Against The Grain

IT IS OFFICIAL.  Carmen Powell has been nominated and will be recongized as the recipient of the Franklin Tomorrow Volunteer Spirit Award.  She will be recognized on July 11 at Franklin Tomorrow's Third Annual Shrimp Boil.  If you are interested in attending the dinner, tickets are $50.00 for adults and $35.00 for children and can be purchased through Franklin Tomorrow's website franklintomorrow.org or by calling 794-0998  

Below is part of the submission explaining why Carmen is so deserving of this award.

Carmen has been vital to the success of AtG for the last 3 years.  She began her service working hands on with the moms as a mentor, as well as an instructor.  She met weekly with her mentee for a period of one-year, encouraging her and helping her to stay focused on her goals.  She also taught a class on overcoming childhood abuse, prepared meals for the 180 Program and made personal donations to the “Earn While you Learn” pantry.   

In 2007 Carmen joined the Volunteer Committee and helped establish Policy and Procedure for recruiting and activating the volunteers. She personally recruited more than 100 volunteers to tutor and prepare the meals that are provided to the moms and kids each time they attend the 180 program.  She initiated a donation program for churches and other civic organizations to collect donations for the “Earn While you Learn” pantry.

In 2008 she continued to deepen her commitment and volunteer activities to AtG when she accepted the position as Chair of the Vounteer Committee.  We estimate that she dontaes 20 - 30 hours per week and is repsonsible for recruiting, activating and corrdinating all volunteer efforts for AtG.  She schedules the weekly meals for the 180 program, coordinates weekly tutors and the "Study Buddy" program which provides in school tutoring at Johnson Elementary.  She also maintains volunteer lists and performs all background checks on mentors. 

Against the Grain has a new person to help around the office.  Liz Johnson started today through the V.I.S.T.A. program, which stands for Volunteers In Service To America, and will help with raising funds, volunteers and partnerships with other organizations over the next year.  If you are interested in helping Liz move the vision of AtG forward over the next year please email her at liz@atghope.org.

The Journey Church has an unique way of overcoming an overcrowded church on Sunday mornings.  They didn't build a bigger building or go to two services, they ask a certain number of small groups to volunteer for a local non-profit during the Sunday morning service.  This gives them two benefits…1 - they can fit everyone in the building on Sunday morning and 2 - they give their people opportunities to serve and organizations that need the help.  They have fixed up some houses for single mothers, done nieghborhood food drives and played kick ball with kids in the community. 
Yesterday they came to our offices to help tear down some dividers and rearrange so we can reduce our overall office space and save some money during this tough economic times.  They were an incredible help and we should have the main part of the offices completed today (Monday).  Thanks again to the Journey Church…you are an incredible blessing.

It has been a busy week with both a Golf Scramble and Walk-A-Thon.  On Thursday we held the 4th Annual Golf Scramble and had an incredible turn out.  80 golfers signed up to support AtG and the weather was absolutely beautiful.  Congratulations to Hubie Smith, Jason Adkins, Ricky Bowers and Robert Butler for winning with a 14 under 57 and to the wininng church team from Franklin Christian Church who posted a 13 under 58.  Thanks so much to the sponsors and golfers for investing in the moms and kids that we serve. 
Today (Saturday) we held the 2nd Annual Walk-A-Thon and the weather did not cooperate quite as much.  We had several people show up and walk in the rain but we called the event off a couple of hours early when the lightning started. 
The support and encouragement we received this week has been fantastic.  Thanks to all our sponsor, volunteers and all who were involved.

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Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Sunday, April 26 at Franklin Christian Church AtG graduated 5 moms into the second phase of the 180 program.  The women have spent the last year meeting weekly for group classes in budgeting, parenting, self-esteem, character development and leadership skills.  They have also gone through a jobs program.  For the next six months the women will attend classes every other week and then complete the last six months meeting with their mentors. 
Thanks to all the volunteers and partners for your investment in the lives of these women.  You have given them hope and a chance for a better life.  Below is a letter written by one of the moms telling what the 180 program has meant to her.