The Community Foundation

The Big Payback's 24-hour giving day took place on Wednesday, May 3, and more than 781 Middle Tennessee nonprofits, schools, and religious institutions participated this annual giving day. Together, we raised nearly $2.6 million.

In the past four years, this 24-hour giving day helped raise more than $9.3 million for area nonprofits.

U.S. District Court Judge Waverly Crenshaw Jr. receives a ceremonial baton from civic leader Ben Rechter to cap the second annual Francis S. Guess Bridge to Equality Fund luncheon Wednesday, May 10 in the Davidson Ballroom of the Music City Center. The award, presented by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, honors the memory of civil rights trailblazer, civic leader and former CFMT board chairman Francis S. Guess and recognizes those who spur innovation leading to equality. Rechter received the inaugural award in 2016.

Photo by Morgan Yingling

The Community Foundations announces 121 Tennessee nonprofits and governmental organizations as part of a one-time Serving Tennessee’s Seniors grant opportunity.

Funding of Serving Tennessee’s Seniors was provided by the Chancery Court and administered by The Community Foundation through the settlement of a lawsuit initiated by Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper against both SeniorTrust and ElderTrust.

“All across Tennessee, each and every day, nonprofits and governmental agencies are working hard to make the path easier for our growing but vulnerable senior population. From Lake County to Bradley County, from Memphis to Elizabethton, we know that the needs of our aging population are often unrecognized or underfunded,” said Ellen Lehman, President of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

“The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has been honored to assist the Chancery Court and the Office of Tennessee’s Attorney General in the distribution of these grants to help strengthen the ability of these recipient organizations as they work to improve the lives of those they serve,” Lehman continued. “The grants we were able to make last for only six months but span a broad range of needs, including: providing nutritious meals to the homebound, providing safe access to senior centers, providing dentures, providing transportation, providing wellness and educational activities, and fixing homes so that residents can age in their own place.”

Outcomes achieved by each grantee will be reported to the Court and available to the public on an interim basis. Final results will be available in July 2017.

This community lost a treasure when Howard Stringer died on March 25, 2017.

Howard came to Nashville and Middle Tennessee because of work. But he fell in love with this community and set about, not only to make it his own, but to make it better. And, as in the rest of his life, he succeeded brilliantly.

Howard will be missed by the dozens of nonprofits who benefited from his work, his wisdom, and his wit. And The Community Foundation itself will be forever grateful …