Getting the Word Out - June 2016

Gear up! It is official. The Ride for Refuge is ON! Board member Beth Wright has graciously offered to be the chair for the event and we are so excited to have her. I want to also thank Janna Carlson and Lindsay Bryant for their support and encouragement in putting together the information needed to begin to organize this important event. For all of those that have helped in the past, and those that wish to help with this ride, we will gladly take all offers to volunteer. Get your teams, auction items, bikes and running shoes ready and mark your calendars for Saturday, October 1st. More information will be forthcoming.

Thursday, April 28th, saw another successful volunteer training. The amazing Jamie Corwin and I trained a very passionate group of 13 volunteers, some of whom are already giving their all whenever they can. I love seeing the passion and determination during these trainings and this group was certainly no exception. We are really looking forward to working with them in the very near future.

BIG news – The BIG Payback! This year, it was bigger and better than ever, with End Slavery Tennessee raising $23,453. This total includes $1500 for the first organization with 50 donations, and $2500 for the organization with the most unique donors for the first three hours. We had an amazing team of volunteers throughout the day at various venues in Nashville and the surrounding area. They included Gwen Smith and Tina McLane at the Puffy Muffin in Franklin; Stacy Elliott, Stacy Spears, Jamie Corwin, and Becca McDaniel at the Puffy Muffin in Brentwood; Jennifer Lucas, Ondrea Johnson, and Jill Rutter at Martin’s BBQ on Belmont Blvd.; Ondrea Johnson and Brandi Binkley at PhysioFit; and Andrew Branch, Debbie Byrd, Amanda Hoffman, and Richard Rutter and myself at M.L. Rose. Their tireless efforts paid off, in a BIG way.

The Department of Children’s Services and the Mid-Cumberland Council on Children and Children and Youth reached out to End Slavery Tennessee to gain more insight into trafficking of minors and the services that End Slavery Tennessee provides to the survivors we care for. Both educational trainings were well received and the knowledge that they took from these trainings will benefit all involved and will serve to strengthen the relationships and common goals that we share with these two great organizations.

Stay tuned…