For reasons not always easy to decipher, Hickory Nut Gorge is blessed with a large contingency of "givers." We are, of course, referring to that small army of individuals who consistently contribute time, talent, skill, and mind to improve this place we call home.
They are your friends and colleagues. Many of them are our donors.
They care nothing about accolades and awards. They simply see a need, have a vision, and get to work.
Jim Dunn certainly checked all of those boxes.
Following his untimely death in March, we as a board wanted very much to pay homage to him. For without his vision, leadership, and execution, the Foundation simply never would have been created, or thrive as it has.
One of the distinctive characteristics about Jim's philosophy of giving was always about impact and longevity. It was a worldview that inspired our tagline: "
Giving Beyond the Horizion.
Nowhere is that worldview more evident than in his vision for the Foundation. As his good friend, business partner, and Foundation board member Tommy Hartzog said, "Because Jim set up the Foundation to have a perpetual component, all of his creations will lead to generations of assistance to the community and its citizens."
Talk about impact!
We hope you will take a moment to learn a little more about this one-of-a-kind individual through the eyes of his dear friend, Tommy.