Newsletter | October 2024 | |
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What's ahead in our October newsletter:
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Thank You for Being All in For Kids! | |
Thank you to everyone who joined us at our All in for Kids Fundraising Breakfast! Your presence and support are instrumental in helping us continue our work with more than 26,000 students across Tennessee, breaking down barriers to their success. If you didn’t get the opportunity to donate, there’s still time to make a difference. Please consider donating here to help us continue this incredible work, ensuring that every child has the support they need to thrive. We couldn’t do it without you! | |
CIS at Jere Baxter Middle School
Did you catch the story of Travon and his mom, Ms. Willie Mae Walton, at the breakfast? Learn more about how the CIS Program Manager at Jere Baxter is helping Travon stay on track at school while his mom navigates health issues.
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Congratulations to Our Board Member, Brent! | |
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Brent serves as the VP of Capital Deployment for HCA Healthcare and has been a dedicated member of our board for six years. His unwavering commitment has made a lasting impact on the organization, and we are thrilled that he has been named a finalist for the Center for Nonprofit Management's (CNM) Kraft CPAs Board Member of the Year award.
We're honored to have Brent on our board, bringing his passion for education and dedication to helping students in Tennessee reach their full potential. Thank you, Brent - and congratulations on your well-deserved recognition!
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Join Us Oct. 18 and Nov. 20: School Site Visits | |
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Do you want to see the impact we’re making up close? You're invited to experience it firsthand at an upcoming school site visit! Dive deep into the heart of our work, hear inspiring stories directly from our passionate Program Managers, and witness how we’re changing lives every day.
There are two opportunities coming up:
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Friday, October 18 at 9 am at Smithson Craighead Academy
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Wednesday, November 20 at 10 am at Paragon Mills Elementary
If you're interested in attending either visit, please RSVP by emailing kwallace@cistn.org. We can’t wait to show you the difference we’re making together!
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#BeingPresentMatters
Here are just a few examples of how our Program Managers are making an impact by being present for our students across the state.
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Hattie Cotton Elementary
Every Friday, these three fourth graders enjoy lunch in Ms. Emma's room, where they engage in discussions about emotions, bullying, and social media. With the support of CIS, including transportation, food, and social-emotional learning services, these students, two of whom are part of an additional resource program, have found a comfortable space that fosters their well-being and educational success.
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Alvin York Institute
An incredibly resilient high school senior, Hannah's challenges began at an early age as her parents struggled with drug addiction. She spent eight years in the foster care system before being legally adopted in 2020. Over the past few years, her CIS program manager provided a listening ear and guidance, helping her build confidence and transform into a leader among her peers. She is now serving as Executive Officer in JROTC.
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Strong Attendance Start at Chadwell
Daily attendance incentives, including bubbles, tie-dye, candy, chips, and Chadwell Tiger Bucks, fostered some friendly competition and helped students and families establish good back-to-school routines, as the school averaged between a 90% and 95% attendance rate for August.
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The First Day Of The Warner Exchange
More than 52 families shopped at the first Warner Exchange this year, using their “Warner Bucks” earned by sending their children to school every day. All 50 shelves were stocked with household essentials like laundry detergent and body wash, as well as family experiences like theatre tickets, lunch with the principal, painting kits, and board games.
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We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to HCA Healthcare for donating 2,050 snack packs to support our families in rural schools.
These snack packs will make a huge difference for our students. We deeply appreciate HCA’s efforts in organizing, packing, and delivering them to us. Our work wouldn’t be possible without the support of incredible partners like you!
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Next Week: Halloween Party Benefiting CISTN | |
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Last call! On October 24, the Creative Artists Agency's (CAA) Nashville Task Force will host its annual Young Nashville Party at Acme in downtown Nashville. This Halloween-themed party brings together celebrities and professionals from across the entertainment and sports industries to help raise money to benefit Communities In Schools of Tennessee.
Our Chief Advancement Officer, Leah Susi, and CAA Foundation Manager, Colby Gallahar, recently joined WKRN's Local on 2 to talk about the event. Watch the segment here.
We hope to see you next week, in your best Halloween costume!
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How You Can Support Our Work | |
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Whether you are looking to volunteer or learn more about our work, there are a number of ways you can get involved, including:
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October 18: Join us at 9 am for a site visit at Smithson Craighead Academy. RSVP to Kennedy.
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October 24: Join us for CAA's Young Nashville Halloween Party, benefitting CISTN. More info + tickets.
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October 28: Green Hills Grille will be donating 10% of all dinner sales to CISTN (take-out and dine-in, from 4 to 9 PM). We hope you will enjoy a delicious meal, and support our work. Plan your order.
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November 20: Join us for a site visit at Paragon Mills Elementary School at 10 am. RSVP to Kennedy.
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Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities: Learn more about both our ongoing and upcoming site-specific volunteer opportunities on our website.
Regardless of how you might choose to get involved, we truly appreciate your support and interest in our work.
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