Vintage901® hosts Perfect Pairings Brunch prepared by Chef Jimmy Gentry of The Lobbyist

Vintage901® hosts Perfect Pairings Brunch prepared by Chef Jimmy Gentry of The Lobbyist

(MEMPHIS, Tenn. – October 23, 2023) Vintage901® will host its Perfect Pairings Brunch, a four-course tasting menu with wine pairings, Sunday, November 12, from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at The Lobbyist, located inside The Chisca on Main at 272 South Main St., Memphis.

Guests will enjoy a four-course brunch tasting menu, prepared by Head Chef Jimmy Gentry of the Lobbyist, paired with a wine selection curated by Shelby County Commissioner Michael Whaley.

“We’re excited to work with Chef Gentry and Commissioner Whaley to provide a delectable brunch and wine pairing experience for our guests,” said Stephanie Ferreira, founder and CEO of Vintage901. “Their combination of knowledge is unmatched.”

Tickets for the brunch cost $115 and include a four-course brunch tasting, wine pairings, tax and gratuity are included. Proceeds will go to the Vintage901 Wine + Food Scholarship to support students seeking careers in the culinary arts, oenology and viticulture.

“The Perfect Pairings Brunch kicks off the countdown to our 8th Annual Vintage901 Spring Festival in April 2024,” said Ferreira. “We look forward to bringing another fun and educational wine and food experience to our community.”

Tickets for the Vintage901 Perfect Pairings Brunch can be purchased at www.vintage901.org/events.

About Vintage901:

Vintage901 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes access to the culinary arts through education, enrichment and engagement with their community. Vintage901 hosts thoughtfully curated events that blend classic and modern culinary experiences and appeal to the connoisseur and the curious, its largest being a two-day Vintage901 Wine, Food and Music Spring Festival. To learn more, visit www.vintage901.org.

For more information or if you would like to interview someone from Vintage901, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, at 901.278.0881 or jsharp@cmgpr.com.

Tennessee Innocence Project Client Thomas Clardy Has Been  Released from Prison

Tennessee Innocence Project Client Thomas Clardy Has Been Released from Prison

(NASHVILLE, Tenn. – October 20, 2023) Following a June 2023 ruling overturning his 2007 murder conviction and life sentence, Thomas Clardy was released from prison today after 17 years of incarceration. The Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) has been working for nine years to exonerate Clardy. For the last four years, TIP has been joined by attorneys from Bass, Berry & Sims on the case. TIP and Bass, Berry & Sims will continue to represent Clardy in proceedings on appeal while advocating for his full exoneration.

“Mr. Clardy has lost years of his life serving a prison sentence for a crime he did not commit,” said Tennessee Innocence Project Executive Director and Lead Counsel Jessica Van Dyke. “We believe in Mr. Clardy’s innocence, and we will continue to fight for his innocence and freedom. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Bass, Berry & Sims to help exonerate Mr. Clardy.”

Clardy was convicted of a 2005 murder at an auto body shop in Madison, TN. The only evidence supporting Clardy’s conviction was a single, cross-racial eyewitness identification, which was not made until nearly a month after the crime. No physical evidence has ever tied Clardy to the crime scene, nor has any other witness placed him there. Evidence collected before the trial, but not tested until later, connected different, unrelated suspects to the scene. Clardy has steadfastly maintained his innocence for nearly two decades.

In June 2023, after years of court proceedings, a federal district judge in Nashville overturned Clardy’s conviction. Judge Aleta Trauger held that Clardy was denied effective assistance of counsel at his original trial in violation of his constitutional rights. Judge Trauger held that Mr. Clardy’s original lawyer performed deficiently by failing to present expert testimony on the well-documented limitations of eyewitness identifications.

The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office has appealed that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. While the proceedings on appeal continue, Clardy’s legal team filed a motion for his immediate release, which was granted by Judge Trauger. On October 20, Clardy walked out of prison and was reunited with friends and family after 17 years of incarceration.

“We are pleased with the federal court’s decision to overturn Mr. Clardy’s conviction and are thrilled that he was released from prison today,” said Scott Gallisdorfer, an attorney at Bass, Berry & Sims who has worked on the Clardy case since 2019. “We firmly believe in Mr. Clardy’s innocence, and we are proud to partner with TIP as we continue the fight for his exoneration.”

To learn more about the Tennessee Innocence Project and Thomas Clardy, visit www.tninnocence.org.

About the Tennessee Innocence Project:
Launched in February 2019 as the first full-time innocence organization in the state, the Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) is a non-profit law firm working to free wrongfully convicted Tennesseans. To date, more than 3,200 people have lost more than 25,000 years due to wrongful convictions across the United States. TIP has three primary focus areas: 1) investigating and litigating wrongful conviction cases for those in Tennessee prisons to obtain exonerations, 2) training law students and attorneys about how to litigate these cases and how to prevent future wrongful convictions, and 3) bringing about changes that lead to the discovery of wrongful convictions and remedies to the wrongfully convicted. To learn more, visit www.tninnocence.org.

About Bass, Berry & Sims:
Bass, Berry & Sims is a national law firm with nearly 350 attorneys dedicated to delivering exceptional service to numerous publicly traded companies and Fortune 500 businesses in significant litigation and investigations, complex business transactions, and international regulatory matters. For more than 100 years, our people have served as true partners to clients, working seamlessly across substantive practice disciplines, industries and geographies to deliver highly-effective legal advice and innovative, business-focused solutions. For more information, visit the firm’s website.

For more information or if you would like to interview someone from the Tennessee Innocence Project, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, at 901.278.0881 or jsharp@cmgpr.com.

If you would like to interview someone from Bass, Berry & Sims, contact Erin Ihde, at 615.259.6736 or eihde@bassberry.com.

Families Matter, Inc., Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, and Mt.  Vernon Baptist Church Partner to Host a Fatherhood Forum

Families Matter, Inc., Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, and Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Partner to Host a Fatherhood Forum

(MEMPHIS, TN – October 18, 2023) Local nonprofit Families Matter, Inc. is partnering with Mt. Vernon Baptist Church and the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office to host its Each One Reach One Fatherhood Forum on Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, located at 620 Parkrose Avenue, Memphis, TN 38109.

“Our goal of the forum is to bring the community together to promote positive fatherhood and strengthen family bonds,” said Carol Jackson, Executive Director of Families Matter, Inc. “We are thrilled to partner with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office and Mt. Vernon Baptist Church to bring this vision to life.”

During the forum, there will be a leadership panel at noon to discuss the importance of the father’s role in strengthening family bonds and its impact on the community. Facilitated by Rev. Melvin Watkins of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, the panelists consist of the following:

• Earnest Brooks, Associate Deputy District Attorney for the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office
• Antonio Harvey, Memphis-Shelby County Schools Family and Community Engagement (FACE)
• Rev. Kenric Conway, Mt. Vernon Baptist Church
• Antwan Bohanon, Customized Veterans Group
• Tracey Driver, MAXIMUS Shelby County Child Support Services
• Patrick Batson, Program Director for Families Matter’s AFIRM program

“We are providing a platform for experts, professionals, community leaders and individuals who are passionate about the well-being of fathers and their families to come together, share insights and collaborate on strategies to support and empower fathers in their roles,” said Jackson.

Several community vendors will be on-site to provide resources for our attendees. The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office and Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office will provide expungement resources, the City of Memphis’ Office of Youth Services will provide information about their programs, Baptist Memorial Hospital will provide free health screenings, and the Greater Memphis Financial Empowerment Center will provide financial literacy resources. In addition, there will be on-the-spot hiring, resources from the Shelby County Community Services Agency, free haircuts, free food and more.

Representatives from Families Matter’s pilot program, A Father’s Involvement Really Matters (AFIRM), will also be in attendance to help attendees register for the program. Funded by the Tennessee Department of Human Services’ Tennessee Opportunity Act, AFIRM is designed to assist low-income fathers, ages 18–40 in Memphis and Shelby County, by connecting them to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or assistance with a recent child support order. Those interested in attending can register for free at bit.ly/AFIRMForum.

For more information or if you would like to interview someone about the forum, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, at 901.278.0881 or
jsharp@cmgpr.com. About Families Matter, Inc.

Founded in 2004, Families Matter, Inc. is a non-profit organization and resource center that serves families via schools, churches, hospitals, and a variety of community partners to educate, enhance, and encourage our clients to become their best selves. Their educational offerings include workshops for couples and single parents and offerings for youth and a parenting boot camp for new dads. They also can connect individuals and couples to counseling services around their area. To learn more about Families Matter, Inc., visit www.familiesmattermemphis.org.

Vintage901® Launches Scholarship Program for Students Pursuing Degrees in Food + Wine

Vintage901® Launches Scholarship Program for Students Pursuing Degrees in Food + Wine

(MEMPHIS, TN – October 17, 2023) Vintage901, a nonprofit organization who promotes access to the culinary arts through education, enrichment and community engagement, launches its Vintage901 Wine + Food Scholarship. The award of $2,500 will be given to a high school senior and undergraduate student pursuing a career in culinary arts.

“Vintage901 is committed to providing access to wine and food education and enrichment to the Memphis community and beyond,” said Stephanie Ferreira, Founder and CEO of Vintage901. “This scholarship will assist those students from underrepresented communities pursue their dreams in the culinary arts.”

Students seeking a degree in culinary arts, viticulture/viniculture, oenology and wine business or related fields are encouraged to apply. Applicants are required to submit a one-page essay, letter of recommendation and community service hours along with their application.

“We want to provide financial support to the next generation that’s ready to share the art of presentation, science, and technique of eating and drinking well in our community and the world,” said Ferreira.

Applications for the Vintage901 Wine + Food Scholarship are now open and will close on December 15, 2023. To learn more about Vintage901, the scholarship or to apply, visit www.vintage901.org/scholarship.

About Vintage901:

Vintage901® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes access to the culinary arts through education, enrichment, and engagement with their community. Vintage901 hosts thoughtfully curated events that blend classic and modern culinary experiences and appeal to the connoisseur and the curious, its largest being its two-day Vintage901 Wine, Food and Music Spring Festival. To learn more, visit www.vintage901.org.

For more information or if you would like to interview someone from Vintage901, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, at 901.278.0881 or jsharp@cmgpr.com.

Your Democracy series awarded a regional EMMY for broadcast excellence

Your Democracy series awarded a regional EMMY for broadcast excellence

(Memphis, TN – October 17, 2023) Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, author, legal scholar, and playwright, was honored with a Mid Atlantic 2023 EMMY Award for her work as host and writer of the animated series Your Democracy on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at the awards event held in Lancaster, PA. The winning episode was “How A Case Goes to the Supreme Court” in the category of Social Concerns. Your Democracy is produced by WHYY, a
PBS/NPR affiliate in Philadelphia.

“Your Democracy was created to help people better understand the U. S. Constitution,” said Browne-Marshall. “It is important that the Constitution be accessible to everyone, especially young people. This is why the series is animated. I am proud to say this series has been viewed around the country as well as in Sweden, France, Italy and England.”

The ten-segment Your Democracy series has been accessed over 200,000 times by educators, students and adults looking to learn more about the U. S. Constitution.

Episodes of Your Democracy can be accessed on WHYY.org: whyy.org/programs/your-democracy About Gloria J. Browne-Marshall
Writer, professor, playwright and activist, Gloria J. Browne-Marshall is a Professor of Constitutional Law and Africana studies at John Jay College (CUNY). Her books include She Took Justice: The Black Woman, Law, and Power – 1619 to 1969, The Voting Rights War: The NAACP and the Ongoing Struggle for Justice and Race, Law, and American Society: 1607-Present. Browne-Marshall is a highly sought-after speaker and legal analyst appearing on CNN, MSNBC and other networks and print media. Her award-winning stage plays include SHOT: Caught a Soul and Dreams of Emmett Till. Learn more about Browne-Marshall at www.Browne-Marshall23.com.

Zócalo Public Square to Host Panel Discussion Entitled “How Does Confronting Our History Build a Better Future?”

Zócalo Public Square to Host Panel Discussion Entitled “How Does Confronting Our History Build a Better Future?”

(MEMPHIS, TN – October 16, 2023) Zócalo Public Square will host a virtual panel discussion entitled “How Does Confronting Our History Build a Better Future?” on Friday, October 27, 2023 at 9:00 p.m. CST.

The live panel discussion is the conclusion of a two-year editorial and four-part series entitled “How Should Societies Remember Their Sins?” Supported by the Mellon Foundation and blending scholarly essays and personal stories, the series explores how societies around the world collectively remember their transgressions and make attempts at repair, and how we might imagine new paths forward.

In August 2023, Zócalo Public Square partnered with the National Civil Rights Museum to host part three of the series entitled “Why Isn’t Remembering Enough to Repair?” during the conversation, the panelists discussed what repair looks like and how different people and places have stumbled and succeeded in their pursuit.

On October 27, environmental activist and hip-hop artist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez (Xochimilco), L.A. LGBT Center communications officer and former editor-in-chief of Out Magazine Phillip Picardi and “On Being” founder, executive producer and host Krista Tippett will discuss how society might draw strength and coax vision from the shortcomings and failures of its collective past. The discussion will be moderated by William Sturkey, University of North Carolina Historian and author of Hattiesburg.

After the panel discussion, there will be a special musical performance by the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arktet.

Visit www.zocalopublicsquare.org/event/does-confronting-our-history-build-a-better-future to RSVP for the event.

About ZĂłcalo Public Square:

Founded in Los Angeles in 2003, ZĂłcalo Public Square is an ASU Media Enterprise. ZĂłcalo Public Square connects people to ideas and to each other by examining essential questions in an accessible, broad-minded, and democratic spirit. We pursue our mission by convening events and by publishing ideas journalism. We syndicate our journalism to 290 media outlets worldwide and have hosted more than 600 events in 33 cities in the U.S. and beyond, including New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Shanghai, Guadalajara, London, Berlin, and now streaming online.

For more information or if you would like to interview someone about the panel discussion, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, at 901.278.0881 or jsharp@cmgpr.com.

Tennessee Innocence Project Hosts Fighting for Freedom Fundraiser

Tennessee Innocence Project Hosts Fighting for Freedom Fundraiser

(Nashville, TN – October 16, 2023) The Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) will host their biggest event of the year, the 2023 Fighting for Freedom fundraiser. The event will take place on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at Music City Center, located at 201 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN 37203.

“Now, in our fifth year, this year’s event will focus on the stories that keep us fighting for justice every day,” said Jessica Van Dyke, Tennessee Innocence Project executive director and lead counsel. “Guests will have the opportunity to hear first-hand stories about the emotional impact of a wrongful conviction from exonerees, their family members, and Tennessee Innocence Project staff.”

Since opening in 2019, The Tennessee Innocence Project has successfully exonerated five individuals who collectively lost 119 years incarcerated. TIP represents each client at no charge and remains the only in-state innocence organization in Tennessee.

“Donations to TIP allow us to continue to investigate and litigate claims of actual innocence from our hundreds of applicants,” said Jason Gichner, Tennessee Innocence Project deputy director and senior legal counsel. “We spare no expense when someone’s life is on the line.”

This year’s event is made possible by generous sponsors across the state, including:

Innocence Sponsors:

  • Amy and Frank Garrison
  • Garza Law Firm

Exoneration Sponsors:

  • Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
  • Burr & Forman LLP
  • Ginny & Garry Ferraris
  • May & McKinney PLLC
  • Pinnacle Financial Partners
  • Polsinelli PC
  • Sanford Heisler Sharp LLP
  • Swafford Law Firm
  • Bonney and Jim Todd
  • Amy and Clay Richards
  • Lief, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein
  • Schooner Foundation

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

To learn more about the 2023 Fighting for Freedom fundraiser, visit www.tninnocence.org/freedom.

About the Tennessee Innocence Project:

Launched in February 2019 as the first full-time innocence organization in the state, the Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) is a non-profit law firm working to free wrongfully convicted Tennesseans. To date, more than 3,200 people have lost more than 25,000 years due to wrongful convictions across the United States. TIP has three primary focus areas: 1) investigating and litigating wrongful conviction cases for those in Tennessee prisons to obtain exonerations, 2) training law students and attorneys about how to litigate these cases and how to prevent future wrongful convictions, and 3) bringing about changes that lead to the discovery of wrongful convictions and remedies to the wrongfully convicted. To learn more, visit www.tninnocence.org.

For more information or if you would like to interview someone from the Tennessee Innocence Project, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, at 901.278.0881 or jsharp@cmgpr.com.

BofA Mobile Financial Center Coming to Memphis

BofA Mobile Financial Center Coming to Memphis

(Memphis, TN – September 18, 2023) – Bank of America has partnered with Knowledge Quest to reach the Memphis community and help boost residents’ financial wellness. The bank is bringing a mobile financial center to Gaston Park and Community Center on Monday, October 2, 2023, to provide local residents convenient access to financial education, credit counseling, meetings with specialists and the latest digital banking capabilities. The on-site hub offers free education and advice from specialists and credit counselors on managing finances to help families and business owners build their financial acumen on how to save, spend, borrow and invest to reach their goals.

“At Bank of America, our core mission is to grow and protect the financial wellbeing of our clients and the communities we serve,” said Trevia Chatman, president, Bank of America Memphis. “Through our community-centered approach, we focus on helping our neighbors wherever they are on their financial journey by building trust, confidence and financial know-how.”

The mobile financial center will be on-site at Gaston Park and Community Center, located at 1044 S. 3rd Street, 38106 from Monday, October 2, 2023, to Friday, October 6, 2023, and open from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The center will offer:

  • Financial education classes and specialty workshops on topics ranging from basic budgeting and banking, saving, building healthy credit, homebuying and starting and growing a business. These sessions will be facilitated by certified Bank of America employees through Better Money Habits® resources and tools.
  • Access to Operation HOPE financial wellbeing counselors who will host sessions focused on money management and credit to help clients build customized plans and solutions for creating budgets, increasing savings and improving credit scores.
  • On-site financial specialists, including business solutions advisors and home lending advisors, to help provide tailored financial solutions and advice on individual needs.
  • Digital Expo highlighting and featuring Bank of America’s mobile and online banking capabilities and solutions. Visitors can also try the Financial Literacy Simulator, where they learn to save, build credit and budget real-life monthly bills and commitments through an online gaming experience.

Since 2018, Bank of America has invested over $3.6 million in greater Memphis through grants to local nonprofits and employee matching to further support the community.

Bank of America’s mobile financial center in Memphis will be parked at 1044 S. 3rd Street, 38106, and will be open to the community until Friday, October 6, 2023.

 For more information and to register for a class or workshop, visit rsvp.bankofamerica.com/client/1365.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 68 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs, and award-winning digital banking with approximately 57 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, register for email news alerts. www.bankofamerica.com

Reporters May Contact:
Anu Ahluwalia
anu.ahluwalia@bofa.com

The Tennessee Innocence Project Hosts Grand Opening in New Memphis Office

The Tennessee Innocence Project Hosts Grand Opening in New Memphis Office

(MEMPHIS, TN – September 8, 2023) On Thursday, September 14, 2023, the Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP), headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, will host the grand opening of its new Memphis office, located at 2029 Peabody Avenue in the Midtown area.

The grand opening will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and TIP is inviting supporters, donors and those who are interested in the work that TIP does to help those who have been wrongfully convicted in Tennessee.

“After months of hard work and planning, we can finally say that we are ready to take on the challenges of the Mid-South region,” said Jessica Van Dyke, Tennessee Innocence Project Executive Director and Lead Counsel. “We are thrilled to bring our mission to this incredible city and fight for justice and exoneration alongside the Memphis community. We couldn’t have done it without the support of our amazing sponsors, donors and allies.”

After a year of planning, the Tennessee Innocence Project launched in February 2019, as Tennessee’s first and only full-time organization working to free innocent people from prison.

According to their 2022 annual report, TIP has helped exonerate five individuals and Shelby County has the highest number of submitted applications across the state.

To RSVP for the grand opening, visit www.tninnocence.org/memphis. If you are unable to attend the grand opening, you can donate to TIP at www.tninnocence.org.

About the Tennessee Innocence Project:

Launched in February 2019 as the first full-time innocence organization in the state, the Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) is a non-profit law firm working to free wrongfully convicted Tennesseans. To date, more than 3,200 people have lost more than 25,000 years due to wrongful convictions across the United States. TIP has three primary focus areas: 1) investigating and litigating wrongful conviction cases for those in Tennessee prisons to obtain exonerations, 2) training law students and attorneys about how to litigate these cases and how to prevent future wrongful convictions, and 3) bringing about changes that lead to the discovery of wrongful convictions and remedies to the wrongfully convicted. To learn more, visit www.tninnocence.org.

For more information or if you would like to interview someone from the Tennessee Innocence Project, contact Jennifer Sharp, The Carter Malone Group, LLC, at 901.278.0881 or jsharp@cmgpr.com.

WFGM Awards $1.6 Million to 38 Community Organizations, Tops Previous Years Announcing Largest Number of Grantees Ever Awarded

WFGM Awards $1.6 Million to 38 Community Organizations, Tops Previous Years Announcing Largest Number of Grantees Ever Awarded

Memphis, Tenn. (August 31, 2023) – The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM) announced that for its 2023-2024 Annual Grant Cycle, 38 organizations are receiving grant awards. In total, this amounts to a nearly $1.6 million investment in the community. The highest year-to-date investment to-date, this amount is a six percent increase from last year’s contribution total. Since 1996, WFGM has awarded more than $35 million to 185 local non-profits, including investments in advocacy and research.

In 2015, WFMG launched Vision 2020, a five-year strategic initiative aimed at reducing poverty in zip code 38126. This initiative included a $7.1 million strategic investment in programs serving South City – zip code 38126, one of the most economically challenged neighborhoods in Tennessee. As part of this plan, WFGM established a place-based investment strategy to fund grantee partners that provide programs in support of five goal areas: (1) case management and wraparound services; (2) job skills and employment; (3) early childhood development; (4) youth development and employment; and (5) financial education and asset building.

“Since concluding Vision 2020, WFGM has continued building on the lessons learned,” said WFGM President and CEO Shante Avant. “We are using what we have learned, as we embark on Vision 2025. This broadened initiative continues the funding to South City while simultaneously expanding into other economically challenged neighborhoods,” said Avant.

Their Vision 2025 strategic plan, includes four additional zip codes – 38105, 38106, 38107 and 38108. “Our goal is to impact the lives of more than 8,000 individuals annually by focusing on advancing economic and social mobility,” said Avant.

WFGM’s investment in the community profoundly impacts lives. This includes:

  • 3,438 individuals receiving job training and placed in jobs
  • 141 individuals starting a business or micro-enterprise
  • 7,069 young people participating in youth development programs
  • 53 percent increase in average annual earned household income for adults

WFGM plans to build on its success with support to its 2023-2024 Grantee Partners in these Investment Areas:

Vision 2025 Investment Area 1: Case Management and Wraparound Services
Hope House Day Care | MIFA (Metropolitan Interfaith Association) | Neighborhood Christian Centers, Inc.| Urban Strategies Inc. | Room in the Inn | Salvation Army of Memphis and the Mid-South

Vision 2025 Investment Area 2: Job Skills, Employment and Entrepreneurship
Advance Memphis | Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis | DeNeuville Learning Center
Dress for Success Memphis | HopeWorks | Karat Place, Inc. | Memphis Urban League, Inc.
Southwest Tennessee Community College Foundation | YWCA of Greater Memphis

Vision 2025 Investment Area 3: Early Childhood Development
ALLMemphis | Early Success Coalition | Families Matter | Porter-Leath

Vision 2025 Investment Area 4: Youth Development and Employment
A Step Ahead Foundation | JIFF Juvenile Intervention & Faith-based Follow-up| Booker T.
Washington Middle and High School | Emmaneul Center, Inc. | Girls Scouts Heart of the South
Girls Inc. of Memphis| Memphis Inner City Rugby| Mustard Seed Inc.| New Ballet Ensemble and School | STREETS Ministries| University of Memphis Research Foundation-Herff-GEE | Vance Avenue Youth Development Center | Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South
Memphis Black Arts Alliance | Kids in Technology

Vision 2025 Investment Area 5: Financial Education and Asset Building
Knowledge Quest | Community Legal Center | RISE Memphis | South City a Community of Opportunity Revitalization Empowerment (SCORE CDC)

Designated Grant Docket Allocations
National Partnerships and Local Initiatives: AECF E2S Programs, YWI, and South City Digital Inclusion | Responsive Funding and Special Projects in zip codes 38126 and 38106 | Program Assessment, Research, and Evaluation | Technical Assistance

About The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis

For 26 years, the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM) has played a major role as a backbone organization aligning people, resources, and coordinating community-based services through the two-generation approach to reduce poverty. The mission of WFGM is to encourage philanthropy, foster leadership among women and support programs that enable women and children to reach their full potential.