HIT SONGWRITERS COME TOGETHER TO
BENEFIT ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION of MIDDLE TENNESSEE

"Moments", "The Way You Love Me", "Real Fine Place", "Must Be Doin' Something Right" and "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" – all number one songs by top country music artists, all heard Saturday, June 16, at the Tennessee Chapter's
annual songwriter event, 

"Singin' in the Summertime"
presented poolside by

CODA Development at their Midtown Lofts
to benefit the Arthritis Foundation of Middle Tennessee. 

 

Hit songwriters Dave Berg, George Ducas, Keith Follese, Jason Matthews  and Billy Yates performed at "Singin' in the Summertime" and helped raise more than $40,000 for the Arthritis Foundation, Tennessee Chapter.

(pictured l to r: Keith Follese, Billy Yates, George Ducas,
Dave Berg and Jason Matthews)

 

The songwriters' hits include "Moments," recorded by Emerson Drive; "The Way You Love Me," recorded by Faith Hill; "Real Fine Place," a hit for Sara Evans; Billy Currington's "Must Be Doin' Something Right" and
"I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair," which was recorded by George Jones.

These No. 1 songs and other hits were presented by the pool of CODA Development's Midtown Lofts earlier this month.  "Coda Development and the Midtown Loft residents were delighted to host the event for the Arthritis Foundation.  We trust everyone enjoyed the evening,
seeing the property and hope that it was especially beneficial to the Foundation,"
said Lynn Ellsworth, president of CODA Devleopment.

 

All songwriters performed No. 1's, as well as up and coming songs, during the evening.  "It is not often that a songwriter gets to play for such an appreciative audience and great cause all rolled into one. I was honored to be invited," said Keith Follese, Grammy nominated songwriter who has scored hits with Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride and Lonestar.  

 

"This evening was both a complete honor and a pleasure.  I feel really fortunate to be able to be even a small part of such a worthy cause like the Arthritis Foundation," said George Ducas, who has written for Sara Evans, George Jones, Garth Brooks, Radney Foster and others. 

 

Dave Berg recently topped Billboard and CMT charts with his number one "Moments", his third hit this year.  The song was performed by award winning group, Emerson Drive.  Emerson Drive sits with Midas Records Nashville, headed by another songwriter of the evening, Keith Follese.  The song was the young company's first number one in its 18 months of existence. 

 

"Singin' in the Summertime" is an annual fundraiser for the arthritis foundation featuring hit country music songwriters performing their number one songs "in the Round."  The first "singin' in the summertime" was held at the bluebird cafe in 2005 and the fundraiser has grown each year.  The evening includes dinner, a live auction, performances and stories behind the music.  Money raised funds programs, services and research to help the more than 1.3 million adults, an estimated 6,000 children, in middle tennessee affected by arthritis.

 

The Arthritis Foundation would like to thank their presenting sponsors,
CODA Development and Midtown Lofts. 
CODA Development is a leading developer of niche residential condominiums in Middle Tennessee.  Midtown Lofts is CODA Development's 3rd project in the West End/Vanderbilt area.  Designed by Hastings Architecture Associates, the three story, 39 unit building is the first urban loft development in Nashville to offer its residents a
swimming pool and outdoor entertaining area. 

 

 

 

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ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION TRIBUTE EVENING

HONORS JACK O. BOVENDER, JR.

 

NASHVILLE, TN—HCA Chairman Jack O. Bovender, Jr. was honored at the Arthritis Foundation's annual Tribute Evening on Tuesday, November 21 at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza.  The evening WAS chaired by Wendy Holcomb Burch, owner of F. Scott's and Arthritis Foundation state board member.  The annual event Began with a reception at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner and the program.   
 

Mr. Bovender is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nashville based Hospital Corporation of America.  He is a 35-year veteran of the healthcare industry and has worked for HCA for more than 25 years.  He has served on the boards of the Nashville Community Foundation and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and is currently a member of the Business Council and Duke University's Fuqua School of Business Board of Visitors.  He is a founding member of the Nashville Health Care Council.

 

Bovender received his bachelor's degree in psychology and his master's degree in hospital administration from Duke University.  He and his wife, Barbara, have one son, Richard, who is currently at the Duke Fuqua School of Business.

 

"We are fortunate to have the support of Mr. Bovender.  His leadership in healthcare administration and management has had a tremendous impact on the Nashville community and beyond, affecting many who live daily with the challenges and pain of arthritis," said Trey Harwell, current Chair of the Nashville Arthritis Foundation Board.

 

The year marked the 18^th anniversary of this event.  Past honorees include Dr. Betty Witherspoon, Dr. John Sergent, Sarah Ingram, Ben Alper, M.D., Glenda Bell, Ray Bell, Charlotte & Tom Cone, Vince Gill, Aubrey Harwell, Burt Hummell, Barbara Mandrell, Ned McWherter, Clayton McWhorter, Jeanette Rudy, John Seigenthaler, and David Stringfield.

The Arthritis Foundation Honors Betty Witherspoon at the
17th Annual Tribute Evening

Event co-Chairs Sarah Ingram and Suzanne Lovvorn with Reese and Betty Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon is a busy woman. Whether she is performing in an Oscar-winning role or helping the children affected by Hurricane Katrina, this petite powerhouse makes it clear that helping others is a priority for her – especially when helping others means she's helping her own mother.

In October, 2005, Witherspoon participated in the Arthritis Foundation's Tennessee Chapter Annual Tribute Dinner to do just that. Both the actress and her mother, Betty Witherspoon, Ed.D ., who has rheumatoid arthritis, were honored by the Arthritis Foundation for their leadership, humanitarianism and ongoing efforts to raise awareness and support for people with arthritis. The annual event raised more than $200,000 to support peer-reviewed research, patient and community services, and public and professional education to benefit the 1.5 million people in Tennessee who are affected by arthritis.

"The Arthritis Foundation, Tennessee Chapter, was thrilled to welcome Reese Witherspoon back home to help us recognize her mother," said Sarah L. Ingram, who co-chaired the event with Suzanne Lovvorn.

The event included a private reception for major donors, a public reception, dinner and a tribute to Dr. Witherspoon by her daughter.

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Tennessee Chapter Pays Tribute to 
Two Outstanding Indviduals

Dr. Ben J. Alper

Dr. Ben J. Alper, former state board member, passed away in May, 2006, of a heart attack at the age of 79. Benjamin Jerome Alper was a Nashville physician noted for many things in the community, namely his smile and sense of humor, as well as his guidance of younger doctors. But it was his work with arthritis that served to make his mark with the Arthritis Foundation, Tennessee Chapter. After graduating from Vanderbilt with a medical degree in 1949, he continued his studies at Yale University and later attended the University of Michigan to study rheumatology. As an arthritis specialist, he started the area's first arthritis clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Upon his return to Nashville, Dr. Alper helped to bring the Arthritis Foundation to the area and served as the founding president of the Middle Tennessee chapter. He and his wife, Phyllis Rosenblum, established The Ben J. Alper Chair in Rheumatology at Vanderbilt University Medical School in 1995 for research.

 

Stephanie Nichole Sharp

Stephanie Nicole Sharp, age 29 of Knoxville, formerly of Jackson, passed away on Monday, March 13, 2006, at St. Mary's Hospital in Knoxville.  Stephanie was Human Resource Regional Manager for the Western Division of Regal Entertainment Group and was extremely passionate about the Arthritis Foundation.  Stephanie served on the East Tennessee Advisory Board and was a committee member of the Knoxville Walk since its conception.  She attended almost every event of the East Tennessee office, leading the efforts of Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Week right before she passed.  In her memory this year, 35 of Stephanie's friends, family and co-workers of Regal Entertainment joined together and formed "Team Stephanie" for the 2006 Knoxville Arthritis Walk.  They were the highest fundraising team and were an inspiration to everyone.  This year's walk committee decided that each year, the highest fundraising team at the Knoxville Arthritis Walk will receive the "Stephanie Sharp Award" in her honor. 

Local Arthritis Foundation Volunteer Receives
American juvenile arthritis organization national Award

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - The American Juvenile Arthritis Organization (AJAO), a council of the Arthritis Foundation, awarded Caroline Krueger of Hendersonville, TN, their Kathy Angel Award for Parent Leadership at the national conference held July 13-16, 2006, in Atlanta, Georgia.  Krueger's eight year old daughter, Ana-Carlin, has suffered with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since she was eighteen months old. 

"I am extremely honored to have even been nominated for the Kathy Angel Award.  Receiving it makes me even more determined to work for others like Ana-Carlin.  I haven't ever considered the work I have done as award winning or worthy of such an award, but it has always been extremely rewarding," said Krueger.   She also spoke of her initial involvement efforts that led to this award, "So many people would just say to us, ‘Arthritis, that's no big deal, everyone gets that'.  My original goal was simply to dispel that myth, not to be the largest team or raise the most money.  As others heard the truth about arthritis, it has become their mission too.  Arthritis is a debilitating disease for people of all ages."

The Kathy Angel Award for Parent Leadership is presented to the parent or parents who have shown exceptional courage and strength within their personal family of living with rheumatic disease; established effective working relationships with local related organizations and professionals; generously shared their time and talents by serving in parent leadership roles within the Arthritis Foundation and the medical community.

Krueger's accomplishments are many in that she has personally led teams of walkers to raise over $30,000 in total over the past 3 years at the Nashville Arthritis Walk; she served as the 2006 Walk Chair for the Sumner County Arthritis Walk, raising over $28,000; she chaired the 2005 Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Week event; she and her family received a scholarship from the Arthritis Foundation, Tennessee Chapter, to attend the AJAO National Conference; and she has told her personal story to politicians and national leaders in organized advocacy efforts both locally and nationally in Washington, DC. 

"Caroline is the hardest working, non-paid volunteer that we have.  In the four years that I have personally known Caroline, I have seen her progress from a walker to a team captain to a walk chair; from speaking about her daughter and the affects of arthritis to staff and local organizations to representatives from Congress; from attending juvenile awareness events to chairing them; from being a ‘victim' to becoming an ‘advocate'; from being helped, to helping others," said Tina Majors, Executive Director, Arthritis Foundation, Middle Tennessee Chapter.