Volunteer Tennessee Recognizes 2021 Governor's Volunteer Stars

(Nashville, TN — March 10, 2022) — The Fourteenth Annual Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards honored volunteers from 66 counties on February 13, 2022 at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin, TN. The awards celebrate the efforts of 115 volunteers statewide, who have strived to improve their communities through service.

One youth and one adult volunteer were selected from participating counties to receive this prestigious award. Nominees were judged based on the community’s need of the volunteer service performed, initiative taken to perform the service, creativity used to solve a community problem and impact of the volunteer service on the community. The individual awards are sponsored by Tracy Van de Vate and Betty White.

The Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards also includes business and non-profit categories. One business and one non-profit were selected from each of Tennessee’s three Grand Regions for their outstanding community involvement and service. The business honorees include, Be Caffeinated, East Tennessee Business Honoree; Abney CPA, Middle Tennessee Business Honoree; and Dannuhcakes Sweet Shop, West Tennessee Business Honoree. The business awards are sponsored by Advance Financial 24/7. The non-profit honorees include, Appalachia Service Project, East Tennessee Non-Profit Honoree; Habitat for Humanity Williamson and Maury Counties, Middle Tennessee Non-Profit Honoree; and The Junior League of Memphis, West Tennessee Non-Profit Honoree. The non-profit awards are sponsored by Friends of Volunteer Tennessee.

“Each year, 1.6 million Tennessee volunteers give more than 137 million hours of service, contributing the equivalent of $3.3 billion to Tennessee’s economy. By giving of their time and talents to fulfill needs that would otherwise go unmet, they embody the spirit of giving,” said Volunteer Tennessee Executive Director, Jim Snell. NewsChannel5 weekend anchor, Jennifer Kraus, served as emcee for the event.  Please click here to access a recording and photos from the ceremony.

Volunteer Tennessee coordinates the Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards at the state level. Volunteer Tennessee is the 25 member, bipartisan citizen board appointed by the Governor to oversee AmeriCorps and service-learning programs and to advance volunteerism and citizen service to solve community problems in the Volunteer State.

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For the full press release with individual Governor's Volunteer Stars Awards Honoree highlights included, click here.