YES!! IT’S ALMOST HERE!  THROW ON YOUR FAVORITE HAWAIIAN SHIRT OR MOOMOO, GRAB YOUR LAWN CHAIRS AND BRING THE ENTIRE FAMILY TO THE ANNUAL COMMUNITY-WIDE “LA VERGNE LUAU!”

WHAT MAKES THIS EVENT SO EXCITING TO MIDDLE TENNESSEANS IS EVERYTHING IS FREE OF CHARGE.  THERE IS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT WITH THE BAND TWELVESOUTH (myspace.com/twelvesouth) AMONG OTHER  LOCAL MUSICIANS, FESTIVE FOODS, PRIZES, ACTIVITIES AND RIDES TO PLEASE ALL AGES.  PARKING IS CONVENIENT WITH PLENTY OF ROOM FOR EVERYONE.  UPON ARRIVAL YOU’LL RECEIVE AN ALOHA LEI FROM OUR HOSTS TO SET THE MOOD.

MARK THE CALENDAR FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2010 FROM 3-7 PM AND TREAT YOURSELF AND/OR THE FAMILY TO EXPERIENCE A TASTE OF PARADISE AS “HAWAII COMES TO TENNESSEE!!”

GRACE CHURCH IS LOCATED AT #108 STONES RIVER ROAD ON THE CORNER OF OLD NASHVILLE HWY AND STONES RIVER ROAD.  JUST FOLLOW THE SIGNS TO THE LUAU AND FUN!

SPONSORED ANNUALLY BY GRACE CHURCH WORSHIP & COMMUNITY CENTER OF LA VERGNE, FRIENDS OF GRACE AND LOCAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY.

MAHALO NUI! ALOHA

SEE YOU THERE!!!!!

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties will host a press conference at 2:00 p.m. on June 10th at the United Way offices, located at 615 Memorial Boulevard on the second floor of the FirstBank building, to announce the allocation amounts that partner agencies and programs will be receiving from United Way for the 2010-2011 year. The allocation amounts are determined by more than 80 volunteers who are categorized into panels.

The allocations process ensures a high degree of community impact through agency accountability standards. Each United Way partner agency determines its overall annual operating and program budget and calculates funds it will receive from other sources, such as grants and fees. Before reviewing these budgets, the United Way allocations panel volunteers visit the agencies.  Each panel is responsible for monitoring several agencies.

Each spring, every partner agency presents its funding request to the appropriate allocations panel. The allocations panels review agency programs and funding requests.  They consider how well the agency is managed, how justified its proposed budget is and the extent to which its services meet high priority community needs. The allocation panels determine what amount each agency will receive from United Way to deliver proposed services.

The panels forward their recommendations to the United Way Board of Directors. If the United Way Board of Directors has no reservations, it approves the recommendations presented by the allocation panels. The Board of Directors will meet on June 10th at 12:00 p.m. and review the recommendations made by the panel volunteers prior to the press conference that afternoon.

More than 250 volunteers complete services projects at 25 sites.

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties hosted its annual Day of Action on Friday, May 21st, with more than 250 volunteers participating in community service projects for 20 local agencies and schools at 25 sites in Middle Tennessee. The Day of Action, which unites companies, organizations, and community volunteers with local agencies and schools, included such service projects as landscaping, painting, and delivering meals to those in need. United Way coordinates the Day of Action to offer the opportunity for not only the agencies and schools to receive needed services, but to allow the community to further develop relationships with and witness first-hand the needs involved with those agencies and schools.

This year’s Day of Action sponsors were Florence & Hutcheson Consulting Engineers, General Mills, and Regions Bank. Blackman Elementary School and Wal-mart also provided in-kind donations. In addition to MTSU students and local high school students, volunteer teams included the following companies and organizations:

·         Atmos Energy

·         Bridgestone

·         City of Murfreesboro Department of Engineering

·         ClaimTrust

·         Emerson Heating Products

·         First Tennessee Bank

·         Florence & Hutcheson Consulting Engineers

·         General Mills

·         Guaranty Trust

·         Ingram Content Group

·         Middle Tennessee Medical Center

·         Neel-Schaffer

·         Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce (and Diplomats)

·         Rutherford County Drug Court Program

·         Rutherford County Mayor’s Office

·         Rutherford County Register of Deeds

·         Rutherford County Human Resources Department

·         Rutherford County Schools

·         Southern Creations

·         StoneCrest Medical Center

·         The Gap, Inc.

·         Wiser Company

These volunteer teams completed service projects at the following agencies and schools:

·         American Red Cross

·         Boys & Girls Club

·         Cannon County Senior Center

·         Child Advocacy Center

·         Discovery Center

·         Domestic Violence Program

·         Greenhouse Ministries

·         MCHRA Homemakers

·         Meals on Wheels

·         Mitchell Neilson Primary

·         Nurses for Newborns

·         Primary Care & Hope Clinic

·         Project Help

·         Scales Elementary

·         Second Harvest Food Bank

·         Smyrna-LaVergne Food Bank

·         Special Kids

·         The Salvation Army

·         Wee Care Day Care

·         West Main Mission

Currently, the agencies and schools provide the materials required to complete the projects while United Way recruits and coordinates the volunteers for the Day of Action. However, United Way recently applied for a $25,000 grant through Pepsi’s Refresh Everything grant program that, if received, would cover the expenses of materials and equipment for the Day of Action. United Way will learn on June 1st if the grant has been approved by Pepsi for a voting process that would allow the public to vote on Refresh Everything grant applications in order to determine the recipients. If United Way were a recipient, the grant would be applied toward the next Day of Action.

For more information about United Way or the Day of Action, please visit www.uwrutherford.org.

Collection site will be open 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Thursday – Sunday

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties, First Bank, and the Salvation Army have announced that the trailer parked at the First Bank building will now be open through the weekend, with a schedule of 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. each day. The collaborative effort began on Tuesday, with the trailer serving as a collection site for necessity items for the victims of the recent flooding in the middle Tennessee area.

The First Bank location is 615 Memorial Blvd., and the trailer is parked under the First Bank sign facing Memorial Blvd. Those who wish to donate are encouraged to deliver the following items to the trailer between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.: bottled water, non-perishable foods, diapers, baby food and formula, cleaning supplies and other necessity items. Donations of furniture and clothing are discouraged at this time.

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties is also accepting monetary donations that will be allocated toward a flood relief fund to aid those affected by flood damage. Checks may be made out to the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties. Please include “Flood Relief Fund” in the memo line of the check. Checks may be delivered in person to 615 Memorial Blvd., Suite 200, or mailed to P.O. Box 330056, Murfreesboro, TN, 37133. For online donations, please visit www.uwrutherford.org and follow your contribution with an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it indicating that the online donation is for flood relief funding.

For more information on volunteer opportunities in the middle Tennessee area, please visit Hands on Nashville at www.hon.org.

Salvation Army to collect donated goods to aid flood victims.

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties and First Bank have announced a collaborative effort with the Salvation Army to aid in flood relief for the middle Tennessee area. Beginning at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, the Salvation Army will park a trailer at the First Bank building, where United Way offices are located, to collected necessities for victims of the recent flooding.

“We are pleased to be able to announce this opportunity and partnership to assist our community and surrounding communities during this time of need,” said Brian Hercules, President and CEO of United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties. “We hope to collect items that will provide support for those who are suffering and have experienced damage during this flooding.”

The truck will be parked at First Bank, located at 615 Memorial Blvd., for about two days, pending the volume of donations received and the identification of needs as they become more clarified. Those who wish to donate are encouraged to deliver the following items to the trailer between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.: bottled water, non-perishable foods, diapers, baby food and formula, cleaning supplies and other necessity items. Donations of furniture and clothing are discouraged at this time.

“Our staff wanted to help in any way we could and felt our convenient and visible location would be an ideal collection site in Murfreesboro,” said Chuck Lewis, President of First Bank.

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties is also accepting monetary donations that will be allocated toward a flood relief fund to aid those affected by flood damage. Checks may be made out to the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties. Please include “Flood Relief Fund” in the memo line of the check. Checks may be delivered in person to 615 Memorial Blvd., Suite 200, or mailed to P.O. Box 330056, Murfreesboro, TN, 37133. For online donations, please visit www.uwrutherford.org and follow your contribution with an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it indicating that the online donation is for flood relief funding.

For more information on volunteer opportunities in the middle Tennessee area, please visit Hands on Nashville at www.hon.org.

United Way accepting monetary contributions for flood relief fund, partner agencies accepting donated goods.

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties and its partner agencies are responding to flood relief following the torrential rains from the weekend.

“While our community has been affected by this weekend’s weather, other surrounding communities have suffered a great deal of loss and tragedy,” said Brian Hercules, President and CEO of United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties. “We are working together with other United Ways throughout middle Tennessee, as well as with our partner agencies such as the American Red Cross, to provide relief and support. I ask that our community assist those in need, whether through a monetary donation, a donation of goods, or volunteering.”

United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties is accepting monetary donations that will be allocated toward a flood relief fund to aid those affected by flood damage, and United Way partner agencies are able to accept donated goods. The most needed items are: food, bottled water, clothing, household items, furniture, formula, and diapers. Please contact 2-1-1 for more information on how and where to donate goods for flood relief.

Checks may be made out to the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties. Please include “Flood Relief Fund” in the memo line of the check. Checks may be delivered in person to 615 Memorial Blvd., Suite 200, or mailed to P.O. Box 330056, Murfreesboro, TN, 37133. For online donations, please visit www.uwrutherford.org and follow your contribution with an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it indicating that the online donation is for flood relief funding.

For more information on volunteer opportunities for flood relief in the middle Tennessee area, please visit Hands on Nashville at www.hon.org.

The United Way and its 45 partner agencies and programs work to advance the common good in Rutherford and Cannon counties by focusing on the essentials for building a strong community: education, income, health and rebuilding lives. The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties is located at 615 Memorial Boulevard, Suite 200 in Murfreesboro.  For more information, please call (615) 893-7303 or visit www.uwrutherford.org

La Vergne, TN -The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties has announced that its eighth annual Day of Action (formerly the Day of Caring) will take place on Friday, May 21, 2010.

During the United Way Day of Action, teams of volunteers from employers, schools, churches, and other organizations will perform community service projects for United Way’s 45 partner agencies in Rutherford and Cannon counties. These projects may vary from landscaping to painting a room to delivering meals to those in need.

United Way will pair volunteer teams with a partner agency and its project based upon the number of volunteers on the team, any special skills, and the availability of the team during the day. Participants will receive a 2010 Day of Action T-shirt.

Anyone wishing to register a volunteer team for the 2010 Day of Action may find the Volunteer Registration Form online at www.uwrutherford.org or may call (615) 893-7303. The deadline to register a team is April 23, 2010.

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties and its 45 partner agencies and programs work to advance the common good by focusing on the essentials for building a strong community: education, income and health.

Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. and the Walk begins at 9:00 a.m.

For more information contact:

Kim Troup, Director of Development

Tennessee Kidney Foundation

383-3887 or 1-800-380-3887

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.tennesseekidneyfoundation.org

Register at www.firstgiving.com/tkf

Gift of Life Walk Fast Facts

· The Tennessee Kidney Foundation’s Gift of Life Walk is a non-competitive walk focusing on raising awareness about kidney disease and, promoting organ donation.

· In addition, the Walk presents an occasion for dialysis patients, organ transplant recipients, organ donors, donor families, the medical community and the general public to celebrate life and create lasting community advocacy and long-term support for the Foundation.

· While raising funds for the TKF’s programs and services, the Gift of Life Walk provides an opportunity for family, friends and colleagues to participate in an inspiring, community-based event.

· Walkers will receive an official Gift of Life Walk t-shirt when they raise at least $50 and will receive additional prizes depending upon the amount raised.

· Recruit a team! Organize a group of 9 or more walkers to participate in the Gift of Life Walk.

United Way World Wide announced Friday that General Mills, Inc. was one of four recipients of its national Summit Award. The award, which is given for community efforts, was presented to General Mills because of its commitment to nourishing lives and communities by contributing more than five percent of company pretax profits to communities (a record $91 million in 2009) in addition to its $12.6 million national United Way campaign. Moreover, General Mills contributed $500,000 over four years to reduce childhood obesity in the nation’s capital and the company reported that 82 percent of its employees volunteered in their communities.

The General Mills plant in Murfreesboro secured a record $557,442.00 in pledges during the 2009-2010 United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties campaign, which closed on February 14th. The overall campaign total was just under $2.4 million.

The company was recognized as the number one campaign of the local United Way’s “Top Ten Campaigns” as well as the recipient of its “Best Overall Company Campaign” at the Community Celebration earlier this month.

The plant coordinated a workplace campaign through its employees, and the company matched each employee’s pledge dollar for dollar. General Mills reported that 76 employees at the Murfreesboro plant contributed $1,000 or more during this year’s campaign.

“General Mills continues to be at the head of the class with their plant campaign,” said Brian Hercules, President and CEO of the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties.

“General Mills’ corporate culture influences the local campaign. It is part of who they are - they give back to the communities where they operate. The General Mills plant and employees in Murfreesboro generated nearly 25% of our total campaign this year.”

Carolyn Tumbleson, Director of Resource Development for the local United Way, added, “General Mills supports your United Way through exceptional involvement from all levels of employees. Giving through the workplace campaign and serving as volunteers, General Mills employees are directly improving the lives of others in Rutherford and Cannon counties.”

Other recipients of the Summit Award were Procter & Gamble, Dominion Resources, Inc., and Wells Fargo.

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties and its 45 partner agencies and programs work to advance the common good by focusing on the essentials for building a strong community: education, income and health. The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties is located at 615 Memorial Boulevard, Suite 200 in Murfreesboro.  For more information, please call (615) 893-7303 or visit www.uwrutherford.org

Here are a few sponsorship opportunities for the event. If you can help, please contact Amelia Bozeman ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Sara Brody ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or message LEAP via Facebook. Thanks!

Millionaires’ Row $5,000 Ten tickets to event included

Winners’ Circle Level $2,500 Eight tickets to event included

Run for the Roses Level $1,000 Six tickets to event included

Thoroughbred Level $500 Four tickets to event included

Contender Level $250 Two tickets to event included

Pedigree Level $150 Donate tickets for teachers to attend

In appreciation of your support, Rutherford LEAP will promote sponsors on its website and Facebook page, its newsletter and on Twitter, and, of course, acknowledge sponsors at “A Taste of the Derby”. Thank you for investing in the future of our community.