CCOOnnectionsnnections East Tennessee Foundation 2016 ISSUE 1 Thoughtful giving for stronger communities, better lives Annual Meeting -- Much More Than a Piece of Cake Our 2015 Annual Meeting on January 26 struck a high note with Liz What’s Happening! McGeachy and Tim Marema performing their Americana, folk, and traditional Appalachian music, Father Ragan Schriver encouraging us in his opening in- vocation to look for opportunities to be generous, and 2015 Board Chair Keith Goodwin introducing board members and thanking those retiring for their service. The icing on the cake was a surprise ending: our own Anna Whitener popping out of a cake and handing over our 30th anniversary logo to be un- veiled by Anniversary Task Force members. The work of East Tennessee Foundation (ETF) in 2015, our 29th year, is a cause for celebra- tion, and that is exactly what we did – with a record-breaking crowd. We celebrated many examples of building philanthropy and chang- ing our region one life at a time. We closed out the year with nearly $15 million in new gifts, 411 funds, and total assets now approaching $300 million. We welcomed two new supporting organizations: the Women’s Fund of East Tennessee, and our largest, the Ted and Drama Russell Family Foundation. We look forward to supporting their targeted grantmaking in future years. In our own grantmaking, we awarded nearly $10 million in 2015. From monthly Agricultural Roundtable breakfasts bringing together new farmers, dairymen, marketers, mayors, lenders, and organizers in Washington County to a Remote Area Medical Clinic held on the Tusculum College campus bringing badly needed medical services and wonderful learning opportunities to college students in Greene County, our grantmaking was philanthropically successful for both givers and receivers. We received two significant endowments in 2015 benefitting students in Morgan and Carter counties. Continued on page 4 Inside this issue Follow ETF on New Board Members.................Pgs. 2 - 3 Fund for Campbell County Grant Social Media Awards & Six ETF Scholarships 30th Anniversary Kick Off & Preview, Launched in 2016..........................Pg. 6 PSFF Check Presentation..............Pg. 4 How We Roll (Over).......................Pg. 7 CNS Y-12 Community Investment Fund .................................................Pg. 5 ETF Board & Staff.........................Pg. 8 . COnnections New Board Member Introductions East Tennessee Foundation An “interesting” part of his life has been eternal return. Jim and his wife, Donna, his law practice: representing “interesting” is pleased to welcome seven reside in Jonesborough, TN. They have people in “interesting” cases, some land- two daughters, Katherine and Rebecca, new board members. mark cases that have been reviewed in legal and two granddaughters. Katherine is literature. Successful outcomes made all married to an Army doctor, and Re- BERNARD the work fun. becca is a photojournalist for National BERNSTEIN Geographic. Both daughters and fami- was born in New- lies live in Washington, DC. ark, New Jersey JIM and attended col- HARLAN is lege in Pennsylva- an East Tennes- MARK nia. After he spent see native who HEINZ was a few years in the received a BS in born and raised United States Air Chemical En- in Philadelphia, Force, he met and gineering from Pennsylvania. married a Knoxville native and completed the University of He came to law school at the University of Tennessee, Tennessee, MBA Knoxville to at- Knoxville. Upon graduation, he opened from East Tennessee State University and tend the Univer- Bernstein, Stair & McAdams LLP in graduated from the Advanced Manage- sity of Tennessee downtown Knoxville, where he practiced ment Program at Harvard University’s where he met law for 59 years. His firm has engaged School of Business. For four decades, he his wife, a Tennessee native. After a in a vigorous civil law practice, focusing successfully filled a variety of technical number of years working as an architect primarily on business litigation. Bernie and executive leadership positions within in Knoxville and Charlotte, North Car- has served as an adjunct professor for engineering, manufacturing, and other olina, he became a partner with Barber the University of Tennessee College of businesses spanning twelve countries and & McMurry Architects. In 2005, he Law and as a corporate advisor on several four continents for Eastman Chemical began working with David Dewhirst as boards of directors. He was President and Company. Jim retired from Eastman in an architect/developer. Mark’s volunteer chaired several committees of the Knox- November 2015. His philanthropic pas- interests have included Ronald Mc- ville Bar Association and was elected to sion is education, both domestically and Donald House, Knox Heritage, Young membership as a Fellow in the Tennessee internationally. He believes education is Life of Knoxville, and United Way. Bar Foundation, as well as the American the key to breaking the cycle of poverty Currently he serves on the following College of Trial Lawyers. Other volunteer across our world. He has served as the boards: Knoxville Museum of Art, City service includes work in his synagogue President of the Kingsport Community of Knoxville Industrial Development as Secretary/President and Chairman of Foundation, President of the QUEST Board, City of Knoxville Downtown the Board, and management roles at the Foundation for Washington County Design Review Board, Knoxville Public University of Tennessee Medical Center. Schools, and has led annual mission- Arts Committee, and Knoxville Botani- UT Hospital and law-related activities building projects in Mexico and Guatema- cal Garden & Arboretum. His preferred have been his favorite areas of philanthro- la for fifteen years. He considers himself philanthropy is fundraising and bricks py. Bernie and his wife, Barbara, have a a student of the game of golf. As a recent and mortar projects. Examples include daughter and a son (both non-practicing retiree, he is learning you never retire - the new Visitor Center at the Knoxville lawyers) and two grandchildren. just aspire to investments that yield an Botanical Garden, and the 100-year Jubilee for the Bijou. Things you may Best Office Space in Downtown Knoxville is Available not know about Mark are that he enjoys collecting Knoxville postcards, he slow- • To compatible tenant ly ran the New York Marathon in 1997, • 11th floor scenic view and he is doing a third complete renova- • Wonderful kitchen tion of his home. He and his wife, Lau- • Conference rooms including 50 person meeting room ra, an attorney, have three daughters, with easily reconfigured training tables to suit Lydia 14, Charlotte 10, and Julia 6. any meeting needs New board continues on page 3 Page 2 EEastast TennesseeTennessee FoundationFoundation New Board Member Introductions degrees, Nancy practiced nursing for five East Tennessee Foundation are: Great GREG years before going into higher education. Smoky Mountain Council of Boy McMILLAN Having served as a faculty member and Scouts, Ronald McDonald House, moved to Knox- in upper-administrative roles at several Tennessee Wesleyan College, and the ville in 1970 when Tennessee universities, she is currently Monday Foundation. His favorite phil- his father became a President of Tusculum College. Her vol- anthropic interests deal with any cause marketing profes- unteer service includes numerous boards, directed at youth, as they are the future sor at the Univer- professional, and other organizations in- and are faced with so many challenges sity of Tennessee. cluding United Way, the Greene County in today’s society that can impact them He began practic- Partnership, the Tennessee Independent for a lifetime. Butch enjoys the out- ing law in 1992 Colleges and Universities Association, doors and traveling. In his retirement, and worked for two firms prior to taking the Southern Association of Colleges and he is also perfecting the art of making the bench. Greg has held a number of Schools Commission on Colleges Exec- pizzas in his wood-burning pizza oven. local positions within the bar association utive Committee and Board of Trustees, Married for 42 years to wife, Dulcie, and has been active in the Tennessee Bar the NCAA Division II President’s Coun- they have two daughters, one living Association Young Lawyers. Since 1992, cil, and the South Atlantic Conference in West Tennessee (Jessica Donnell) he has served on an advisory board for a (SAC). Higher education is Nancy’s fa- and one in East Tennessee (Meredith Boys & Girls Club for several years, has vorite philanthropy. As a first-generation Peccolo). They have three grandchil- contributed to a number of service proj- high school and college graduate, she dren, Callum (10), Catey Beth (8), and ects through the Barristers (the Young considers herself living proof that higher Connor (6). Lawyers’ Division of the Knoxville Bar education can change one’s life. For fun, Association), served as board member she enjoys golf, travel, water sports, and for Knoxville Habitat for Humanity for card games with friends and family. JOE six years, and served as a volunteer crew She was raised in a Baptist home but attended a Catholic elementary school, PETRE leader for them since 2000. He enjoys grew up in active projects that call not only for which very early in life made her think she might want to be a nun! Nancy and Maryville physical labor, but also present an intel- and began his lectual challenge. His favorite ways to her husband will celebrate their 40th anniversary in November, and they have career as a spend time involve water, being with his commercial wife and extended family, and reading. two adult children: daughter, Mykel, and son, Adam. real estate Something you may not know about him agent working is that he sang in the children’s chorus of for Wood Properties, Inc. and La Boheme while in elementary school. Lawler-Wood, LLC. In 2006, Joe His wife, Summer McMillan, is an at- started his own company, Conversion torney and between them they have five CHARLES Properties, Inc., concentrating on prop- children, ages 14-26.