Tennessee Titans Recognize Mary McEwen as the 2006 Community Quarterback Award Winner

Five Finalists Received $20,000 in Grants in Recognition of Tennessee’s Top Volunteers

NASHVILLE, TN – 1/24/2007 -- The Tennessee Titans recognized Mary McEwen, 87, of Nashville as the 2006 Community Quarterback Award Winner. McEwen earned a $10,000 grant from Titans owner K.S. “Bud” Adams, Jr. and the Tennessee Titans Foundation for her non-profit organization, Bethlehem Centers of Nashville, where she has volunteered for 24 years.

McEwen was one of five volunteers recognized today for their work with non-profit organizations who were chosen based on their leadership and dedication to bettering their hometown communities. The Community Quarterback Award program is a statewide contest that recognizes outstanding volunteers, ages 13 and up, of non-profit organizations in Tennessee. The winners were awarded with grants from the Tennessee Titans Foundation that totaled $20,000, bringing the total grants awarded since the program started in 2000 to $140,000.

The Titans Community Quarterback Award has had many extraordinary winners over the years but none more so than Mary McEwen. Bethlehem Centers of Nashville is a non-profit organization that provides quality programs and services to Middle Tennesseans to advocate self-reliance and positive life-choices for all ages. McEwen has worked closely with the center’s Hot Lunch Program that sends volunteers to 13 inner-city churches, where they work together to deliver meals to 100 homebound and elderly each month. Now in her 24th year as a volunteer, McEwen serves as a cook for the Hot Lunch Program. She participates in calling the volunteers and program recipients, preparing menus, calling and writing letters to raise money for the program and supervising food preparation.

When asked about the award and how it has affected others McEwen said, “The more we help, the more others are volunteering to help us. Many others have volunteered and some soup kitchens have even given their services to the center.”

As far as advice for others wanting to volunteer, McEwen says, “If people look around and see somebody helping others, they may want to help someone out themselves. They will be surprised how much joy they get out of it.”

“We have had some incredible winners since we began the Titans Community Quarterback Award in 2000 and Mary McEwen continues the tradition of Tennesseans of all ages who give so much to non-profit organizations across this great state,” said Titans Owner K.S. “Bud” Adams, Jr. “Last year’s winner (Sondra Clark of Nashville) was 16 and this year’s winner is 87 years young!”

“Mary is truly an inspiration to us all,” continued Adams. “Community involvement is very important to my wife Nancy and me and the entire Titans organization. We are pleased to present this grant to Bethlehem Center in recognition of Mary’s dedication and salute not only today’s five grant winners but everyone that was nominated for this year’s Titans Community Quarterback Award!”

The runner up recognized was Don McGehee, 84, of Nashville. McGehee’s organization, Nashville Alliance for Public Education, received $4,000 on behalf of his volunteer efforts. The Nashville Alliance for Public Education teams up with the Metro Nashville Public School Board and the Director of Schools to enhance areas in the school systems that are undeveloped. They develop these areas with community resource driven programs. McGehee developed two of the character building programs, “I Am Somebody” and “Recipe for Total Success.”

The three semi-finalists, Dan Dillon, Bill Tyner and Sallye Wright were also recognized and received $2,000 on behalf of their volunteer efforts.

Dan Dillon volunteers with the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Dillon initiated the launch of audio description for visually-impaired and blind patrons so that they can fully enjoy the experience of live performances at TPAC following a similar experience at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. In addition to bringing the concept to TPAC, he helped secure necessary funding to make the project a reality!