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People of faith mentoring
children of promise.
AMACHI GIVES BACK
This Spring, Amachi partnered with
Operation Backyard on a community service
project. Six mentees and their mentors
spent a Saturday scrubbing Pat Fletcher’s
deck and house siding. In addition to
giving the house a good cleaning, the team
cleaned up debris and spruced up the yard.
“I think our mentees really get a lot out
of the service projects,” said Gloria Nolan,
Amachi Knoxville Director. “They are often
considered the neediest among us, but they
still have a desire to go out in the community
and help others.”
The highlight of the day was when Mrs. Pat
shared packaged cookies and bottled water
with the crew. She joked the cookies were
“fresh baked and homemade.” Everyone
enjoyed her fun sense of humor.
To learn more about Amachi Knoxville contact
Danita McCartney, Director of Mentoring
Initiatives at [email protected].
Amachi mentors and mentees worked
together to get Mrs. Pat’s house in tip top
shape.
18TH ANNUAL IRONMAN GOLF
TOURNAMENT RAISES FUNDS FOR KLF
In the early morning hours of May,
Ironmen gathered at Egwani Farms
for the 18th annual Ironman golf
tournament. The tournament raises
funds for Knoxville Leadership
Foundation. These dedicated golfers
tee off at 7:30 am and play through
5:00 pm in an epic round of golf.
Yes, that’s 10 straight hours with
only a quick break to grab lunch and
stock up on snacks!
Throughout the day you’ll see many
smiles and hear laughter across the
course. Everyone plays at their own
pace. Some do everything possible
to play all 100 holes, while others
enjoy time with kids or catching up
with a friend.
In the end, over $37,000 was
raised for the ministries of Knoxville
Leadership Foundation.
If you’d like to join the tournament
in the future contact Dan Myers at
[email protected].
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Amachi &
Ironman
This year, KLF had a fantastic turnout for the Ironman Tournament. We had 27 golfers
participate in the event and raise funds for the organization.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
IRONMAN TITLE SPONSORS
IRONMAN HOLE SPONSORS
Allan Associates Architecture
B&B Lawn Services, LLC
Cannon & Cannon Inc.
Coulter & Justus PC
Fleanor Security Systems
George W. Reagan Company
TOURNAMENT SPONSORS
Market Realty, LLC
Pershing, Yoakley & Associates
Schmid & Rhodes Construction
Rice Automotive
Toyota Knoxville
William Blount Associates
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.” - Isaiah 1:!7
ACHIEVING THE AMERICAN DREAM
In early 2013, Misty contacted the Homebuyer Readiness Program (HRP) to
discuss options to purchase her first home. Faced with many hardships in her past,
Misty had been referred to HRP by a partner agency, A Hand Up for Women, which
helped her get back on her feet, find stable employment and begin repairing her
finances. After meeting with Misty, HRP’s Homeownership Coordinator, Russell stated
“I was impressed by Misty the first time we met. She was easy to coach through the
HRP program and is the ideal candidate for a rehab home project.”
As she continued to work through the program, Misty was able to choose paint
colors, flooring and other details incorporated into her new home. Volunteers spent
several weekends helping with
the renovations, making sure
Misty’s home met her family’s
needs. Misty and her daughters
moved into her beautiful home in
April 2014. Misty is an incredible
example of the financial growth
and stabilization that can occur
when we choose to work one-onone with future homeowners.
Contact Russell Catron at
The local volunteer team in front of
Misty’s newly renovated home..
[email protected] or visit online
at www.KLF.org for more HRP
information.
NEW SERVICES COMING TO FLENNIKEN
Flenniken Landing has partnered with several local organizations in response to
a growing need for specific services. The case management team works diligently
to provide tailored support as they help residents navigate the challenges and
successes of reestablishing positive life choices.
Finding free, adequate health care for residents without insurance, locating
consistent support groups and finding volunteers to provide training and education
for our residents are ongoing challenges. We are excited to announce that several
prayers have been answered. We will be able to offer several new programs to
Flenniken residents.
Wallace Mobile Healthcare will provide free quarterly basic medical care to our
residents. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) will hold bi-monthly speakers meetings on
the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. Helen Ross McNabb will be providing HIV/
AIDS education twice a year.
We are thankful for these
partnerships and look forward to
growing this ministry together. For
more information about Flenniken
Landing contact Charles Rogers at
[email protected] or call (865) 5771980.
LOU’S BLANKET MINISTRY
On a sunny April morning, the young adults ministry
(YAM) from Colonial Heights UMC gathered at Lucille
and Jack’s house in East Knox County. The goal for the
day was to build an access ramp and learn a little more
about Lou and Jack.
The young adults met around 8:30am eager to start
work. By 1pm Lou and Jack had a brand new ramp.
While the team worked, Lou baked a huge (and tasty)
chocolate cake, and gave YAM a few quilted blankets for
their rummage sale fundraiser. Because of her limited
mobility, Lou spends her time making blankets and
prayer quilts for those in need. She also bakes delicious,
fresh baked goods for local public service men and
women, and for whoever might come along needing a
bite to eat and some fellowship.
When Adam Montgomery, Neighborhood Housing
Director went back to check on Lou and Jack he was
gifted with two more baby blankets and two loaves of
banana nut bread. “Lou’s ministry is an inspiration to
many in our community,” remarked Montgomery. “You
can tell that every stitch and every morsel were made
with love.”
Lou continues her ministry donating blankets to
those less fortunate and in need of a reminder of Christ’s
love. Operation Backyard and the Colonial Heights UMC
volunteer group were blessed to meet and serve the
woman behind the ministry!
For more information about Operation Backyard
contact Jay Zartman at [email protected].
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“Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight...” -James 1:26
Housing
Initiatives
KnoxWorx
Serving those in our community
who suffer from being un- or
under employed.
KNOXWORX LAUNCHES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE
Searching for employment in a struggling economy can be
a daunting task. KnoxWorx, a workforce development program,
launched a new website specifically created for job seekers in the
Knoxville community.
The site is geared towards equipping Knoxville’s unemployed
and underemployed with the necessary tools to find meaningful
employment. Services and information tools include: training
sessions, networking opportunities, and most importantly job
listings in our growing employer network.
“We are constantly growing our employer and community
networks, said Tim Waldo, KnoxWorx Director. “It’s important to
keep up with the growing unemployment needs in the area and
to provide a means for employers and prospective employees to
connect.”
The driving force behind the KnoxWorx team is to expand our
network to include more area churches, more employer partners
and more mentors. By doing so, we intend to reach deeply into our
community to serve and connect people with vital employment
resources.
Unlike traditional training programs, KnoxWorx applies a focus
on developing “soft skills” such as responsibility, communication
and leadership. The ultimate goal is to provide a supportive,
encouraging environment allowing individuals to identify and
grow their God-given talents and secure meaningful employment.
The newly designed website allows job seekers and employers
to easily navigate and locate helpful resources and job postings.
Users can easily locate more detailed information on each of
the KnoxWorx programs to find the best fit for their situation.
KnoxWorx currently offers three programs:
• SET for Success - Job seeker workshops designed to teach the most effective techniques to landing a job.
• Job Clubs - Regular meetings to encourage, gain valuable advice and tips, and networking opportunities
• Face Forward - A program dedicated to helping at-risk youth discover their unique talents for a successful career.
Explore the new KnoxWorx program page and learn more by
visitng us online at www.KLF.org. Contact Tim Waldo for more
KnoxWorx information and ways to get involved at [email protected].
Scott Jackson speaks at recent KnoxWorx training event.
MENTORS NEEDED FOR FACE FORWARD PROGRAM
Face Forward is a judicial diversion program that provides customized support that helps first-time offenders
in the juvenial justice system receive the encouragement, education and job training needed to lead
successful lives.
What will I do as a mentor?
*Spend one-on-one time with a young person.
*Attend group mentoring opportunities when possible.
*Explore education and career options.
*Be a friend! Listen, offer encouragement and insights.
Fore more information contact Tim Waldo, KnoxWorx Director at [email protected]
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KnoxWorx
terrified.
Don’t
“...but blessed is the one who heedsDon’t
wisdom’s be
instruction”
- Proverbs
29:18
be discouraged...
Building up non-profits for community impact.
STEPPING OUT, INC. GROWS LIFE-SKILLS EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Stepping Out, Inc. hopes to reproduce current curriculums in additional counties in Eastern Tennessee in the near future.
Stepping Out, Inc. in was created from founder and executive
director Patrice Puglise’s desire to provide important life-skills
to men and women struggling to overcome obstacles such as
abandonment issues, substance abuse and low self-esteem that
could become crippling to an individual without proper coping
skills. Since it’s inception in 1992, Stepping Out continues to
help men and women find confidence and stability through lifeskills education programs.
A few years after creating her nonprofit Puglise realized there
was a need to build capacity within the organization. “We weren’t
helping people as much as I knew we could. I prayed God would
surround me with people who freely gave wisdom and advice,”
said Puglise. “Connecting with KLF’s Center for Communities was
an answered prayers; God knew what he was doing when our
paths crossed.”
Since working with KLF and the Center for Communities the
agency’s growth has been phenomenal. The training sessions
taught the organization how to better assess needs. By having a
clearer understanding of the community needs Puglise and her
staff have been better able to fill the gaps. In addition to helping
with organizational needs, Stepping Out also benefited from the
board training services provided by CFC.
“The Stepping Out board has grown immensely since the
first training sessions. The Stepping Out board of directors took
the opportunity to really learn what it meant to be a good board
member,” said Dan Myers, Vice President of Advancement at
Knoxville Leadership Foundation.
The result was a highly functioning group of individuals with
vision, focus, direction and goals and has allowed the organization
to build capacity at a much faster rate.
During an extraordinary growing period new curriculums
were created to meet the changing needs of Grainger, Jefferson
and Cocke Counties. The main focus continues to be changing
negative behavior through life skills to help cope with every day
struggles and maintain positive self-worth. With the help of CFC,
curriculums were chosen to reinforce skills learned in previous
classes. Participants continue to learn how to apply the same
skills but from different perspectives.
KLF’s Center for Communities helps nonprofits build their
capacity - their “staying power.” Center for Communities is able
to provide training in grant writing, marketing, human resource
and volunter manageent, fundraising, and other skils that are
essential to new and emerging nonprofits. It strengthens their
ability to serve communities well, and carry their vision into the
future.
If you would like to know more about Center for Communities
contact Dan Myers at [email protected] or visit us online at www.
KLF.org.
NEW NONPROFIT CENTER FOR EAST TENNESSEE
For over 10 years, Knoxville Leadership Foundation has served the nonprofit community through the Center for Communities
program. We have helped over 150 organizations to build up their abilities to serve more people with efficiency and effectiveness. We have done this work well and many have been blessed, but the nonprofit community needs more services to keep pace
with the ever-changing requirements they are under.
Over the last year, KLF staff and leaders from around the community have been developing the structure of
a new nonprofit center. This center will take the framework and foundation of the Center for Communities
and build a new, sustainable organization that will serve the East Tennessee nonprofit community.
We are excited for the new life that the Center for Communities will have through the new organization
and look forward to continued impact. The new organization has a proposed launch of January
2015 and will be co-located with KLF in The Regas Building at Regas Square. The will be the
one-stop support center and services clearinghouse for the nonprofit community.
“let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” -Hebrews 12:1
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Center for
Communities
KLF BOARD MEMBERS
Kevin Bailey
Bailey Sales Corporation
Mike Fleenor
Fleenor Security
Dr. Johney Green
Oak Ridge National Laboratories
901 E Summit Hill Drive, Ste. 300
Knoxville, TN 37915
p: 865.524.2774 f: 865.525.4213
www.klf.org
Todd Harms
Coulter and Justus, PC
Neil Koonce
Healthcare Receivables Group
Curt Leonard
J. Smith Lanier
Chris Martin
Knoxville Leadership Foundation
J. Scott Overholt
The White Stone Group
Glenn Sumner
Ortho Tennessee
Doug White
Toyota/Lexus of Knoxville
Doug Yoakley
Pershing, Yoakley & Associates
Steve Sword
Tennessee Judiciary
KLF BOARD OF
REFERENCE
Reid Carpenter
Leadership Foundation
Steve Diggs
Emerald Youth Foundation
Bill Haslam
Governor, State of Tennessee
Hallerin Hilton Hill
Hallerin Hilton Hill Show
Dale Keasling
Home Federal Bank
Dr. Robert Lupton
FCS Urban Ministries
Dr. John Perkins
Christian Community
Development Association
Todd Rechenbach
Worden, Rechenbach &
Brooke
Herb Slatery
Legal Counsel to the
Governor, State of TN
INSIDE THIS ISSUE...
KLF’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY
Knoxville Leadership Foundation celebrates 20 years
impacting the greater Knoxville area.
FLENNIKEN LANDING ADDS
NEW SERVICES
New services are now available for Flenniken residents
including free basic healthcare.
IRONMAN
TOURNAMENT
Thirty-one golfers helped raise funds for KLF, making the
18th annual golfing tournament an ace.
KNOXWORX LAUNCHES NEW
WEBSITE
The workforce development program recently launched a
new website specifically for job seekers in the Knoxville
community.
O UR S TA F F
Chris Martin
Donna Morris
David Ault
Russell Catron
Sandy Behm
Jay Zartman
Dan Myers
Kristie Blevins
Chris Cowart
Mike Jacobs
Gloria Nolan
Cathy Lanz
Tim Waldo
Alexa Goddard
Danita McCartney
Sandee Bailey
President
Vice President of Programs
Vice President of Finance
Homeownership Coordinator
Housing Coordinator
Vice President of Advancement Case Manager, Face Forward
Director of Asset Management Case Manager, Face Forward
Director of Amachi Knoxville
Director of KnoxWorx
Director of Mentoring
Initiatives
Charles Rogers
Director of Programs
Flenniken Landing
Contact Information:
Phone: (865) 524-2774
Email:[email protected]
Director of Grants Management
Adam Montgomery
Director of Neighborhood
Housing Inc.
VISIT US AT WWW.KLF.ORG
Accountant
Communications Specialist
Administrative Assistant
Issue 1 - Spring/Summer 2014
Transforming Communities, Changing Lives, Connecting Leader s
Skyline Photo: Courtesy of Knoxville County Government
KNOXVILLE LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION
CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY
Knoxville Leadership Foundation began twenty years ago after much prayer
and consideration for the needs of our city. We knew the Knoxville community
resources weren’t being connected to the greater needs evolving throughout the
city. Our goal was to lead by collaborating with others to make the greatest positive
impact within our communities.
Since those early years, we have conceived and facilitated over twenty initiatives
and partnered with over 200 organizations throughout the Knoxville area. Our
initiatives have served over 30,000 community members in need by mobilizing
over 20,000 volunteers.
Currently, Knoxville Leadership Foundation runs nine major initiatives that
focus on four strategic areas:
• Mentoring youth and families
• Empowering the unemployed/under employed
• Strengthening other nonprofit organizations
• Improving housing conditions for low-income individuals and families.
Like many nonprofit organizations, KLF has had both fruitful and lean years
to keep us on our toes. One thing is certain, we would not continue to grow and
impact communities without the help of dedicated supporters and volunteers. Your
contributions through prayer, time and monetary donations are invaluable.
Over the course of the next year, we have several exciting milestones ahead
including moving into our new office space in The Regas Building at Regas Square.
We are also working to expand our Center for Communities program and launch
Better Nonprofits an initiative that will provide training and resources to nonprofits
in the East Tennessee region.
Our vision for the Knoxville area continues to be vibrant and strong. We look forward to the next 20 years!
Amachi & Ironman
Tournament
Center for
Communities
INITIATIVES & IMPACT

Since 1994, KLF has
founded and facilitated over
20 program initiatives.
Currently, run 9 major
organizational programs led
by 20 full- and part-time staff.
Impacted over 30,000
individuals by mobilizing
20,000+ volunteers.
Built and repaired over
500 homes to provide
safe, affordable housing.
Nearly $30 million raised
and spent to impact lives in
the Knoxville community.
Neighborhood Housing
and Southeastern
Housing Foundation
KnoxWorx