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THE SQUARE ROOM
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J A C K S O N
T E R M I N A L
At East Tenneessee Children’s Hospital, we know every child deserves care that meets their unique needs. With more than 35 pediatric subspecialties, our experts are here for every tear, triumph and every moment in between. Learn more at ETCH.com/connect
Thankful for Our Blessings. Thankful for Opportunities to Give Back.
Last month, we saw how hospitality begins at home. November reminds us that learning to be thankful begins in our family. We start out practicing basic manners as toddlers (“Say please!”).
As we grow up, it’s the grace we give one another in a family when we make mistakes, ask for help, or offer a hand up to a struggling sibling. Being grateful strengthens family bonds as it opens our own heart.
We’re proud to feature a family story so important to our community’s arts history. Thanks to the faithful stewards at the Beck Cultural Center, the only remaining ancestral home of Knoxville brothers Beauford and Joseph Delaney, world-renowned artists from the Harlem Renaissance, is being restored as a house museum. We’re grateful for all the fine and performing arts opportunities to enjoy this Thanksgiving season in our community. Check out our Events section. And, we can’t forget holiday treats. Dessert-tini bar recipes for a special Thanksgiving spread? Yes, please. Rick Johnson and Bill Waltman share their perspective on reaping a harvest through planned giving, while helping to feed generations of East Tennessee families. I also highly recommend finding a quiet place to sit and read our PYA Waltman partner, April Smith’s moving story about the power of gratitude in the hardest of times.
Thankful to Those who Serve
A veteran of two world wars, Brig. Gen. Neyland has been beloved by thousands of VFLs after leading UT to national prominence. Find out more about his desire to be buried side by side with fellow soldiers and other veterans’ stories in the Knoxville History Project profile of our National Cemetery.
I am excited for you to meet my friend (and fellow WDVX volunteer), veteran Armed Forces Radio and Television Broadcaster Bill Conner, who is loving his third act, getting to give back to the 134th Refueling Wing airmen and their families. Which brings us back to the family table, where we all begin with a simple “Please and Thank you.” Please accept our heartfelt wishes that you enjoy a Thanksgiving table overflowing with wonderful food for your family and friends. And thank you, always, for your continued devotion to this publication and the many fine partners who make it possible for us to share so many reasons to be grateful for our community.
Patricia Storm Broyles, Jennie Treadway-Miller, Paul James, Jack Neely, April Smith, FPQP™, Judy Beaudin
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Shawn Poynter, Ben Finch, Wes Hope, Bruce Cole, Knoxville Museum of Art, Bill Conner, Library of Congress, Knoxville History Project, Judy Beaudin
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler
Tennessee’s Rules for Piercing the Corporate Veil
Part 1 of 3
By Mital D. Patel PATEL & EISENHOWER, PLLC
You formed an LLC or corporation to protect yourself, but that protection isn’t automatic. If the business isn’t operated as a truly separate entity, a court can disregard it altogether and hold you personally responsible for its debts or obligations. is is called piercing the corporate veil.
Business owners should be aware that in 2025, the Tennessee Supreme Court clarified how and when that can happen. e Court confirmed that while the familiar Allen factors remain relevant, they are no longer the controlling test. Instead, Tennessee courts must now find proof of all three specific elements as follows, before se ing aside an LLC’s or corporation’s liability shield:
1. Control – e owner exercised such complete domination over finances, policy, and business practices that the company had no separate existence in relation to the transaction at issue.
2. Wrongdoing or Improper Use – at control was used to commit fraud, violate a legal duty, or promote an injustice.
3. Causation – e improper conduct directly caused the harm or loss claimed by the other party.
e Allen factors still play a role as evidence of these three elements. Meaning courts may consider:
1. Whether the entity was adequately capitalized;
2. Whether formalities were followed;
3. Whether dividends were paid;
4. Whether records were maintained;
5. Whether personal and corporate funds were commingled;
6. Whether the entity paid individual obligations;
7. Whether the entity is its own business or a “shell” company.
8. Whether the same o ce, employees, or assets were shared with other entities;
9. Whether the entity dealt fairly with third parties;
10. Whether the corporation was used to promote fraud, injustice, or illegality; and
11. e overall extent of control and misuse exercised by the owner.
For business owners, the takeaway is clear: forming an entity isn’t enough. e way you manage, capitalize, and separate your business operations determines whether your liability protection will stand when tested.
In Part 2 next month we will discuss daily decisions that could put your liability shield at risk.
inside the issue
PLATE PURPOSE with a
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Show your support and help lead the way to healthy children by tagging your vehicle with East Tennessee Children's Hospital's new license plate. Inspired by nearly ninety years of state-of-the-art care given to children in our region and beyond, this tag represents Children's Hospital's dedication to taking care of our future, one child at a time.
For a list of county clerk offices in Tennessee, scan the QR code.
business monthly
A ROUNDUP OF NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES
Knoxville Children’s Theatre “The Crucible”
Knoxville Children’s Theatre will present “The Crucible” through Nov. 9. Arthur Miller’s classic drama follows a Puritan village gripped by fear after a young woman’s claim of witchcraft leads to chaos and deceit. KCT casts children and youth from ages eight to 18. Tickets are $13–$16. Performances take place at 747 Worlds Fair Park Drive, with ample free parking available. For showtimes and details, visit KnoxvilleChildrensTheatre.com.
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Historic Ramsey House Christmas Marketplace
The Historic Ramsey House hosts its Christmas Marketplace Saturday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 2614 Thorngrove Pike. The family-friendly event features handcrafted gifts, food, live entertainment, children’s activities and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Guests can enjoy holiday cheer while exploring the historic home and grounds. Admission is free. More information at RamseyHouse.org.
KMA Second Sunday Docent Tour
The Knoxville Museum of Art invites guests to a docent-guided tour on Sunday, Nov. 9, from 2-3 p.m. A trained docent will lead visitors through the museum’s collection and temporary exhibitions during this free, 60-minute program. Guests are encouraged to meet at the front desk at 1:55 p.m. Tours are offered on the second Sunday of each month and are open to the public. KnoxArt.org.
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Knoxville Opera Goes to Church
Knoxville Opera presents Knoxville Opera Goes to Church, a soul-stirring concert blending opera and gospel, Sunday, Nov. 16, 5-7 p.m., at Central United Methodist Church. Featuring the Knoxville Opera Gospel Choir and a lineup of opera and gospel artists, the free event celebrates music’s power to unite and inspire. Donations support Knoxville Opera’s community and education programs. Admission is free and open to all. More information at KnoxvilleOpera.org.
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Light the Park at Campbell Station
Founders Park at Campbell Station will shine bright during Light the Park on Monday, Nov. 24, from 5:30-7 p.m., with live entertainment, milk and cookies, a synthetic ice rink and more. Santa flips the switch at 6:45 p.m., marking the start of the season. Lights will glow nightly from dusk to 10 p.m. along Campbell Station Road until Jan. 1. VisitFarragut.org.
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Fantasy of Trees
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital presents Fantasy of Trees, Knoxville’s premier holiday event, Nov. 26-30. All funds raised at ETCH’s Fantasy of Trees and Gala Among the Trees support the expansion and renovation of the Hogs for the Cause Hematology/ Oncology Infusion Center. This new space will provide additional room for patients and their families who routinely visit for treatment. Each month, the hospital’s HEMONC clinic has 45 new patient visits and over 450 appointments. ETCH.org.
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THE DELANEY MUSEUM at Beck
REV. RENEÉ KESLER OF BECK
CULTURAL EXCHANGE CENTER ON RESTORING THE ANCESTRAL HOME OF KNOXVILLE ARTISTS BEAUFORD AND JOSEPH DELANEY
ARTICLE
BY JENNIE TREADWAY MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAWN POYNTER, KNOXVILLE MUSEUM OF ART, BRUCE COLE
In 2014, Reverend Reneé Kesler joined the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, Knoxville’s African American History and Culture hub, as the organization’s president. Soon after, she inquired about the eyesore next door—a dilapidated, abandoned house perfectly situated for challenges nobody wanted to tackle.
“It generated a lot of activity that wasn’t ideal, and is located right next to Beck. However, it wasn’t until I inquired about the possibility of acquiring the house that I discovered who the owner was,” she explains. “Derek Spratley, the attorney representing the Beauford Delaney estate, helped me connect with the Delaney family estate attorney to inquire about the property. We purchased it, cleaned it and secured it by boarding it up. We had very limited funds available for the purchase, so making the decision was challenging. We negotiated a price based on our available resources to ensure Beck would not incur any debt.”
“As it turns out,” she continues, “we received a call afterward from David Butler, who was the executive director of the Knoxville Museum of Art [at the time], and Stephen Wicks, the curator and a lover of Beauford Delaney’s work. They asked, ‘Do you know what you have acquired?’ and I replied, ‘We have certainly acquired a significant challenge!’ They then shared with me the excitement in the art world surrounding the remarkable works of Beauford Delaney.”
The house, situated at 1935 Dandridge Avenue, is the last ancestral home of Beauford and Joseph Delaney, brothers and renowned artists whose modernist works emerged during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s, and are still on display today around the world. Patrons have viewed their artwork in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., the Chicago Art Institute, and in various galleries in Paris, France, including the Centre Pompidou.
“Beauford and Joseph Delaney were two extraordinary artists born in Knoxville and who rose above significant challenges—poverty, racism, mental illness—to pursue significant art careers,” says KMA Curator Stephen Wicks. “They kept in touch despite following divergent social and artistic paths. Their journeys reflect their remarkable courage and perseverance. They were determined to be artists despite all the obstacles and challenges, and they prevailed.”
Today, the Knoxville Museum of Art is home to the largest collection of Beauford Delaney’s oil paintings and other works, while the University of Tennessee’s Ewing Gallery of Art holds a large collection of sketchbooks, photographs, personal correspondence and other archival materials from Joseph Delaney. Now, the board of directors and supporters of Beck Cultural Exchange Center are ready to restore the Delaney home to a museum where the brothers’ legacies can be celebrated, solidifying what Wicks calls the “Delaney Triangle of Cities,” New York, Paris and Knoxville.
“When the KMA opened, we received a generous gift of Joseph Delaney’s paintings, so his work is on display here, but we owned nothing from Beauford. I wanted to find some way to buy or borrow paintings from the family, but that was back when we had no acquisition funds,” says Wicks. “Eventually,
we developed a strong bond with the Delaney estate and could raise money to purchase abstractions on paper in 2014. That launched the KMA’s crusade to build Beauford’s collection. By 2018, we were able to buy nine works from the estate, so we’ve been building it in several stages.”
With the Delaney house secured, Rev. Kesler and others are eager to give the structure its due restoration, thereby solidifying Knoxville as the artists’ hometown. They strive to honor the history of the Delaney family in Knoxville and the two artists who’ve long been celebrated in other cities and countries. Architects have done the planning, and permits have been pulled. They’ve already raised more than $2 million, but an additional $1 million or more is needed to initiate the restoration work.
In fact, for ready donors, the organization is seeking sponsors for two proposed sculptures to kick-start the fundraising efforts. Beck commissioned Andrew Jumonville from Bloomington, Illinois, to create two maquettes—or scaled models—of the proposed life-sized sculptures. One is a standing male figure, representing the artists’ father, John Samuel Delaney, while the other is a young woman sitting on a church pew with two small children, representing the young boys with their mother, Delia. Upon completion, the sculptures will be prominently featured outside the museum in a landscaped section of the property.
Architectural rendering of the proposed renovated Delaney Museum at Beck. BarberMcMurry Architects.
Sculpture of John Samuel Delaney by Andrew Jumonville
Sculpture of Delia, Joseph and Beauford Delaney by Andrew Jumonville
“It’s hard to talk about Beauford and Joseph without acknowledging the family that played a crucial role in their development. The family arrived here after the Emancipation. Their father, John Samuel, was a traveling evangelist and itinerant preacher, while their mother, Delia, was a domestic worker and an artist in her own right. Despite their poverty, they remained committed to community, although difficult times caused them to move often," says Rev. Kesler. “Out of ten children, only four survived into full adulthood.”
Born in 1901 and 1904 respectively, Beauford and Joseph learned to draw alongside each other, doodling on Sunday School cards at church. Over time, their distinct styles took shape, and they both left Knoxville for bigger cities up north, namely New York City, with Beauford arriving in 1929 and Joseph a year later. At the time, Harlem was the epicenter of African American culture and expression, a place any burgeoning artist, musician, or writer would want to be and be seen. Both brothers studied at the Art Students League and enjoyed some measure of recognition. Joseph was a beneficiary of President Roosevelt’s New Deal arts initiative, and in 1938, Beauford's work was featured in Life magazine. The brothers shared experiences and friendships with some of the most prominent names of the Modern era, including James Baldwin, Georgia O’Keeffe and Henry Miller.
“Joseph was a virtuoso of the human figure and expressive lines, and was an exceptionally gifted parade and portrait painter,” says Wicks. “Beauford was a courageous and tireless experimenter, a seeker of elevated aesthetic experiences, a visionary whose alchemy with color and texture enabled him to penetrate surface reality and reshape the visible world in order to reveal his notion of the eternal.”
The brothers’ professional trajectories eventually diverged from one another. Beauford moved to Paris in 1953, where he remained until he passed in 1979, while Joseph returned to Knoxville more frequently. In fact, Joseph was the featured artist 50 years ago for the grand opening of Beck in September 1975, and in 1986, he was named artist-in-residence at the University of Tennessee. While Joseph’s presence and influence were stronger locally, Beauford’s work is more well-known outside of Knoxville.
“I had long heard stories of the brothers being at odds with one another due to their artistic differences and sibling rivalry, but in the letters and accounts I’ve read, their bond was strong, and their mutual respect was great,” says Wicks. “After Beauford’s death, Joseph attended his brother’s funeral and went to great lengths to rescue Beauford’s belongings (paintings and archival materials) from being auctioned off by the French government. Without that intervention, our knowledge of Beauford and his achievements would likely be a fraction of what it is.”
With approximately 22 remaining heirs to the Delaney estate, special care has been taken to ensure the brothers’ legacies will endure.
“Beck will be one of the few museums to feature two house museums side by side in the same city: one dedicated to the Delaney family and the other focusing on over 230 years of African American history and culture in East Tennessee.”
—Rev. Reneé Kesler.
“None of the KMA’s recent acquisitions of Beauford’s art would have been possible without the partnership the museum forged years ago with estate administrator Derek Spratley, who has done an exemplary job in managing the artist’s estate since the mid1990s,” says Wicks.
Attorney Derek Spratley not only works with the KMA, UT and Beck here in Knoxville, but with organizations, institutions and galleries domestically and internationally who seek to celebrate Beauford’s and Joseph’s artistry.
“My primary objective is to keep as much artwork here as possible. My job, as far as the court is concerned, is to liquidate the art, but I want to keep as much here. It was important to me to have the legacy,” says Spratley. “They have to be the most prolific artist brothers in the world, and they’re from Knoxville. Just from the standpoint of the legacy, it’s rare for a town our size.”
The group's effort to celebrate Beauford and Joseph by establishing their local legacy is now focused primarily on restoring their ancestral home, located next to Beck.
“It’s a house museum, and when you look across the country, out of the 15,000 house museums, less than 1% are dedicated to African Americans,” says Rev. Kesler. “Much of our history has been erased. Beck will be one of the few museums to feature two house museums side by side in the same city: one dedicated to the Delaney family and the other focusing on over 230 years of African American history and culture in East Tennessee.”
None of these efforts has been born out of good luck, as far as Rev. Kesler is concerned. The house, the collections, the coming together of like-minded people—it’s all providence.
“It’s been a divine experience in every way. I firmly believe that we are called by faith to engage in this important work. Beck preserves African American history and culture in East Tennessee, and we possess a unique depth and breadth of history that no one else has,” says Rev. Kesler. “We are very close to reaching our goal for the Delaney Museum and we invite our community to join us in honoring this history.”
“African American history is rich with stories of resilience, perseverance, encouragement and inspiration,” she says. “Our goal in restoring the Delaney House is to create a space that not only honors the legacy of Beauford, Joseph and the Delaney family, but also celebrates the vibrant heritage and culture of Knoxville. We envision bringing our community together through shared experiences that resonate with everyone.”
Caption of Beauford Delaney painting on page 24
Untitled (Yellow, Red, and Black Circles for James Baldwin, Istanbul), 1966, by Beauford Delaney (Knoxville, 1901-1979, Paris). Watercolor and gouache on paper, 25 5/8 x 19 inches.
Knoxville Museum of Art, 2018 purchase with funds provided by the Rachael Patterson Young Art Acquisition Reserve, Ann & Steve Bailey in honor of Rachael Patterson Young, Natalie & Jim Haslam in honor
“We envision bringing our community together through shared experiences that resonate with everyone.”
of Lindsay Young, Molly & Bob Joy, the KMA Collectors Circle, The Knoxville (TN) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, Daniel McGehee, Marty Begalla, Nancy & Charles Wagner III, June & Rob Heller, Sandi Burdick & Tom Boyd, the Guild of the Knoxville Museum of Art, Debbie & Ron Watkins, John Z.C. Thomas, Richard Jansen, John Cotham, Monica Crane & Luke Madigan, Susan & Kent Farris, Lane Hays, Sylvia & Jan Peters, Patricia & Alan Rutenberg, Barbara & Steve Apking, Pam & Jeff Peters, Ebbie & Ronald Sandberg, Barbara & Bernie Bernstein, Karen & Reinhold Mann, Penny Lynch & Kimbro McGuire, David Butler & Ted Smith, Kitsy & Lou Hartley, Diane Humphreys-Barlow & Jack Barlow, Debbie & Jimmy Jones, Merikay Waldvogel & Jerry Ledbetter, Meredith & Mark Overholt, Alexandra Rosen & Donald Cooney, Sandy & Frank Steer, Donna & Terry Wertz, Jackie Wilson, Pat & Geoff Wolpert, Wokie Massaquoi-Wicks & Stephen Wicks, Denise DuBose & Francis Lloyd, Falen & Clark Gillespie, DeLena Feliciano, Anna Fraser & Douglas Goode, and Georgia & William Pace. Photo: Bruce Cole.
RENÉ KESLER, PRESIDENT OF BECK CULTURAL EXCHANGE CENTER
A native Knoxvillian, UT graduate and ordained pastor, Rev. Reneé Kesler joined the Beck Cultural Exchange Center as its president in 2014, after serving on the board of directors. A graduate of Leadership Knoxville and a member of the University of Tennessee Chancellor Association Program, Rev. Kesler has served on numerous nonprofit, faith-based and community boards over the past 15 years. She has a deep passion for conserving and preserving historical African American communities.
To learn more and support, please visit BeckCenter.net.
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Monday, Nov 17 – Maryville | 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
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Enjoy exclusive savings when you attend one of our locations. Live demos at Powell, Tellico, & Maryville. Meet the experts behind your favorite treatments and products OUR BIGGEST SALE OF THE YEAR!
As Second Harvest board chair,
A.R. “Rick” Johnson led the capital campaign to build the 92,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Maryville in 2011
A.R. JOHNSON LEGACY SOCIETY CREATES SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF EAST TENNESSEE
With the recent launch of the A.R. Johnson Legacy Society, Knoxville native A.R. “Rick” Johnson embarks on the second chapter in his 20+ year history with Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. A business management and planning consultant with a corporate executive background, Rick’s first chapter began in 2003 as a Second Harvest volunteer-board member. Later, as board chair, he led the capital campaign for
ARTICLE BY PATRICIA STORM BROYLES PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAWN POYNTER
A.R. “Rick” Johnson and Kristi Rule, CFRM, Chief Development Officer
the current 92,000-square-foot Maryville facility that features massive cooler-freezer capacity and innovations, including a refrigerated cargo dock that allows trucks to unload perishable items directly onto the dock for swift sorting and storage. Last year, Second Harvest distributed a landmark 27.3 million pounds of food to East Tennesseans in 18 counties through 780+ community partners.
Second Harvest recently partnered with PYA Waltman Capital, a Knoxville-based financial planning and investment management firm, to create the A.R. Johnson Legacy Society, recognizing Rick’s tireless advocacy for the food bank. West Knoxville Lifestyle sat with Rick and PYA Waltman President, Bill Waltman, to discuss their shared passion for developing legacy giving to ensure Second Harvest’s funding stability for generations.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SECOND HARVEST. RICK
I originally served on its large volunteer-supporter board alongside a group of great people who all pitched in to keep things running. When Second Harvest got big enough to need a governance board, made up of people who had experience raising significant funding, who had sat on other boards, who had led organizations, the large board became an advisory board, and I chaired the smaller governance board.
To fulfill our mission, we needed a bigger, more modern facility with greater capacity, so we launched a capital campaign to raise the funds. Second Harvest moved to the new Maryville facility in 2011, and shortly after, in 2012, Governor Bill Haslam recruited me to lead a statewide initiative in Nashville, which resulted in the creation of the nonprofit Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness. Stepping away from the private sector, I served for nine months as the governor’s special assistant, and then as the foundation’s CEO for six years. That work led to the creation of another nonprofit, the Coalition for Better Health, which I led for six more years. When my wife, Mary, and I moved to Nashville to be closer to my work, I stepped down from Second Harvest’s board and other Knoxville boards I served on, because I believe in being an active, working board member.
After we moved back to Knoxville in 2022, I began helping Second Harvest again with some planning counseling. Last year, Elaine [Second Harvest CEO Elaine Streno] and I started discussing a legacy society. Mary and I already had Second Harvest in our wills, but this would be a new formal focus to look toward sustainable funding over the long term. In my role, I would be working to build awareness, calling on potential benefactors, and speaking to groups about how legacy giving supports long-term stability for Second Harvest.
WHY WILL THE LEGACY SOCIETY APPEAL TO POTENTIAL DEALERS?
RICK
I encourage people to see the opportunity to look to the future and make a commitment that has tax advantages, like charitable giving can, but to do it in a studied, planned way for the long term. Donors have the unique opportunity to thoughtfully build this into their overall estate financial planning. There’s a practical side with tax advantages while also helping assure the financial support Second Harvest needs in years to come. But then there’s the gratifying side of giving back and caring for neighbors who need our help.
President Bill Waltman’s wealth management firm, PYA Waltman Capital, partnered with Second Harvest to create the A.R. Johnson Legacy Society
"LEGACY GIVING SUPPORTS SECOND HARVEST’S LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY." –Rick Johnson.
People may think, “If I’m not a multi-millionaire with assets I’m able to give away, this doesn’t pertain to me.” First of all, any amount matters. It may be the perfect time to acknowledge, “I’m not in a position now. I’ve got kids, college, mortgage obligations, so I’m not able to do this. But if I look out to the future and what those demands will be then and think about what I am likely to have created in terms of assets and value over the rest of my lifetime, then that’s a different picture. And I will be able to do more.”
TELL US ABOUT PYA WALTMAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH SECOND HARVEST.
BILL
One of the earliest points of connection was when we chose Second Harvest for our annual Thanksgiving contribution to a community organization, helping provide meals to struggling families. We sent out Thanksgiving cards with a note to our clients that we made this contribution in recognition of them and their feedback was tremendous. They’re so thankful we
established this relationship with Second Harvest. Our staff believes in this at a personal level, and we provide them with paid time off quarterly for volunteering with nonprofits, because the personal impact that anyone can have with the gift of time is also substantial.
WHAT IS PYA WALTMAN’S ROLE IN THE LEGACY SOCIETY?
BILL
We are blessed to have this partnership opportunity. We counsel families to help make sure their financial situations are in order and their families are taken care of, while also counseling them on efficient ways to give charitably. In meetings with Rachael [COO Rachael Ellis], we discussed a collaboration where we could bring our intellectual expertise on planned giving, provide collateral material and have our staff actively involved in presenting to groups on tax-efficient ways to give. We want to make it as easy as possible for potential donors to support Second Harvest now and in the long term through a legacy society.
HOW DO DONORS BENEFIT?
BILL
One of the main benefits is giving pretax dollars versus post-tax dollars. Both are appreciated, but from a client’s perspective, we can structure the giving in such a way that the impact can be greater because it’s pre-tax dollars. The charity benefits because the donors can offer greater sustained support. The donor benefits from giving in an efficient manner and realizing that on tax returns.
Aaron Walton is Second Harvest Volunteer Project Coordinator. This past year, volunteers donated 32,000 hours of their time.
Volunteer Marvin Figgins and Second Harvest employee Josie Fellers sort donated items from food drives
“Having Rick, who is so respected in our community, say, ‘This is important to our community. I’m giving my time, talent and treasure to this mission,’ galvanizes support.”
–Bill Waltman.
It’s not just an opportunity for the wealthy. It’s also for those who may have more modest means. Anyone who has a stock portfolio, even if it’s small, and in a position that has gone up in value, can gift those shares or a portion of those shares to benefit Second Harvest.
HOW DOES PLANNED GIVING HELP NONPROFITS?
BILL
If they have a sustained program of planned giving and are building up that endowment over time, the budget is funded from the returns on the endowment plus ongoing planned giving. A consistent program each year helps Second Harvest with planning how many people they can serve, creating stability, and growing their ability to serve the community into the future.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A BENEFACTOR LIKE RICK JOHNSON ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM?
BILL
I have such respect for his leadership position with Second Harvest. Having someone like Rick, who is so respected in our community, step up and say, “This is important to our community. I’m going to give my time, talent and treasure to this mission and encourage others to do the same,” is pivotal. It galvanizes others to step forward and support the organization.
HOW DO GIVING BACK AND GRATITUDE GO HAND IN HAND?
BILL
One of our company’s core values is gratefulness. We’re grateful to work with talented colleagues serving great clients to hopefully impart financial peace, which then strengthens their families. By making those
families stronger, they are then able to give back to great organizations like Second Harvest, which in turn makes our community stronger. It’s a calling we take very seriously.
RICK
I feel very strongly we have a calling and obligation to care for each other and nothing is more fundamental than feeding families who are hungry and food insecure. When people go through hard times, not knowing where their next meal comes from, we are called to help. Kids can’t learn and grow up to work and support themselves if they are often without food. If the only meals they get are at school, but go home to a weekend of hunger, they have a hard time becoming successful, productive members of society. Parents have a hard time looking for jobs if they’re desperately spending time trying to find food for their family. There are lots of reasons to give that appeal to heart and head.
Second Harvest does so much to serve our East Tennessee communities. Everyone isn’t in a position to be boots on the ground, but we can give back to make it possible for others to serve those in need. You just have to do it to experience the satisfaction of caring and giving back. If you have any doubt about that, just try it and you’ll see.
SecondHarvestETN.org . | PYAWaltman.com.
PYA Waltman Capital, LLC, “PYA Waltman,” is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about PYA Waltman’s investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2 and/or Form CRS, which is available upon request. PYA-25-52
Pile it On
GO BEYON D THE PIE WITH A
When I had my catering business, this crowd-pleasing dessert was one of my most requested. Guests heap their own mini martini glass with a variety of fall-themed cake or blondie bites, ice cream, candies, sprinkles and sauces. This year, surprise everyone with this fun ending to your Thanksgiving feast.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUDY BEAUDIN
Vanilla Bean Blondies
INGREDIENTS
• 1 ½ cups flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups brown sugar
• ½ cup butter (1 stick), melted
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment. Spray with cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
3. In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla.
4. Using a hand mixer, beat flour mixture into sugar mixture until smooth.
5. Spread evenly into pan and bake 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool. Cut into 1” cubes.
Pumpkin Cake
INGREDIENTS
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 2 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• ⅛ teaspoon ginger
• ⅛ teaspoon cloves
• ¼ cup butter, softened
• 1 2/3 cups sugar
• 1 can pumpkin purée
• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the first eight ingredients. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat sugar and butter until blended. Beat in remaining ingredients. Add flour mixture and beat until smooth.
4. Pour into pan. Bake 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool and cut into 1” cubes.
Pecan Oat Crumble
INGREDIENTS
• ½ cup quick oats
• ½ cup Graham cracker crumbs
• ½ cup chopped pecans
• ¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar
• ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ginger
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup butter, melted
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients. Stir in butter. Spread onto a baking sheet.
3. Bake 10-15 minutes, until pecans are toasted. Cool. Crumble and add to the toppings bar.
Judy Beaudin
Judy Beaudin is an award-winning competitive cook with over a decade of experience in the catering industry and the owner of Scrumptious Catering. Her dessert and pastry work has appeared in national marketing campaigns and on HGTV. She has been featured in local and national lifestyle and industry magazines for her food and catering work. Follow her foodie life on Instagram at @ scrumptious_judyb and on Facebook at The Scrumptious Life.
ARTICLE BY PAUL JAMES AND JACK NEELY | PHOTOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATION BY SHAWN POYNTER, KNOXVILLE HISTORY PROJECT, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Knoxville National Cemetery
Lithograph “Graves of the 79th Highlanders,” ca. 1864. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Many people are familiar with Knoxville’s Old Gray Cemetery, located on Broadway. With its winding tree-lined lanes and old gravestones, ornate obelisks and memorial statuary, there is no other place quite like it within the city. Yet, immediately to the north, across a low stone wall, is another burial place that is totally different. In contrast, Knoxville’s National Cemetery, with its clean lines and crisply cut grass, is also a very old place, conceived and begun just a little more than a decade after Gray opened in 1850.
Created as a result of war, the National Cemetery would be the final resting place for many soldiers, but it wasn’t meant for Knoxvillians. Almost all came from far away, soldiers who died near here but couldn’t easily be transported home. Among the first to be buried was Private Orville Orford of the 2nd Ohio Cavalry,
who died during a skirmish between Confederate troops and the Union army in the fall of 1863. Buried first in Potter’s Field cemetery (off MKL Drive) in September 1863, Union soldiers dug up his remains and, along with several others, reinterred him in the field adjacent to Gray Cemetery.
Soon, their remains would be joined by other Union soldiers who were killed during the brief, intense Battle of Fort Sanders in late November that year. That 20-minute siege, often cited as one of the gruesomest contests of the Civil War, left a massive amount of Confederate soldiers dead. Only a few Union soldiers lost their lives, and the bodies of these 79th
New York Volunteers (aka “Highlanders”) were buried here. Within the year, a great amount burials would take place at what later became known as Knoxville’s National Cemetery, defined by its concentric design of grave markers. In those early days after the Civil War, burials were marked by numbered stakes, and later wooden planks were used with the names of the dead painted on them. Uniform white Vermont marble grave markers would later replace the wooden ones.
Although Bethel Confederate Cemetery in East Knoxville has about 50 Union soldiers buried there, only one known Confederate soldier is buried at National: Captain George Coleman of the 9th Kentucky Regiment. His gravestone is slightly different from the rest; the top of his stone has a peaked top. Why he is buried there is a mystery. Many are also unidentified and listed as “UNKNOWN.”
African American veterans are notable by the description, “COL INF,” indicating Colored Infantry.
Beyond the large concentric circle, with its central flagpole, the most distinctive feature in the cemetery is the tall Union Soldier’s monument. Members of the Grand Army of the Republic (a Union veterans’ organization) announced plans for a monument back in 1893, but they struggled to raise the necessary funds to build it. Only three years later did they manage to lay a cornerstone; then, in 1897, they began persuading 8,000 Union veterans to contribute $1 each to complete the project.
Memorial Day Reenactors.
Photo courtesy of KHP.
Entrance Plaque. Photo courtesy of Shawn Poynter.
Finally finished in 1901, the tall marble tower originally featured a large bronze eagle atop a cannonball. That eagle would only last for three years until August 1904, when a thunderous bolt of lightning struck, obliterating the top half. At the same time that lightning hit, drinkers in downtown saloons rushed out to see what the calamity was all about—the noise was so deafening that most assumed it was something close by, not almost a mile away. The old tower contained metal parts, which attracted the lightning.
The following month, city residents reeled again when two trains collided just outside of Knoxville in what became known as the New Market Train Wreck that killed a large number of passengers. One survivor, U.S. Congressman Henry Gibson, sponsored a bill to fund the rebuilding of the monument. This time, the design featured a resolute Union soldier perched on top, which remains impressive to this day.
There are many veterans’ stories to tell here. Two large gravestones tell the story of two former UT students, Henry McCorkle and John Bernard, who fought as first lieutenants during the Spanish-American War of 1898, yet probably
never knew each other. Thomas Ridge, an Irish immigrant and Civil War veteran, is buried here, at the very place where he served as cemetery superintendent for 20 years. Both Ridge’s and his wife’s gravestones are distinctive with crosses, which is most unusual for this burial ground.
Other graves stand out because they represent Medal of Honor recipients, including Irishman Timothy Spillane, who served bravely during the Civil War, receiving that commendation 15 years after the conflict, and was buried here upon his death in 1901; and Troy McGill, who died in hand-to-hand conflict in the Pacific Theater during World War II—part of Interstate 40 through Knoxville is named for him.
Finally, one of Knoxville’s most revered is buried near the cemetery entrance; his standard grave marker just like thousands of others, but it bears the name of Robert Neyland. A veteran of two world wars, Brig. Gen. Neyland became a hero to tens of thousands of Vols Football fans after leading the team to national prominence. His wish to be buried alongside his fellow combatants speaks to his humble nature. It's just one story among the many dead who rest here at the National Cemetery.
ABOUT KHP
Knoxville History Project tells the city’s stories, focusing on those that have not been previously told and those that connect the city to the world. Donations to support the work of the Knoxville History Project, a nonprofit educational organization, are always welcome and appreciated. Learn more at KnoxvilleHistoryProject.org.
Brig. Gen. Robert Neyland gravestone.
Photo courtesy of Shawn Poynter.
Union Soldiers Monument.
Photo courtesy of Shawn Poynter.
Karlene Howie, LPC, MS, MAC
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Photo by Jennifer Crook Photography
GOOD MORNING, KEFLAVÍK, ICELAND!
ARTICLE BY PATRICIA STORM BROYLES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAWN POYNTER
Bill serves the 134th Air Refuelling Wing at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base. “This is the greatest job I’ve ever had in my life.”
VETERAN ARMED FORCES RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTER BILL CONNER IS THANKFUL FOR HIS THIRD ACT OF GIVING BACK AT MCGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE
When William A. Conner (Bill) told an Air Force recruiter in 1991 he wanted to travel internationally, finish college and work in radio and TV, he had no idea he would get exactly what he wanted in his military career. Bill and his wife enjoyed tours in Iceland and Portugal. He earned his master’s in Communication Arts, along with professional certifications, and he spent the first half of his military career as a broadcaster with Armed Forces Radio and Television.
After boot camp, Bill attended the Defense Information School in Indianapolis for training, where he underwent fasttrack training in virtually every job at a radio and television station, from copywriting to sound engineering, and from disc jockey to floor director. “Any aspect of broadcasting, that’s what I did in my first career.”
“This was before worldwide streaming media, so when you were stationed overseas, your job was to be the English-speaking media for your base. You might be the morning disc jockey and the evening TV anchor or cameraman. You would carry national headline news and then DJ your own radio show, playing their favorite songs so you could be a little bit of home for the airmen.”
Bill’s award-winning “The Dead Zone” show played “The Grateful Dead” on the base in Keflavík, Iceland. Think Robin Williams in “Good Morning, Vietnam” in another era.
“And it was absolutely wonderful!”
Transferred back to the States, Bill was assigned to USAF Recruiting Headquarters in San Antonio, working with their ad agency, producing recruitment public service announcements. He’d go into the studio to produce custom PSAs for local radio stations, such as country powerhouse WIVK-FM in Knoxville, which the recruiter would then send to the station. “Stations would play the daylights out of it. It got their call sign out, while we got our message out in a time when country music was a huge market for our 18-24 demographic.”
Bill calls his broadcast production work in Texas “just the coolest thing to do.” While working at recruiting headquarters, he traveled to Nashville to produce “The Gift,” a one-hour holiday radio program sponsored by the USAF. He interviewed country artists Randy Travis, Trisha Yearwood, Clint Black and Charlie Daniels, recording their favorite Christmas memories to produce a story-and-song program mixed with songs from their holiday albums. The artists were honored to be part of a military project, and radio stations gave “The Gift” special airtime throughout the holiday season to honor service men and women.
Just as he was about to be transferred back to Portugal, Bill was introduced to a new opportunity in the Texas Air National Guard, doing photography and video work. “So, I finished as a regular active-duty Air Force member, switched over as an active-duty Air Guard member and was with the unit in San Antonio, as a Public Affairs Specialist for 13 years.”
While stationed there, Bill often came to McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, which has an entire facility dedicated to airmen education, to teach. “My wife [now retired from the Department of Energy in Oak Ridge] and I just fell in love with the area. It reminds us of our home state, Virginia. Our son and daughter were born in Texas, but now both live in East Tennessee. So, it’s the best of all possible worlds for us.”
It was natural when Bill traveled to Knoxville to look for a homegrown radio station, and he found it in roots-music public radio WDVX. He even tied his public affairs course to WDVX, bringing classes to the “Blue Plate Special” for a learning lab about messaging and community partnerships. Later, Bill followed his passion, joining and currently serving as the chair of the WDVX board.
A job opened up on the McGhee Tyson Air Guard base in 2013, where Bill finished his final military tour, teaching and developing courses in Instructor Certification, Public Affairs Management and Video News Production. “Originally, you go in thinking, let’s give it one tour. Twenty-five years later, in the Air Force and Air National Guard, I retired as Master Sergeant E-7.”
Since 2018, Bill has served as the Military and Family Readiness Manager for the 134th Air Refueling Wing at the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base. “This is the greatest job I’ve ever had in my life. I loved being in the military, but I had done everything I wanted to do. This is a role serving military people, but doing it as a civilian is so great!”
Bill’s Wall Board at Sharp’s Ridge Veterans Memorial Park
Photo: Bill Conner
Bill’s military challenge coin collection
Technical Sergeant Matt Moore and Bill Conner
“You spend the first third of your military career learning a new job, culture and way of life—reinventing yourself. The middle part, you’re accomplished in your job, hopefully an expert in your field. The last third should be give-back time, ensuring the people coming behind you are doing well and ready to make a good career out of the military. But for me, my last military assignment was a reset because I had to learn how to teach and instruct other instructors. I didn’t really get that third act, my give-back time.”
That opportunity emerged in his role as Military and Family Readiness Manager. Bill says his job is all about taking care of the people on the base through wellness training, classes and military family support programs. He’s part of a resilience team, a group of mental health professionals and chaplains who work closely together to care for airmen and their families.
“If we can help them square away finances, manage education goals, address stressors in their relationships, prepare for deployment, whatever it is, that’s going to help them be happier, be better at their job and better airmen each day they are out here. That’s my goal every day.”
And every day is different. “During a recent drill weekend, our resilience team did a training session for 90 airmen. “In a day, I might have 3 or 5 people come in with problems: one person ready to retire, another needing marriage counseling. I never know how many people are coming through my door, and I definitely have no idea what they need or want. I just have to stay flexible and be ready.”
One driver for Bill is building relationships before people realize they will need that relationship. “Something Desmond Tutu said shaped my philosophy. ‘There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.’”
“That’s my job. These young airmen, who are sharp, amazing kids, need information and support, but live in a world where communicating is done with two thumbs and a screen. Giving and receiving feedback or talking through problems in person are challenging. It can be hard for them to step out to ask anybody for any kind of help. I get in front of these young airmen, so they feel like they know and trust me so, if something is going on, they don’t have that hesitation to come talk to me.”
Bill put together a library of courses, like public speaking, giving and receiving feedback, mindfulness, and resiliency. “People don’t like public speaking, but I tell them in my course, ‘If you can’t lead a discussion, you can’t lead a squadron. So, you guys who think you’re going to be a leader someday, if you can’t get in front of the room and brief with confidence, you can forget it. They won’t listen to you.’ That’s when I get their buy-in.”
Bill explains that people coming from other bases always remark that the 134th Refueling Wing has something very special. “The 134th is amazing, starting with our top leadership, who are always there in every way to support us.” He adds that there are generations of fathers and sons, brothers, mothers and children who have served at the base.
“That, in no small part, has to do with East Tennesseans and the way they support the military and veterans every day. It’s not that they just think of service members on Veterans Day. It’s every day. At this base, we never take for granted the love and support we get from our community. We couldn’t do it without them.”
“This is that third act I wanted … where I get to give back to the people on our base … and it is pretty wonderful.”
Lance Asti Owner & Lead Lighting Designer
The Lens of Gratefulness: A Thanksgiving Reflection
ARTICLE BY APRIL SMITH, FPQP™ | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN FINCH
grate·ful /g rātf(ə)l/ adjective
1. feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful
In our family, we have a cherished tradition during Thanksgiving. Before the feast begins, each of us takes a moment to share something we’re thankful for. The elders speak of specific moments or meaningful relationships that have left a lasting impression over the past year. The middle-aged often recall a special event or achievement, while the younger ones light up as they mention gifts or possessions they hold dear.
Gratitude and joy seem to go hand in hand. When we take time to be grateful, joy often follows. Counting our blessings helps us to recognize the gifts we’ve been given—both big and small.
It’s easy to be grateful when life is going smoothly— when laughter fills the room, and love surrounds us.
In his series “Conversations with God,” Neale Donald Walsch said, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” Gratitude becomes harder to hold onto when we’re facing life’s storms: a failed exam, financial hardship, the sudden loss of a loved one, a senseless event that brings grief, or a difficult diagnosis.
In 2015, my daughter, in the early days of her first pregnancy, received devastating news. Her baby girl was diagnosed with a severe condition that would lead to a difficult road ahead. But my daughter made the brave decision to carry her child, to give her every chance at life.
What followed were some of the hardest months our family had ever faced—marked by tears, difficult conversations and unimaginable decisions. In those
moments, finding gratitude took effort. It became a quiet search for hope—a silver lining in the clouds. But even then, we looked for signs of light: the smile of a friend, the embrace of a loved one, or a moment of stillness that reminded us we were not alone.
When that beautiful baby girl arrived, she entered the world with numerous physical challenges. But she was met with boundless love and care. We cherished every moment we had with her. We were grateful. Grateful to the doctors and nurses who provided her with comfort and care. Grateful for the medicine that eased her pain. Grateful for friends and the community who stood by us. Grateful for the chance to read to her, to hold her tiny hand, to see her smile.
Gratitude during that time didn't remove the pain, but it gave us something to hold onto in the midst of it.
As we approach this season of Thanksgiving and gather around tables—some grand, some humble—may we choose to see life through the lens of gratefulness.
Let us not only be thankful for the food before us, but also for the arms of friends and family that hold us, the hearts of our community that support us and the smiles of children and grandchildren that light up the room.
Gratitude brings joy. And joy, when rooted in thankfulness, is a place in our hearts that nothing can take away.
This Thanksgiving, count your blessings—one by one.
PYA Waltman Capital LLC (“PYAW”) is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Find more information about PYAW’s investment advisory services in its Form ADV Part 2 and/ or Form CRS, available upon request. PYA-25-44
As we approach this season of Thanksgiving and gather around tables—some grand, some humble— may we choose to see life through the lens of gratefulness.
Shinnerrie Jackson:
MEALS
Giving the Purse a Purpose: Helping Knox County Seniors Lead Healthier Lives in their Own Homes
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY WEST KNOXVILLE LIFESTYLE STAFF
A sold-out crowd of happy shoppers left the Power of the Purse fundraiser the evening of Sept. 18 with purses, bags, totes, evening clutches, accessories, jewelry and great silent auction deals, along with the satisfaction of helping feed Knox County homebound seniors for the coming year. Hosted by the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC) Office on Aging, the annual event, held at Rothchild's Catering, supports Mobile Meals. This vital Nutrition Services program provides meals, safety and social checks, and companionship to over 1,100 homebound seniors five days a week. They’ve passed the milestone of serving their 10 millionth meal.
CAC Community Action Committee Office on Aging is a public nonprofit agency. Your gift helps them serve the people of Knoxville and Knox County. Learn more about the vital services they provide to the community at KnoxSeniors.org
Executive Assistant Cathy Gonzales and Executive Director of Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC) Office on Aging Barbara Kelly
WATE-TV News Anchor and event emcee, Lori Tucker, and CAC Office on Aging Director of Nutrition, Judith Pelot
Leonia Johnson is a perennial supporter of CAC
West Knoxville Lifestyle joined WATE-TV as media sponsors for the 2025 event
CAC Office on Aging Director of Nutrition Judith Pelot, and MPH, Program Manager with KnoxvilleKnox County CAC Nutrition Services Sara Keel
The programming featured a fashion show by an event sponsor, J. Jill, a women's clothing store in The Pinnacle at Turkey Creek
New to Knoxville, Brittany Morton, Community Relations Director of The Courtyard Senior Living
J. Jill staff members Lisa Pressley, Trish Warwick and Lisa Jackson
H O P E
Begins with YOU A SEASON TO SEE THE UNSEEN
The holidays have a way of calling us back to what matters most—faith, family, compassion, and the quiet but powerful act of giving. As lights go up and calendars fill, there are still many who sit in silence, carrying burdens too heavy to bear alone. But what if this season, you could be the spark that changes everything for someone else?
The founders of City Lifestyle, through their private foundation, are once again launching its annual Christmas Giving Campaign—a heartfelt effort to seek out and support individuals and families who have quietly fallen through the cracks. The mission is simple: to bring light, dignity, and hope to those who need it most.
Since its beginning just four years ago, this initiative has grown from a humble idea into a life-changing movement. Last Christmas alone, more than 200 families across the country received unexpected support—financial relief, but also something even more powerful.
“We don’t just send checks,” says Steven Schowengerdt, CEO and founder of City Lifestyle. “We send a message: You are seen. You are loved. And you are not forgotten.”
Together with City Lifestyle President Matthew Perry, Steven has helped shape this into a tradition that goes far beyond charity. “This is about community,” Matthew adds. “We believe we’ve been blessed, so now we get to be a blessing.”
Every story begins with a nomination. Often, it’s a neighbor, coworker, friend, or teacher—someone who’s been quietly carrying too much for too long. One past recipient, after receiving unexpected support during a time of deep personal struggle, wrote:
SCAN TO NOMINATE
“We send a message: You are seen. You are loved. And you are not forgotten.”
“Beyond the very practical solution of receiving funds to fix my car, this thing you guys worked together to do is bigger than that. I carry the Christmas card you sent in my purse. When things get really hard, I pull it out and remember what it felt like to be seen. That card represents hope— that change for the better is possible. I’m not sure how many people get to carry hope around in their purse. But I do.”
Another wrote in after her husband was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer and unable to work:
“This support has blessed our family not only financially, but emotionally and spiritually as we trust God to meet our needs throughout this difficult time. Thank you to our anonymous friend and to your foundation. What a joy and gift to be part of God’s family!”
Each year brings countless stories like these—real lives touched by simple acts of kindness. Some use the funds to pay overdue bills, others to afford groceries, medication, or repairs. But no matter the circumstance, the impact is the same: hope is restored.
This season, you have the opportunity to be part of that. The campaign is now open to nominations—completely confidential and prayerfully considered. Whether it’s someone battling illness, facing unemployment, or just in need of a helping hand, you can bring them a moment of grace that will ripple far beyond Christmas morning.
“Knowing my mom was chosen filled my heart with indescribable joy,” said another past recipient. “Your generosity doesn’t just brighten her life; it inspires hope and faith in all of us. It enables her to stay in her home and get back on her feet.”
Nominations are open from November 1st to December 5th, 2025. To submit someone you know, simply scan the QR code or visit @CityLifestyle on Instagram, where you’ll find the nomination form in the bio.
This holiday season, let’s give more than gifts. Let’s give each other the gift of being seen. Because sometimes, the smallest gesture becomes someone’s greatest miracle.
To nominate someone in need, visit: KingdomBuildingFoundation.org or scan the QR code.
NATALIE CLAYMAN
events
NOVEMBER 8TH
STEM Day
Farragut Community Center | 1:00 PM
Participate in small group projects, building competitions and view an outdoor experiment demonstration at 2:30 PM, weather permitting. Pre-registration is required for this program: TownOfFarragut.RecDesk.com.
NOVEMBER 8TH
Veterans Salute Races
Farragut | 7:30 AM
Join us for the exhilarating 5K and 10K Veterans Salute Races on Nov. 8 at 7:30 AM in Farragut, where we come together to honor and remember our brave military personnel. More information at FindRace.com.
NOVEMBER 8TH
KSO Presents: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in Concert
Knoxville Civic Auditorium | 7:30 PM
Watch Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in high definition while the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams’ unforgettable score live. More information at KnoxvilleSymphony.com.
NOVEMBER 11TH
Annual Veterans Day Parade
Downtown Knoxville | 10:45 AM
Join us and the East Tennessee Military Affairs Council for their 99th annual Veterans Day parade, taking place in downtown Knoxville on Gay Street from 10:45 AM to 12:15 PM on Nov. 11. For more details, please visit ETMAC.org.
NOVEMBER 18TH
Grand Kyiv Ballet presents Snow White
Bijou Theatre | 6:00 PM
Based on a fairy tale by The Brothers Grimm, the ballet Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs takes the vibrant style of a Disney animated movie and sets it to the musical motifs of Polish composer Bogdan Pavlovsky. Tickets available at KnoxBijou.org.
NOVEMBER 19TH
Grand Kyiv Ballet presents Swan Lake
Clayton Performing Arts Center | 7:00 PM
The Grand Kyiv Ballet puts on the classic ballet Swan Lake featuring Tchaikovsky’s iconic score at the Clayton Performing Arts Center at Pellissippi State Community College. Tickets: GrandKyivBallet.com.ua.
NOVEMBER 20TH
A Christmas Carol
Clarence Brown Theatre | 7:30 PM
Taking place from Nov. 20 to Dec. 20, Clarence Brown Theatre presents “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Join CBT in the theatre for this beloved classic that reminds us to keep Christmas in our hearts every day of the year. Tickets at ClarenceBrownTheatre.com.
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