United Way of Greater Kingsport’s

from VIPSEEN March 2020

by VIPSEEN

Tri-Cities 5th Big Give

BRENT MULLINS MICHELLE BACON

United Way of Greater Kingsport Leadership Giving Event

PHOTOS BY MATTHEW CARROLL

United Way of Greater Kingsport held their Leadership Giving Event in January. This appreciation event is held each year to express gratitude to the many individuals in our Greater Kingsport community who make financial sacrifices to be able to give back. Leadership Givers for United Way of Greater Kingsport are those who pledge to donate $500 or more annually. The event was held in downtown Kingsport at The Social. Volunteers Bill and Cathy Trapp, along with Jeff and Cristi Fleming were the main hosts of the event, while Michelle Bacon was honored for her efforts as the 2019 Campaign Chair, which raised more than $3.2 Million.

United Way of Greater Kingpsort fights for the health, education and financial stability of every member of the community.

For more information about United Way of Greater Kingsport, visit them online at www. uwaykpt.org or by giving them a call at 423-378-3409.

JEANNIE AND BRIAN MILLER

KEITH PARKER

Kids Making a Difference VIP kids

1. LAUREN ROSS, AGE 16 Lauren been volunteering with the Special Olympics and Unified Sports program at VHS since her freshman year. She works with them most of the year and goes with them to compete in tournaments.

2. ANGELICA KEELING Angelica donated to the Boones Creek Headstart Classroom Christmas Party this year. She collected money from members of the community and her family and went shopping for Christmas presents and handed out gifts to all children in the classroom.

3. MICHAELA WHITE, AGE 10 Michaela has donated over 200 items to the TLC Community Center in Elizabethton for their bundles of love. These were given out right before Thanksgiving of 2019 to needy children and families in our community.

4. LEAH BROTHERTON, AGE 15 “Serving Up Sweets” provided 700 desserts for Haven Mercy on Christmas Day! Visiting Signature Health Care Nursing home in Elizabethton TN we did Christmas caroling and handed out Christmas cards, Helping one of my sister queen to donate to her cause, Once a month I help with food to the Ronald McDonald House, Donated over 1000 item to Haven of Mercy in January, brought for 7 children that are currently in foster care, Making blessing bags to hand out to the homeless.

5. HARPER CURTIS, BELLA MACY, HOLLY FRANKLIN, AND KAIRI STEVENS Girl Scout Troops 463 and 1083 ranging from ages 5-14 came together for the 3rd Annual Coats for Kids Drive. They worked from October to December to gather coats and other warm items for children in need. They advocated with posters and reached out to many businesses throughout the Tri-Cities to set up collection boxes. The girls also went on Daytime Tri-Cites to spread awareness and sold raffle tickets at the Kingsport Farmers Market. Together they collected a grand total of 625 items.

6. DEANNA GREER, AGE 17 DeAnna hosted her own project called “Prayer Bears”. Tri-Stars Teen and herself put together prayers along with a prayer bear and donated them to the children in the St. Jude unit of the Nicewonger Children’s Hospital. She has also taken over 120 bags filled with items and donated them to every resident at the Mountain City Care and Rehabilitation Center, spent Thanksgiving serving meals at Haven of Mercy Homeless Shelter, adopted an angel from the Salvation Army Angel Tree and has volunteered for Feed A Family.

7. SARAH GRACE GARLAND, AGE 16 Sarah has collected and donated hygiene and comfort items for the elderly in East Tennessee, has collected and donated over 2,000 items for nursing home patients, has been part of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society Light the Night Event on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and has helped pack for the Santa Train.

8. IVY MAPLES Ivy has been volunteering at CARE Animal Shelter in Jefferson County, ringing the bell in Sevier County, and has also donated her time to CARE Animal Shelter.

9. ZOEY SHIMP, AGE 7 Zoey has donated 8 blankets and 3 bags of winter clothes to the local homeless.