By Maria Saporta

Without question, the most influential board in Atlanta is the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, the largest philanthropy in the Southeast.

Now, for the first time in its 86-year history, it no longer has an all-white male board of trustees.

At its last board meeting on April 4, the Woodruff trustees voted in Joseph A. Arnold, who spent 40 years with Trust Company Bank/SunTrust/Truist before retiring in September 2021. For the last 20 years at the bank, Arnold ran the Not-for-Profit and Government Banking Division in Georgia. He also has been deeply engaged with numerous nonprofit boards in metro Atlanta.

Arnold, a “Grady baby,” grew up in Vine City where he lived until he was 14. Although a modest community, Arnold fondly recalled the thriving historic African American community where he could walk to school and neighborhood stores.

“It was an easy, unanimous decision,” Woodruff. Foundation Chair Jenner Wood said in a telephone interview. “This was just about who was the right person. And the right person in the mind of all of us was Joe, not whether he was Black or White.”

Jenner Wood, Jimmy Williams and Russ Hardin in 2018 upon Wood becoming chair of the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. (Photo by Maria Saporta.)

Russ Hardin, president of the Woodruff Foundation, was equally enthusiastic.

“We have known and worked with Joe for years,” Hardin said. “He has been a leader and a tremendously positive influence in our community – particularly in the nonprofit sector. He is passionate about Atlanta and will contribute much to our foundation. He is also a really nice guy. The staff and trustees of the Woodruff Foundation are thrilled he has joined our board.”

Arnold understood the significance of being asked to join the Woodruff Foundation board.

“Atlanta wouldn’t be what it is today if it weren’t for the Woodruff Foundation,” Arnold said during an interview April 30 at Alon’s in Buckhead. “Everybody who is…