Knoxville, Tenn. – Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley are in the running to win $200k in free cloud computing services from Claris Networks, LLC. Please share the link below and cast your vote for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley!
http://clarisnetworks.com/About-Us/Cloud-Giveaway
For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, visit www.bgctnv.org.
Knoxville, Tenn. – Tomorrow, one hundred youth from Boys & Girls Clubs in Blount, Loudon and North Anderson Counties will experience a day in downtown Knoxville full of fun and holiday memories – all sponsored by Regal Entertainment Group.
The youth will be given hats, scarves and gloves, admission to Holidays on Ice skating rink in downtown Knoxville’s Market Square and lunch at a downtown restaurant.
The event is tomorrow, December 20. Group One will eat lunch at Downtown Grill & Brewery from 11 a.m. to noon and ice skate in Market Square from noon to 1:30 p.m. Group Two will eat lunch at Latitude 35 from noon to 1 p.m. and ice skate in Market Square from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
“We are so thankful to Regal Entertainment Group for sponsoring this field trip to downtown Knoxville for our youth,” said John D. Lee, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley. “Tomorrow’s activities will create lasting memories for the youth who participate – and enjoying an afternoon in downtown Knoxville will be a first for many of these kids. It will truly be a day to remember.”
Please contact Sarah Malak Pope at 865.584.0550 (w), 615.542.2999 (m) or spope@ackermannpr.com to arrange interviews and/or a visit. Boys & Girls Club staff and youth will be available for interviews.
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About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
Boys & Girls Clubs currently serves more than 5,600 youth and teens, ages 5 to 17 years throughout the Tennessee Valley region. The organization also provides 404,401 USDA hot meals and snacks annually for youth free of charge. The Clubs serve a variety of youth, more than 80% of whom live with a single parent, foster parent or other nontraditional guardian. There are 16 Club locations strategically placed throughout Knox, Blount, Loudon and Northern Anderson Counties. The organization employs more than 260 trained, professional, caring staff and welcomes more than 1,200 volunteers annually. It is a charter member of United Way.
Media Contact:
Sarah Malak Pope
Phone: 865.584.0550
spope@ackermannpr.com
Knoxville, Tenn. – On Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 4:30 p.m., Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning will host a holiday party at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley’s Moses Teen Center for 200 teens from Knox, Blount, and North Anderson Counties.
Due to pro football season being in session, Manning will not be able to attend, but he is sending each of the members a special gift package and providing pizza and drinks. Manning and the PeyBack Foundation have sponsored this event for the teen members for the past seven years.
The Moses Teen Center is located at 220 Carrick Street, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37921. The event will take place in the auditorium on the second floor.
“For the past seven years, Peyton Manning has brightened the holiday season by donating needed items as well as a pizza party for deserving members. Since his involvement as a summer staff member at the Boys & Girls Clubs many years ago, he realizes not only what impact he has had on our members, but also the impact that our members have had on him. We appreciate his loyalty to our organization and to our community,” said John D. Lee, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley.
Manning’s relationship with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley goes back to his college days at the University of Tennessee. Manning is a former staff member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, as he worked for two summers as a participant in the Athlete Reading Program. He was also the featured speaker at the 2006 Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame and Induction Ceremony, an annual event that benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley.
Interviews and photo opportunities may be arranged on site. For more information, call Anna Beth Meccia at (865) 232-1120 or Sarah Malak Pope at spope@ackermannpr.com.
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ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY: The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley serves 5,600 children through 15 locations in Knox, Loudon, Blount and North Anderson Counties. On average, 1,200 youth, ranging from 5 to 17 years of age, walk through the Clubs’ doors daily. Programs at the Boys & Girls Clubs encourage youth to aspire to BE GREAT by increasing academic success, encouraging healthy lifestyles and developing productive citizens.
John D. Lee with Lawrence Hahn, former Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oak Ridge and Boys & Girls Clubs in Tennessee Hall of Fame member
The Boys & Girls Clubs in Tennessee Hall of Fame is open to any individual who has provided exceptional service to a Boys & Girls Club(s) in Tennessee, either from Club membership, serving as staff or on a board of directors, volunteering or any other beneficial service.
Lee, who recently announced his retirement of BGCTNV as President and CEO, has spent more than 40 years of his career working with the organization. He began as Assistant Executive Director in 1970 and he is only the second President/CEO in the organization’s history since its inception in 1943.
Lee’s retirement is effective Dec. 31, 2011. Lisa Hurst, current Executive Vice President of BGCTNV, has been named his successor.
L to R: John D. Lee (Tennessee Valley), Farzin Ferdowsi (Middle Tennessee), Chuck Owens (Kingsport), Steve McKinney (Rutherford County), James H. Tucker (Cleveland) (not pictured Bernal E. Smith, Sr. (Greater Memphis))
For more information about John D. Lee and the Boys & Girls Clubs in Tennessee Hall of Fame, contact Sarah Pope at (865) 584-0550 or spope@ackermannpr.com.
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About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
Boys & Girls Clubs currently serves more than 5,600 youth and teens, ages 5 to 17 years throughout the Tennessee Valley region. The organization also provides 404,401 USDA hot meals and snacks annually for youth free of charge. The Clubs serve a variety of youth, more than 80% of whom live with a single parent, foster parent or other nontraditional guardian. There are 16 Club locations strategically placed throughout Knox, Blount, Loudon and Northern Anderson Counties. The organization employs more than 260 trained, professional, caring staff and welcomes more than 1,200 volunteers annually. It is a charter member of United Way.
Knoxville, Tenn. – Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley’s Haslam Family Club University got a facelift on Tuesday when a dozen volunteers from Alcoa Inc. came to plant trees and flowers, interact with Club members and present a $15,000 check for the LEGO Robotics grant.
WATE-TV stopped by the Club on Tuesday to learn about the project. Click on the photo to see the story!
WATE-TV Coverage of Alcoa Inc. Work Day at BGCNTV
Lisa Hurst
“The board is thrilled that Lisa has accepted the position of president and CEO,” said R.L. “Bunny” Oakes, III, chairman of the organization’s Corporate Board of Directors. “The search committee conducted an extremely thorough national search for the new President and Lisa came out as the top candidate. Her passion and dedication to the Boys & Girls Clubs are what is necessary to succeed as President and CEO, and we know she is the perfect fit.”
“I’m excited to lead the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley into this next phase,” said Hurst. “I firmly believe that I can provide the leadership to our team to fulfill our vision of ensuring that every child in our community has access to our programs, achieves academic success, lives a healthy lifestyle, and becomes a productive citizen.”
Current BGCTNV President and CEO John D. Lee recently announced his retirement from the organization. His retirement is effective December 31, 2011.
Hurst is available for media interviews. For more information or to set up an interview with Lisa Hurst, contact Sarah Pope at (865) 584-0550 or spope@ackermannpr.com.
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About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
Boys & Girls Clubs currently serves more than 5,600 youth and teens, ages 5 to 17 years throughout the Tennessee Valley region. The organization also provides 404,401 USDA hot meals and snacks annually for youth free of charge. The Clubs serve a variety of youth, more than 80% of whom live with a single parent, foster parent or other nontraditional guardian. There are 16 Club locations strategically placed throughout Knox, Blount, Loudon and Northern Anderson Counties. The organization employs more than 260 trained, professional, caring staff and welcomes more than 1,200 volunteers annually. It is a charter member of United Way.
Knoxville, Tenn. – Edfinancial Services and its Chairman, President and CEO Tony Hollin have been named recipients of the Boys & Girls Clubs Tennessee Area Council C.A.R.E. (Children Are Reason for Excellence) Service Award. The state-wide C.A.R.E. Award provides recognition to individuals who have made significant contributions to the quality of life for at-risk youth in Tennessee.
Tony Hollin, Chairman, President and CEO of Edfinancial Services and member of BGCTNV Corporate Board of Directors
Hollin is a member of the Corporate Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley (BGCTNV) and has served on the marketing and communications committee, property committee and annual giving committee.
“Tony and Edfinancial’s philanthropic roles in the Tennessee Valley region have had an enormous impact on the community, especially through their commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley,” said John D. Lee, President and CEO of BGCTNV.
“The company’s employees work every day to make a compelling difference in the lives of the students and families they serve by donating time, energy and funding – as both a company and individual associates,” said Lee.
Hollin was a member of the Boys Club of Valdosta and spent his youth playing sports at the Club, which enabled him to play high school and collegiate football.
For more information about Tony Hollin and Edfinancial and their contributions to BGCTNV, contact Sarah Pope at (865) 584-0550 or spope@ackermannpr.com.
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About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
Boys & Girls Clubs currently serves more than 5,600 youth and teens, ages 5 to 17 years throughout the Tennessee Valley region. The organization also provides 404,401 USDA hot meals and snacks annually for youth free of charge. The Clubs serve a variety of youth, more than 80% of whom live with a single parent, foster parent or other nontraditional guardian. There are 16 Club locations strategically placed throughout Knox, Blount, Loudon and Northern Anderson Counties. The organization employs more than 260 trained, professional, caring staff and welcomes more than 1,200 volunteers annually. It is a charter member of United Way.
Media Contact:
Sarah Malak Pope
(865) 584-0550
spope@ackermannpr.com
John D. Lee
Knoxville, Tenn. ― After spending four decades of his professional career with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, John D. Lee is announcing his retirement. He is only the second President/CEO in the organization’s history since its inception in 1943.
A native of Charleston, S.C., Lee began his career with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley as Assistant Executive Director on September 16, 1970. With more than forty years of experience, Lee has not only been invaluable to the Boys & Girls Clubs, but also to the local community. He has been a mentor to many in the area, lending his expertise and advice on a variety of topics, including management and fundraising.
But, his heart and passion have always revolved around his work with the Boys & Girls Clubs, developing area youth and helping to change the lives of thousands of young people. Throughout his career, he has ensured that every young person in the Boys & Girls Clubs program has been given the opportunity to grow and develop in a safe and nurturing environment.
“We’d like to thank John Lee for his extraordinary service with the Boys & Girls Clubs over the past few decades,” said Bunny Oakes, chairman of the organization’s corporate board of directors. “He has taken the organization to new heights and has truly made a difference in the community. Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley is what it is today because of John’s efforts.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley’s new strategic president and CEO, whom will be announced in the coming weeks, will lead and direct the agency in growing its mission of promoting the educational, vocational and character development of boys and girls in a safe and caring environment.
The new BGCTNV president and CEO will begin working with the organization in mid to late November. Lee’s retirement will be effective December 31, 2011.
For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, visit www.BGCTNV.org.
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About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
Boys & Girls Clubs currently serves more than 5,600 youth and teens, ages 5 to 17 years throughout the Tennessee Valley region. The organization also provides 404,401 USDA hot meals and snacks annually for youth free of charge. The Clubs serve a variety of youth, more than 80% of whom live with a single parent, foster parent or other nontraditional guardian. There are 16 Club locations strategically placed throughout Knox, Blount, Loudon and Northern Anderson Counties. The organization employs more than 260 trained, professional, caring staff and welcomes more than 1,200 volunteers annually. It is a charter member of United Way.
WATE-TV’s Erica Estep produced a story (below) yesterday on the new swim program, called “im,” which was developed in partnership with KidsHealth.org and the Michael Phelps Swim School and offers water safety lessons, recreational aquatic activities and health, wellness and goal-setting instruction.
WATE-TV Story on Michael Phelps Grant at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
The program, named in recognition of Phelps’ signature event, the Individual Medley, and as an abbreviation to the self-affirming “I am,” is based on the same basic techniques and principles that Michael Phelps has implemented throughout this swimming career.
“I was first introduced to the sport of swimming through water safety,” said Phelps, a 16-time Olympic medalist and Founder of the Michael Phelps Foundation. “I hated to get my face wet so I began to learn how to swim on my back, but with proper instruction, I learned to be comfortable and confidant in the water and my passion for swimming grew with each visit to the pool. Now, with the support of the Boys & Girls Clubs and KidsHealth.org, we are able to offer children a program that will help them become water safe, teach them to set and achieve goals, and live healthier, active lifestyles.”
“We are so proud to have the ‘im’ program here in Knoxville,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley (BGCTNV) Aquatics Director Sydney Pennington. “This curriculum is so much more structured than any other program we’ve used and it’s proven to be very effective.”
Pennington traveled to Baltimore, Md. earlier this year to meet Phelps and his childhood swim coach, and also participate in training for the “im” program. The “im” grant has afforded BGCNTV the opportunity to hire two additional aquatics staff members.
The “im” program includes week-by-week illustrations so the participants will know in advance what they will learn each week during swimming instruction, Pennington said. Participants also take healthy eating and goal-setting classes and earn medals as they advance through the curriculum, with the opportunity to earn eight medals upon completion of the entire program.
“Most of the participants in our program do not come from swimming households and would not have the opportunity otherwise to learn how to swim,” said Pennington. “Swimming is a necessary life skill and drowning is preventable. These lessons are invaluable to the participants.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death for children under the age of 15 and is the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1 to 4. A study released last month by Pediatrics, the official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, revealed that one child dies every five days from portable pool submersions during warm weather months.
A 2008 survey conducted by USA Swimming and the USA Swimming Foundation determined that two key barriers preventing children from learning to swim were fear of injury or drowning, and the lack of parental encouragement. Further, the USA Swimming study found that nine people drown each day in the U.S., youth drowning rates in ethnically-diverse communities is 2-3 times higher than the national average and that six out of 10 African-American and Hispanic/Latino children do not know how to swim, which is nearly twice as many as their Caucasian counterparts.
Highlights of the “im” pilot program include:
In addition to developing the program, the Michael Phelps Foundation provides each Club with financial support to assist with overall program costs including staffing, training, supplies and equipment, pool access and maintenance, and administrative expenses as well as official posters, medals, member handbook and assorted prizes.
To learn more about the Michael Phelps Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.michaelphelpsfoundation.org.
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About the Michael Phelps Foundation
The Michael Phelps Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on growing the sport of swimming and promoting healthy and active lives, especially for children. Fourteen-time Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps established the Foundation with the $1MM bonus he received from long-time sponsor Speedo for winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games. The Foundation’s first initiative was a nationwide tour to share Phelps’ Olympic experience and promote his message of Dream, Plan, Reach with members of the Boys & Girls Clubs. Since then, the Foundation has developed and launched the program, helped establish Level Field Fund-Swimming, a grant giving program that provides funding to uniquely talented swimmers in need of financial assistance, and offers autographed swim caps for charity auctions through Caps-for-a-Cause. For more information, please visit www.michaelphelpsfoundation.org or http://www.facebook.com/MichaelPhelpsFoundation.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
Boys & Girls Clubs currently serves more than 5,600 members, ages 5 to 17 years old throughout the Tennessee Valley region. The organization also provides 404,401 USDA hot meals and snacks annually for members free of charge. The Clubs serve a variety of members, more than 80% of whom live with a single parent, foster parent or other nontraditional guardian. There are 16 Club locations strategically placed throughout Knox, Blount, Loudon and Northern Anderson Counties. The organization employs more than 260 trained, professional, caring staff and welcomes more than 1,200 volunteers annually. It is a charter member of United Way.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ― With a full week of activities planned for members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, Thursday afternoon was highlighted by the annual talent show held at the Boys & Girls Clubs headquarters. More than twenty-four acts took to the stage to showcase their talents as individuals or as a group during the two-hour show.
Participants were placed in one of four different categories with cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25 awarded in each category. They were judged on their creativity, presentation and overall performance. Judges for this year’s show included John Duncan, Carla Hatifeld, Barbara Tallent and Anthony Ingram.
*Video courtesy of WBIR-TV
The talent show is among a week full of activities for Boys & Girls Clubs members. Teen members were given the opportunity to take part in “Career Exploration” days where they learned about different careers in the Knoxville area. Local business professionals spoke to the group and gave the teens the opportunity to ask questions about their careers.
The week concluded with the Boys & Girls Clubs’ 65th Annual Fun Day on Friday, sponsored by the Knoxville Civitan Club. The kids enjoyed a day full of carnival games, inflatables and even a dunking booth. Refreshments were provided along with drawings for prizes, including new bicycles.
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About Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
Boys & Girls Clubs currently serves more than 5,600 youth and teens, ages 5 to 17 years throughout the Tennessee Valley region. The organization also provides 404,401 USDA hot meals and snacks annually for youth free of charge. The Clubs serve a variety of youth, more than 80% of whom live with a single parent, foster parent or other nontraditional guardian. There are 16 Club locations strategically placed throughout Knox, Blount, Loudon and Northern Anderson Counties. The organization employs more than 260 trained, professional, caring staff and welcomes more than 1,200 volunteers annually. It is a charter member of United Way.
Media Contact:
Sarah Malak
(865) 584-0550
smalak@ackermannpr.com