The Back to School ministry for Mission of Hope plays a very important role in the lives of children of poverty stricken communities in rural school districts by providing backpacks filled with much needed new school supplies at the beginning of the new school year. We have heard over and over from the principals and teachers in these schools what a positive difference these school supplies and the compassionate giving of others makes in raising the self-esteem and educational performance of their students.

Do you remember how much fun it was to get new school supplies when you were a child? Parents want their children to have everything they need for a good education, but in Appalachia this privilege is sometimes an impossibility. The Mission of Hope needs your help with its 2009 Back To School Program. This is our 12th annual event and we plan to assist some 10,000 Appalachian children with the school supplies they will need to get a good start to their school year. A donation of $10 will provide a new backpack and supplies to a very deserving student. If you would like to sponsor one or more children, make your tax-deductible check to Mission of Hope and send it to:

P.O. Box 51824
Knoxville, TN 37950
(865) 694-4673

You can also make a donation using a credit card by calling the Mission of Hope at 865-694-4673 or Toll Free: 1-877-627-1909.

Thanks for your support and for helping to extend the Hope!

6th Annual Mission of Hope & Chick-fil-A Golf Classic Info

The 6th Annual Chick-fil-A & MOH Golf Classic on August 14, at Willow Creek Golf Club was a blessing for our ministry and for all who participated. The weather was beautiful, and the food supplied by Chick-fil-A was delicious and abundant. Our thanks to the MOH Golf Committee for the fantastic job they did in coordinating this event. Members are: Ralph Perrigo, Chm.; Melissa McCay, Chick-fil-A; Dennis Koontz; Brenda Lawson; Jim Montgomery; Todd Ottinger; Don Tarvin; Ron Tilley; Charlie Tonkin; and Shirley Plant and Diane Webster MOH Office.

The event sponsor was Chick-fil-A. Other sponsors were: WBIR-TV 10, Citadel Broadcasting Corp., CIS Consolidated Insurance Services, Rather & Kittrell, Home Federal Bank, Tilley-Lane, Duncan Automotive, Wintellet, Rothchild Catering & Conference Center, Coleman Printing & Awards, and Lincoln Memorial University. Our thanks also to the MOH Volunteers for assisting with various tasks throughout the day and the many donors who helped make this golf classic a success.

Our sincere thanks to all the participants, and our congratulations to the winners in both the AM and PM rounds. The winners were:

AM 1st Place Team: Ron Tilley, Tim Click, Jimmy Hyams, and Sam Bounds. 2nd Place Team: Todd Ottinger, Jeffery Miller, Kurt Johnson, and Chad Starliper. Closest to the pin winners: Bob Thompson, Todd Davis, Paul Dickenson, and Rick Dye. Longest Drive: Paul Dickenson. Sportsmanship: Justin Campbell, Joel Curnell, and Mike Fleenor.

PM 1st Place Team: Colin Moskil, John Williams, Alec Cunningham and Johny Mazon. 2nd Place Team: Steve Gilreath, Buddy Bradley, Ken Tanner, and Clifton Lowery. Closest to the pin winners: Bob Bell, P. Tarrant, John Galyon, and Walt Bower. Longest Drive: John Hughes. Sportsmanship: Mark Podgorski, Terry Delaney, Greg McMurry, and Tim Eichhorn.

2009 BACK TO SCHOOL UPDATE

 Our 12th Annual Back-to-School Program provided much needed backpacks, school supplies and hygiene items to over 10,000 students in 26 different schools. Donations were received from individuals, groups, and grant providers. The collection barrels at Food City locations brought in many school and hygiene items. Under the leadership of Rita Layman, a truly dedicated Mission of Hope Volunteer, and her team of Volunteers, items were sorted and packed for delivery to each school. Thanks, Rita and Volunteers, for a great job!

We could not have completed the individual school deliveries from July 31–August 27 without 26 dedicated teams and their capable leaders:

Cumberland Baptist – Roger & Margaret Davis; First Baptist Maryville – Joe & Alma Hall; Central Baptist Bearden – Martha Barber; First Baptist Powell – David & Nancy Rosenbalm; First Baptist Lenoir City – Pete Bartodej; NorthStar Church – Andy & Donna Keely; Central Baptist Bearden – Jackie Johnson; Black Oak Heights – Phil & Linda Peek; Roseberry Baptist – Bill & Joyce Curington; ET & MOH Friends Team – Emmette Thompson; NorthEast Christian – Jack & Ann Salyer; West Hills Presbyterian – Mitch Townley; Parkway Baptist – Tom & Missy Hacker; Grace Baptist – Pete & Diane Parker; First Baptist Concord – Tracy & Kim Roberts; Gist Creek Baptist – Joy Havlin; Christ Covenant Presbyterian – Ginger Forbes; Sevier Heights Baptist – Daryl & Cindy Cruze; First Baptist Concord – Ken & Betty Holland; Black Oak Heights Baptist – Phil & Linda Peek; First Baptist Alcoa – Jeremy Goode; Clear Springs Baptist – Bob & Lela Lovell; Dixie Lee Baptist – Brian & Tammy McKinley; Sevier Heights Baptist – Harold Underwood; Central Baptist Fountain City – Kathy Rosenbalm.