Powering Volunteerism Through Innovation

First Tennessee employees are committed to empowering and improving communities across Middle Tennessee.  That commitment is best reflected through our investment of time, talent, and resources in innovative programs promoting financial literacy and empowerment, economic development, education, quality healthcare, and the arts.

“We support our employees when they volunteer because we believe that investing in communities makes our success possible,” said Doyle Rippee, Middle Tennessee Market President for First Tennessee Bank. “Great people build great communities, and great communities allow great financial services companies to thrive. That’s why we are honored to salute the finalists for the Strobel Volunteer Innovator Award, whose time and talent make such a difference: Andrew Bishop, Richard Patton, and Dr. Roy Thompson.”

First Tennessee is the Volunteer Innovator Award Presenting Sponsor  for the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

Promoting Compassionate Care Among Young Volunteers

Most volunteerism starts from a small seed of hope and compassionate care. And from tiny seeds, abundant gardens can bloom. The Baptist Healing Trust knows that young people who volunteer serve as an inspiration to others, and can cause a great ripple effect in communities. The Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards’ longest-serving award sponsor of nine years, Baptist Healing Trust once again will honor youth volunteers at the 2013 awards luncheon.

“Each year, we are inspired by the young people nominated for the Strobel Youth Volunteer Award,” said Catherine Self, president and CEO of Baptist Healing Trust. “Each of them is driven to volunteer by a sense of compassionate care for those who need it, and serve as powerful examples for all of us. We are truly honored to recognize Youth Volunteer Award finalists Caroline Hoffman, Iris Levine, and Ben Rosenberg at this year’s Strobel Awards.”

Baptist Healing Trust is the Youth Volunteer Award Presenting Sponsor  for the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

Driving a Brighter Future in Nashville

The Hands On Nashville Urban Farm is made possible by the helping hands of hundreds of volunteers, generous financial supporters, and… the farm truck. HON staff members spend a lot of time hauling compost, tools, materials, and more around Nashville in a truck generously donated by Ford Motor Company.

Beyond making the complex logistics of the Urban Farm Program more manageable, Ford Motor Company is also committed to engaging its employees in volunteerism. From adapting toys for kids with disabilities served through Technology Access Center to preparing new garden beds at Hands On Nashville’s Urban Farm, Ford employees are making a difference in the community.

The Hands On Nashville Ford truck (donated to HON by Ford Motor Company) helped deliver donated bikes to kids in need at the ReCycle for Kids Bike Drive this past winter, and continues to help us transport tools for volunteer projects across the city.

“In the words of our Executive Chairman Bill Ford, ‘A good company delivers excellent products and services. A great company does all that and strives to make the world a better place,’” said Evelyn Sanders, Director of Ford Motor Credit’s Nashville Business Center. “We are grateful to all the Strobel nominees for making Middle Tennessee an even better place for all of us.”

Ford Motor Company is the Founding Sponsor for the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

Giving Time, Talent, and Heart

Direct service is all about hands-on efforts that further an organization’s mission. For the past eight years, the work of the talented individuals at McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations has embodied the heart of the Mary Catherine Strobel Direct Service Award. Through the company’s generous gifts of time and expertise, MP&F artfully tells the HON story to media, volunteers, and other stakeholders, allowing HON to recruit more volunteers and make a bigger impact in the community. And HON isn’t the only charity that benefits from MP&F’s generosity: In 2012, MP&F provided more than 2,600 hours of pro bono service to 26 Middle Tennessee nonprofit organizations.

“We have seen the power of direct service and what it can mean for nonprofits,” said MP&F founding partner Mike Pigott. “We are proud to honor finalists for the Strobel Direct Service Award who are doing life-changing direct service work in our community: Colleen Dowd, Steve and Deb LaForge, and Richard Lloyd.”

McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations is the Direct Service Award Presenting Sponsor for the the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

The Engine Behind Community Impact

C3 Consulting knows that teams are more innovative and productive when they are in an environment that is designed specifically to allow teams to gather, dream, plan, and grow. That’s why the management consulting firm opened the engine, a creative collaboration space adjacent to the firm’s consulting offices in the heart of Nashville. The space is used not only for C3 to lead teams through important change, but also for any professional or community organization to use for problem-solving, strategic planning, team building, and connecting.

C3’s strong commitment to the community makes it a perfect match for the Mary Catherine Strobel Community Impact Award. “We are pleased to recognize volunteers who make a difference in their neighborhoods by presenting the Community Impact Award,” said Beth Chase, president and CEO of C3 Consulting. “Rob Crittenden (1943-2012), Susan Hatfield, and Creely Wilson have made significant contributions to the community through their work, and we are honored to recognize their achievements.”

C3 Consulting is the Community Impact Award Presenting Sponsor for the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

Volunteering Together for a Cause

When employees volunteer together to address an issue or benefit a cause, amazing things can happen. U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) and its parent company, Altria Group, have seen this first hand. In 2012, USSTC employees in Nashville built on their already strong culture of teamwork and caring by adapting toys for children with disabilities; building bikes for kids in foster care; supporting Metro Nashville Public Schools during Hands On Nashville Day; and more.

“Employees at Altria’s companies are committed to being involved in their communities,” said Amber Roos of Altria’s Corporate Contributions and Community Relations Department. “We foster an environment that supports our employees as they work together to contribute their time, energy and talents to our communities, and we are pleased to invest in Hands On Nashville as a Presidents Circle Corporate Partner. We are proud to honor all the volunteer groups who do incredible work in our community, and the finalists for the Civic Volunteer Group Award: Backyard Leaders, Maury Regional Medical Center, and Unity Build.”

U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company is the Civic Volunteer Group Award Sponsor for the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

Nonprofit Partner Spotlight: Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival

Days are a bit longer, birds are chirping and rustling around, and little hints of spring are already starting to show new colors. We’re all anxious to get outside and enjoy some warmer temperatures. While it’s only February, we know March is just around the corner waiting to greet us with new spring blossoms and beautiful flowers.

Volunteers hand out shirts and greet visitors at the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival.

The Japan-America Society of Tennessee embraces this time of year by using the positive spirits and beautiful backdrop to celebrate spring and the friendship between Japan and America. by hosting the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival. This year’s event will take place on March 23, so be sure to mark your calendars!

The festival began in 2009 as a vision of the first Consul General of Japan in Nashville. Consul General Sato proposed the ambitious mission to plant 100 cherry trees each year over the course of ten years. Cherry blossoms, or Sakura, have been the symbol of friendship between the United States and Japan since the Mayor of Tokyo sent 3,000 cherry trees to Washington, D.C. in 1912 as gifts honoring the lasting friendship between our two countries.

This year marks the halfway point in the decade-long mission to plant 1,000 Japanese cherry trees in Nashville. The goal each year is to secure corporate funding and individual donations sufficient to purchase 100 cherry trees and to produce a family-friendly, free-to-the-public festival. The cherry trees beautify the landscape of our city and serve as a backdrop for the Festival.

The Japan-America Society of Tennessee embraces this time of year by using the positive spirits and beautiful backdrop to celebrate spring and the friendship between Japan and America.

Like most public events, the Festival would not be possible without amazing volunteers. Volunteer Sarah Case says that there are so many fulfilling aspects to serving as a NCBF volunteer. “You get hands-on learning about Japanese culture and the strong Japanese-American community in Tennessee, while you spread that knowledge to the 10,000-plus attendees expected this year,” says Sarah. “I’ve personally had the opportunity to learn about the Japanese tea ceremony, interact with children playing Japanese festival games, and perform many other meaningful volunteer opportunities. I learn something new about our diverse and wonderful community every year. The festival organizers are the loveliest people and work hard to give us all an enriching experience. They pride themselves in making volunteering smooth, fun and thoroughly enjoyable!”

Children play Japanese festival games and have a blast learning Japanese culture.

All sorts of volunteer opportunities are available. Greeters in all of the Festival areas make the whole Festival incredibly fun. They answer questions, hand out programs and maps, and help visitors find their way to the Martial Arts stage or J-Pop Land. This year, there will even be food trucks and special food truck greeters are needed to point visitors in the right direction. The Performance Art Stage manager will need an assistant, and if you are interested in learning about Japanese culture, you can help with activities like a traditional tea ceremony at the Consulate-General of Japan tent. And if you’re bilingual, sign up to help answer questions in both English and Japanese.

Interested in helping out at the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival?
> Click here to view all opportunities and sign up. 

If you have any questions, please contact Ginger Byrn at gbyrn@jastn.com or info@nashvillecherryblossomfestival.org.

Volunteer Leader Spotlight: Julie Hill

Between her hobbies of hiking, biking, camping, and painting, Julie Hill seems to find herself leading volunteers and helping others on a regular basis. Just like getting in that habitual workout at the gym, Julie needs her community fix – and the community needs her. Twice a month, this southern California native works with a team to help prep and cook food for people who don’t have easy access to fresh produce. She has become an integral part of The Nashville Food Project, a local nonprofit that seeks to provide increased access to healthy foods in homeless and working poor communities across Davidson County.“I like the Nashville Food Project because you have two steps: preparing the food and handing it out to the individuals in need. I find it very fulfilling to be able to meet the individuals that we are there to help,” says Julie. “For me, volunteering is such a rewarding experience; I get the benefits of helping others and meeting great people who enjoy giving back to the community.”

She’s been working with The Nashville Food Project as a Volunteer Leader since September 2012, but has been an active Hands On Nashville volunteer since 2009. From a very young age, Julie was taught that helping her community was part of normal life. She continues to value the opportunity to help out her community and encourage those around her to do the same.

Julie has found Hands On Nashville to be a wonderful place to get connected. “By offering such a great website and partnerships, and the amazing people, Hands On Nashville makes volunteering truly a no-hassle and thoroughly enjoyable experience.”

Are you looking to get involved with The Nashville Food Project like Julie?
➢ Click here to see a list of upcoming opportunities and sign up.

Nonprofit Partner Spotlight: Dismas House

Volunteers encourage former prisoners as they transition into society. Here, a group hangs out on the Dismas House front porch.

This time of year, we’re still holding on to those – dare we say it – New Year’s resolutions. We’d like to believe that beyond all those little missteps we’ve made in the past, we can be better. Whether it’s making better choices with food, being more thoughtful about the community, or just finishing that last semester to get a degree, we all have goals to improve our sense of selves. We want a better way of life.

For most of us, this means more discipline and a new goal or two. But what about those who have had a rough beginning? Dwain Adkins, who served six years in prison for aggravated assault, may not be the norm, but just like everyone else, Dwain yearns to start anew and aim for something better.

Dismas House is helping people like Dwain take steps toward reaching their goals. A local nonprofit helping to facilitate the reconciliation of former prisoners to society by developing supportive communities, Dismas House is helping Adkins’s, and others like him transition back into society. As it does for most of us, having some cheerleaders rallying and supporting these former prisoners on their paths to a fresh start increases their chances of success. (Check out this recent article in The Tennessean featuring Dwain and Dismas House.) 

Dinner at Dismas House is a popular volunteer opportunity where people help cook dinner for the Dismas community and exchange uplifting words.

Volunteers are a powerful force in helping Adkins and other folks like him. Scott Pieper, executive director at Dismas House, comments, “Since I’ve been here, many residents have described experiencing anxiety in settings, especially immediately following release – they find themselves believing that others are starting to make judgments about them.” He goes on to say, “When volunteers come to the house, where our residents are most comfortable, there is an opportunity for positive interaction with the residents and our residents get to see for themselves that there are nonjudgmental, supportive people who are excited to welcome them back to society.”

Here are some great opportunities at Dismas house where you can help.

Dinner at Dismas House
April 1, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
> Read more & sign up.

Administrative Assistant
> Read more & sign up.

Volunteers are all smiles at the Dismas House Garden party.

Computer Technician
> Read more & sign up.

Grocery Assistant
> Read more & sign up.

Social Media Manager.
> Read more & sign up.

> See ALL volunteer opportunities at Dismas House.

Nonprofit Partner Spotlight: Metropolitan Homelessness Commission

It’s a new year with new possibilities for anyone seeking employment. But before beginning the search, job seekers must have all their ducks in a row. This includes legal proof of identification, an appearance of good health and hygiene, showing the physical ability to follow through with job requirements, and, of course, confidence in acquiring the job. For the homeless population, these aren’t merely ducks… they are elephants. And reining them in without help or resources can prove to be a daunting task.

Volunteer to help guide the Project Homeless Connect attendees on February 13.

Thank goodness for Nashville’s largest homeless service provider event, Project Homeless Connect. The Metropolitan Homelessness Commission is recruiting 500 volunteers to assist individuals and families in need at this important event, which takes place on Wednesday, February 13.

This is a one-day, one-stop event providing individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness, or on the brink of homelessness, with access to a broad range of services including housing and employment assistance, medical checkups, eye screenings, foot care, legal services, employment assistance, pet care, food, toiletries, and more. The goal of Project Homeless Connect is to remove barriers to housing and employment. This is a true collaborative effort in which more than 70 agencies and hundreds of volunteers come together to provide thousands of services to an expected 1,000 to 1,500 guests.

With such a large event, your hands are certainly needed. Volunteer Vette Hughes, a Bank of America employee, said volunteering at Project Homeless Connect was a great experience for her. “The best part is to be able to help people. I love being able to give time. It has made me see that I can do more about homelessness. I am more aware - homeless people are just people like you and me. Everybody needs help sometime.”

Jason Vanover, of Reliant Bank, volunteered for the second year and said he felt like the day really made a difference to a lot of the guests. “Navigating the ID system is not an easy task. And having the right ID is the lynchpin for so many things. And the people are so appreciative.“

If you’re interested in getting involved, volunteers are needed to help with registration, crowd management, check out, guidance, setup/cleanup, and other duties. One of the main needs is for volunteer guides to pair up with the guests. As a volunteer guide, you will ensure that your assigned guest receives the proper services and respect as they navigate the event. Because so many people in our community come together and care, life is more navigable for our homeless population. You, in addition to the 500 other volunteers and 70 agencies, will help move Nashvillians who are experiencing homelessness one step forward. Read below and see how to be a part of this amazing day.

How to volunteer for Project Homeless Connect on Wednesday, February 13:
> Click here to see volunteer opportunities.
> View Project Homeless Connect’s Website.

Still have questions? Email Tojuana Jordan at Tojuana.Jordan@nashville.gov or call her at 615-880-2773.