on the inaugural team responsible for the establishment and launch of innovative philanthropy for the pacesetting healthcare internet company WebMD at the dawn of the Internet; she led a corporate foundation that completed its mission and was adopted as a national model for Medicaid expansion for low-income children, serving on multiple planning committees of the Georgia Health Policy Center for the Georgia CHIP state-led program, today known as PeachCare for Kids. She led a pediatric foundation supporting medically fragile children to grow beyond metro Atlanta statewide, quadrupling its budget but more importantly, the number of children aided with medical equipment and services.   

Carolyn is a native of McLean, Virginia, a stone’s throw from the Potomac River and Washington, D.C.  She attended the University of South Carolina and studied at Ludwigs Maximillian Universität in Munich, Germany, a city she feels lucky to visit often and think of as her other home, as so many dear friends she met some 40 years ago continue to be part of her extended family.  That German connection actually introduced her to the nonprofit sector, after graduating from college, she worked in Washington D.C. for a German American Heritage Museum.  That led to a move to the Midwest and her long-time passion for advocating for those with special needs.  She led the development department for a school for children with learning disabilities and found a niche in the world of child and pediatric service as a newlywed in Atlanta 35+ years ago, serving first as Foundation Director at Scottish Rite Children’s Medical Center (now Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta) and later launching the Caring Foundation at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia.  After 10 years of service in her most beloved position as Executive Director of the Fragile Kids Foundation, working to provide medical equipment not covered by insurance or Medicaid to Georgia’s most medically fragile and special needs children, she took the plunge to try something completely different… 

In 2015 Carolyn launched Cay Communications, LLC, a nonprofit consulting and direct services firm. Her vision to gather a professional team with expertise in all areas of the nonprofit sector to “light the way for great organizations to make a greater impact” has been realized. The group offers meaningful counsel to establish organizational goals, conducting the needs and assets assessment tools required before a great idea turns into a great nonprofit Mission and Vision.  This includes Logo Design, Programming Planning and Implementation, Case Statement Development, Organizational Infrastructure Planning, Identifying Target Constituencies to be served, and Goals and Timelines Planning.  

Cay Communications, LLC has a team with extensive special events experience for nonprofits to secure the maximum “friend” and fundraising results as well. Her greatest source of pride since beginning this journey is the number of organizations referred to her by those nonprofits she has worked with in the past. 

Carolyn tries to practice what she preaches about the importance of volunteering and stays active with projects that sing to her heart.  She is a founding board member of Camp Trach Me Away, a special overnight camping and family education program for children living with tracheotomies and ventilators, as well as Daniel’s Fight, supporting research for a cure for the rare neurological disorder, Alexander’s Disease.  She is also an active supporter of Girl Power to Cure, raising funds for research and awareness for Rett’s Syndrome, a rare seizure disorder that predominately affects only girls.  She is the Past President (2019/20 and 2021/22) of the East Cobb Civitan Club, also serving as the Civitan International Georgia District’s Public Relations Chair.  In January 2021 she joined the board of Camp Big Heart, a statewide program for children and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, adopted as a signature project state-wide by Civitan Clubs.  She is also a member of the Circle for Children. She is a member of the Georgia Grant Writing Association and is certified in Board Governance and Training; is also a member of the Cobb Collaborative, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Cobb Executive Women, The Atlanta Better Business Bureau, Special Needs Cobb, and the Association of Professional Fundraisers.  Carolyn was nominated in 2019, 2020, and 2021 as East Cobb “Citizen of the Year” at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and in 2021, was selected among the area “celebrities” to participate in the MUST Ministries “Dancing with the Stars” competition, MUST Dance, an endeavor for which she secured nearly $20,000 in new funding for MUST programs.  She likens the experience to what she imagines jumping out of a plane would feel like:  If you have done it once, no need to try it again! 

Carolyn is married to Bill, the most patient man on the planet who supports her need for relentless volunteering, and they reside in Marietta, Georgia. 

The Polakowskis have four children, two wonderful sons-in-law and are grandparents of Rosie, Roswell and Everett.