July 24, 2024
^{By Erin Young}

At The Center For The Arts in Murfreesboro, our team had the opportunity to watch the students from the Center Stage Academy perform a segment of their upcoming show, 13. The Center is dedicated to enhancing the community’s quality of life by promoting the arts.

The Center For The Arts opened its doors in 1995 and became an independent 501(c)(3) organization in 2008. The building in Murfreesboro, Tenn. previously served as a post office and a library and is now the group's home theater. Since opening, it has hosted numerous shows, art exhibits, vocal school sessions, and dance performances. With various programs, the center aims to spread the arts and reach a variety of groups throughout the community. The main stage program features about 10-14 shows annually, welcoming the community to enjoy each one. Additionally, Center Stage Academy offers camps for students from kindergarten through high school. Students prepare and perform a show during one to two-week-long camps, .

Beyond theater, the Center hosts an art gallery with a rotating collection of works from different artists. The gallery also serves as a gathering area before and after shows as well as a rehearsal space for the actors.

The Helper Grant awarded to The Center for the Arts supports student scholarships. As camps can often be expensive, the Foundation provided this grant to help alleviate the financial burden of students who cannot afford to attend.

Witnessing students’ passion for theater firsthand, we are proud to support the Center and partner with them in fostering the quality of life through the arts.

July 16, 2024
^{By Erin Young}

On July 16th, our team had the honor of getting to know John McFadden and Jen Liepis of Green Interchange. Green Interchange is a group with a mission to plant trees and sustain a healthy environment for healthier communities and economies. They are passionate about planting trees in places that directly benefit people and taking action to help our air, water, and community. These places include but are not limited to roads, waterways, and public spaces. 

Founded in 2020, Green Interchange started with the goal to absorb carbon emissions along roadways. Since then, they have planted over 40,000 trees and look forward to growing this number. Each year, the group organizes a program called Plant a Tree Tennessee, which aims to distribute trees throughout Tennessee in order to improve the environment. 

Green Interchange's Helper Grant will help create a youth program to engage kids in fun and educational ways, all while restoring Garrison Creek in Murfreesboro. At this event, children and their families work to remove invasive plants, plant native plants, and create Little Free Libraries, decked out by the Preds. 

Green Interchange is continuously growing and you can help! If you would like to volunteer, you can find opportunities here. We appreciate the work Green Interchange is doing throughout Tennessee and are proud to aid in their efforts.

July 15, 2024
^{By Emma Neely}

Upscale Thrift Store
TenThirtyFive operates an upscale thrift store with a mission: allowing at-risk young women to shop for free. This initiative not only provides essential items to those in need but also fosters a sense of community and support. Upon entering, they are welcomed with a voucher to shop for clothing, shoes, accessories, and more. Each visit includes a bag of beauty care and hygiene products to take home. To help fund this full-time charity, the thrift store is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., inviting women in the community to shop and support the cause.

Serving a Wider Audience
Initially targeting girls aged 10-25, TenThirtyFive has expanded to support any needy woman. Whether a woman recently released from prison or someone referred by organizations like the Office of Family Safety, YWCA, or Women of Worth can shop and obtain essential items. The store features a variety of clothing, from activewear to professional attire, shoes, and bags, catering to diverse needs and preferences.

Open to the Public
TenThirtyFive's upscale thrift store is open to the public to sustain its operations. With items ranging from affordable jeans and tops to high-end donations from brands like Target and Jimmy Choo, there's something for everyone. Jewelry and other accessories are also available, ensuring a comprehensive shopping experience. By opening the store to the public, TenThirtyFive generates funds to support its voucher program and outreach efforts.

Community Support and Growth
Boutiques, influencers, and the community have played a significant role in TenThirtyFive's growth, often spreading the word and donating items. This collective effort has allowed TenThirtyFive to serve a wider audience and provide continuous support to those in need. Repeat customers referred by various organizations can receive vouchers every three months, ensuring continuous support. With vouchers worth $100 and items priced between $5 and $12, women can build a wardrobe over a year, shopping in a dignified, welcoming environment.

Expanding Reach
TenThirtyFive began with a mobile store, partnering with local charities to provide clothing. The initial challenges of sourcing the correct items and sizes led to establishing their central location, a store in Mount Juliet and another store across the street. Clothing became a hub to bring women together, fostering a sense of community and support.

Supporting TenThirtyFive
TenThirtyFive thrives on community and grant support. The store has become self-sustainable in five years, employing seven part-time staff. Their philosophy is simple: when we look good, we feel good. By empowering women to feel their best, TenThirtyFive instills confidence, dignity, and worth, regardless of their situation.

Get Involved
Support TenThirtyFive by shopping at their upscale thrift store, donating items, or contributing to their initiatives. Donating items is easy-simply drop them off at any of their stores during operating hours. A small contribution, like sponsoring a shoe drive for just $10, can make a significant difference. Join TenThirtyFive in their mission to uplift and empower women, one outfit at a time.

July 8, 2024
^{By Erin Young}

On July 8th, our team was privileged to visit with the founder and executive director of Candle Wishes, Jenny Williams. In 2002 as a 17-year-old high school student, Williams recognized a need for underprivileged kids to be celebrated on their birthdays. While many organizations focus on winter holidays, birthdays often go unnoticed. Feeling a calling to fill this gap, Williams has dedicated the past 22 years to fulfilling children’s birthday wishes. 

Candle Wishes hosts monthly birthday parties for the children with upcoming birthdays. These events provide a day of fun for the children and their families, and each child goes home with a birthday present. Candle Wishes has made over 700 kids' birthday wishes come true annually. 

The organization relies on sponsors to provide gifts for the children. Individuals or organizations can sponsor a child by shopping for their wants and needs, and ensuring the personalized gift is memorable. Candle Wishes will collect the child's wish list of wants and needs to make this achievable. If there is ever a time that a child is not sponsored, Candle Wishes will use collected items and money from donors to fulfill those dreams. 

The Helper Grant from the Predators Foundation will be used to purchase gifts and continue making birthdays special for these children. 

To get involved, sponsor a child, or donate, please visit CandleWishes.com.

July 1, 2024
^{By Emma Neely}

Archie's Promise is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering economically disadvantaged families, displaced youth, and adults by providing affordable formal and business wear and free hygiene products. Their mission began with a simple yet profound goal: to help individuals and families build confidence and self-esteem by making essential items accessible and affordable. Whether it's donating formal wear for a special need’s prom, assisting individuals with interview attire, or reselling business and formal wear at discounted prices, Archie's Promise is here to ease the financial burden on their community and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to look and feel their best for any business casual, semi-formal, or formal event.

Through its innovative approach, Archie's Promise addresses multiple needs. The organization offers affordable formal and business wear, crucial for events like proms or job interviews, where appearances can significantly impact opportunities. Donations and partnerships ensure that no one faces financial barriers when dressing for success.

Recognizing the essential need for hygiene products, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, Archie's Promise took proactive steps to address this gap. They started by hosting local hygiene drives, but wanted to make it more personalized. They researched and collaborated with the Street Team Movement organization to install hygiene vending machines in local schools. These machines provide free products tailored to each school's needs, ensuring accessibility without stigma.

Our grant funded a hygiene machine that will be sent to Smyrna Middle School and set up before school starts. This will allow a more significant impact that extends beyond direct assistance. In the schools, they have created "hope cards," which are like credit cards for students so that when they need something, they can use it. This allows students to grab what they need quickly and efficiently.

Ordering new machines and specializing the products that will go into the machine so nothing will get stuck has been a game changer with this new innovative way to give out hygiene products. When they order the machines, they send the products that will go to the vending machines so they can make sure nothing gets stuck. There are now over 10 schools that will have these machines available in their own schools, and the number is only growing.

Local drives and partnerships, including an Amazon wish list for donations, allow community members to contribute actively. These efforts support ongoing initiatives such as the hygiene vending machines and ensure sustainability in meeting diverse community needs. Looking ahead, Archie's Promise continues to expand its reach and impact. With ongoing support crucial, especially for items like plus-size to size 0-1 formal wear and specific hygiene products, community involvement remains vital. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness, everyone's contribution is integral to empowering individuals and families through Archie's Promise.

Archie's Promise exemplifies how targeted formal wear and hygiene support can uplift communities, fostering confidence and opportunity where needed most. By addressing material and emotional needs, the organization provides tangible resources and cultivates a supportive environment where everyone can thrive.

June 27, 2024
^{By Jade Zaleski}

On June 27, our team met with Assurance Mamas via Zoom. Assurance Mamas is an organization that provides assurance to caregivers regarding the safety of their children while at school and childcare centers. 

Assurance Mamas has a vulnerability threat assessment which includes a review of security procedures, equipment, and action plans with blueprints. After the assessment, a list of recommendations will be given to strengthen the facility and procedures. 

With the support of the Nashville Predators Foundation, Assurance Mamas will be able to fund a portion of their training program. Their program helps train faculty and staff school or childcare centers how to protect the children and themselves if a threat were to happen.

June 20, 2024
^{By Erin Young}

Last week, the Community Relations team had the honor of visiting BrightStone in Franklin. BrightStone is a community dedicated to helping, supporting, and fostering adults with special needs. They recently moved to their 140-acre “Land of Dreams” campus, featuring an outstanding center with plans for future expansion.

BrightStone started in 1999 to provide a place for adults with special needs transferring out of high school. Initially, they served only four students and their families. As the initiative grew, BrightStone recognized a need for expansion. In 2007, the group moved into their first building, designed to accommodate their growing community and marking the start of BrightStone’s significant growth.

Now, on their new “Land of Dreams,” the vision of creating a thriving community is becoming a reality. BrightStone offers daily programs such as lifelong learning, where students explore topics such as emotional well-being and healthy relationships. There are also programs for art, pottery, gardening, exercise, music, and cooking. These activities provide students with opportunities to pursue their interests under the guidance of dedicated teachers and staff. One of these teachers, Sherri Gard, has devoted 17 years of her life to BrightStone, driving four hours each day, five days a week, to teach cooking to these students.

In addition to these daily programs, BrightStone has built two residential homes and launched a residential program. In this program students live with three other students and a house manager, learning essential life skills like cooking, cleaning, and independent living. This program was made possible by the expansion to their new campus.

In the coming years, BrightStone plans to further expand its facilities to create a community not only for its students but also for outside visitors. They aim to build a sports court, walking paths, 22 additional residential houses, a chapel and event center, a fishing dock, a medical clinic, an equestrian center, and more. This expansion will enable them to serve more individuals and welcome students from a broader community, addressing the unique needs of each student.

With the support of the Predators Foundation, BrightStone was able to purchase another kiln for their ceramics room. Here, students create handmade pottery, following each step of the process, to sell and raise funds for the organization. The addition of another kiln will expedite production and allow more student creations to reach the shelves.

This visit was nothing short of inspiring and fulfilling. Our team interacted with students, admired their art and pottery, watched them play outside, and learned about the outstanding program BrightStone is dedicated to creating. We are proud of our connection with BrightStone and look forward to our continued partnership with them in the future.