Blog

What started in Kindergarten as a desire to win a class pizza party has turned into a true passion for high school freshman Luke Jenkins. In nine years Luke collected over $3,800, 75% in pennies, for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as a part of their Pennies for Patients program. ? "Our next door neighbors, the Riveras, lost their teenage daughter, Dariana, to cancer when Luke was in the 3rd grade," shared Luke's mother Michelle Jenkins. 

?Jonathan Boye grew up struggling with dyslexia and ADHD and with the "faith of a mustard seed" he found himself helping thousands of people with similar struggles. Jon has been a visionary for providing mental health services first to our children in Williamson county but now to all ages in all of middle Tennessee," shared Margaret Owens, Chief Operations Officer at Mercy, in her nomination of Boye. "He came to work at Mercy in June of 2006."

 

A huge part of what keeps St. Jude Children's Hospital going is the efforts of people like Jess Wright. Several years ago Jess committed to walking a local 5K in her hometown of Frederick, Maryland which benefited St. Jude. At the time she wanted to encourage people who never thought they could do an endurance race to join her and walk rather than run and most importantly she wanted to raise funds for St. Jude. What better way to do this than to start her own team.

 

Roger McDaniel is a wonderful example of what it looks like to serve your community well. When not spending time at the office or with his family Roger McDaniel fills up his time mentoring and helping veterans in need get back on their feet, managing and tending a local giving garden and preserving local historical landmarks. ? Tim Gregath, Executive Director of the Building Lives Foundation, a local non-profit committed to assisting veterans in the process of rebuilding their lives, sung Roger's praises in his DWAG Hometown Hero Nomination.

 

?Joe Bradford, or Papa Joe as he's known to many, grew up in poverty and after facing time in prison for computer hacking and fighting kidney disease he and his wife Denise were forced to move into one of Nashville's project communities. After seeing needs of the children within this community they were inspired to create Elijah's Heart, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to show love to underprivileged children and assist them with practical needs. One of the many ways they show love is through their Walks of Love.

 

?In March of 2012 Ty and Nancy Osman faced the unthinkable when they lost their son Ty. Ty Osman II had a heart for helping others and was a light to everyone around him. Even in his passing he was a gift to many as an organ donor. "After he passed we heard so many stories about how just his regular kindness effected people," shared Ty Jr.'s mother Nancy. "How his smiling and everyday manor made people feel special, and feel loved and seen.

?Since DWAG's Hometown Heroes started, Earl Hensel has been a part of awarding five different heroes. Earl's heroes have included local veteran Mike Reeder, special needs teacher Jan Lincoln, MADD advocate and survivor Millie Webb, Lu Sipos creator of the Chemo Duck and Paul Fleenor, a local veteran who led the charge to bring the Honor Flight Program to Middle Tennessee. Because of Earl's initiative to nominate these locals, each of his heroes has been celebrated for their accomplishment.

 

It's a known fact around town that Franklin's Downtown area hasn't always been so picturesque. The historic area had fallen into much disrepair and businesses were not thriving, that is until the early 1980's when locals like Ed Silva saw the potential and started to change all of that. "Ed Silva provided extraordinary leadership in our journey to establish Franklin's Main Street as the heart of our community", said Mary Pearce, the Heritage Foundation's Executive Director.

 

n 1992, Sister Sandra founded Project Reflect, a nonprofit organization in Nashville whose mission is "transforming urban America through education and policy reform." As Executive Director, in 2002 she strongly influenced passage of the first charter school legislation for the State of Tennessee. Under the new law, in August 2003 Project Reflect opened Middle Tennessee's first free, public charter school, Smithson Craighead Academy (SCA) elementary school, which serves 240 children from low-income families who reside in the Davidson County area.

 

?Each year the Salvation Army's Angel Tree program gives individuals and partnering corporations an opportunity to adopt less fortunate children and seniors who would otherwise receive very little or nothing during the holiday season and provides them with personalized gifts and necessities. Behind the scenes of the Angel Tree program is an army of volunteers, and alongside them is Amanda Grieves, who coordinates the program each year.