KOHL’S DEPARTMENT STORES are an important member of Knoxville’s Philanthropic Community. Kohl’s commitment to children’s hospitals and education is made possible through the Kohl’s Cares for Kids program, which raises funds through the sale of special merchandise. One hundred percent of the net profits from the sale of these items benefit health and educational opportunities in the communities Kohl’s serves. Kohl’s community outreach also includes Kohl’s Kids Who Care, an annual youth volunteer recognition program; fund-raising gift cards for local schools and non-profit youth groups; and an associate program to encourage volunteerism. Locally since 1998, Kohl’s has provided Children's Hospital with over $392,000. Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’s is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store. Kohl’s operates 674 stores in 40 states and supports more than 127 children’s hospitals.

THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS are committed to serving the needs of patients and families through daily interaction via volunteer services, fund-raising to support the hospital and Auxiliary projects, promotion of health careers and the fostering of positive relationships with and among hospital staff, the community and volunteers. Since their founding in 1964 as the Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, this group of volunteers has strived to promote active volunteerism within the hospital and the community, involving people of all ages and from all socio-economic backgrounds. Through the years, the Volunteers have constantly adjusted their programs and services to the ever-changing climate of health care as Children's Hospital has grown to serve patients from all of East Tennessee and adjacent areas in North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia.

Children's Hospital is especially indebted to the Auxiliary and its members for their willingness to organize the first several years of the Fantasy of Trees in the 1980s as a benefit for the hospital. Today, this event continues as the premier event of the holiday season in Knoxville.

THE WAL-MART CORPORATION is an important member of Knoxville's philanthropic community. The company was recognized with the 2004 Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist Award. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. believes that each of its discount stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, Sam's Clubs and distribution centers should contribute to the well being of the local community. In 2003, Wal-Mart contributed $196 million -- or $3.8 million every week -- to the communities they serve through a variety of local grants and programs.

Wal-Mart is also the leading supporter of children's health in the United States. The company raised and contributed $30 million to local children's hospitals in 2003 through the Children's Miracle Network and has contributed $290 million to local children's hospitals since 1987. In our local area, the Wal-Mart Corporation and its employees have raised over $2,814,000 for East Tennessee Children's Hospital since 1988.

Locally in 2003, the 22 Wal-Mart's and the two Sam's Clubs in our East Tennessee region raised $1,263,132 for their communities, not counting what was raised for Children's Hospital, in the form of donations for many regional Teacher of the Year awards; environmental grants; literacy programs; the Volunteerism Counts program; Safe Neighborhoods; United Way; the VFW; sheriff patrols; volunteer fire departments; animal shelters; Habitat for Humanity; Girls, Inc.; Ijams Nature Center; the Make-a-Wish Foundation; Boy Scouts of America; Food Pantries; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; American Cancer Society; American Heart Association; the Lupus Foundation; Salvation Army; March of Dimes; Project Graduation; and scores of parent-teacher groups and schools, ranging from kindergarten to senior high, all over East Tennessee.

BOB AND WENDY GOODFRIEND received the 2003 Outstanding Philanthropist Award for their tireless work for the benefit of the community. Mr. Goodfriend, who served as the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goody's Family Clothing, Inc., not only has a strong commitment to achieving business success but also a commitment to support the community. Among his community involvements is the United Way; he has previously served as a United Way Chairman for the local campaign.

The Goodfriends have supported Children's Hospital for the past 20 years through the annual Children's Miracle Network Telethon. They began their support in 1983 with a gift of $10,000 at Telethon after their son Jeff was treated in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital. Since that time, Mr. Goodfriend has added a program to match gifts made by his employees and has matched pledges called in by viewers to the Telethon. The Goodfriends' continued support has inspired Goody's employees to increase fund-raising efforts in their stores, ranging from events such as bass tournaments to the sale of "Miracle Balloons." Telethon gifts in 2004 from the Goodfriends, Goody's employees and Goody's corporate gifts totaled over $401,059.

The Goodfriends approached the Children's Hospital administration in 1992 about a celebrity gala, Center Stage, modeled after an event they had attended in Chattanooga. They began chairing the event in 1993, and it has sold out every year since then. Over $248,000 in net proceeds was raised in 2004, bringing the event's 11-year total to over $1.9 million.

Another member of Goody's team also received a 2003 Philanthropy Day award. The late PAM WILLIAMS, former Corporate Communications Manager for Goody's, received the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award. Williams, who lost a battle with cancer in November 2003, spent much of her professional career in service to charities, which benefited from her marketing skills and her passion for children.

One of Williams' responsibilities was to allocate Goody's annual charitable budget. After discussions with Goodfriend, Williams developed a philanthropic contributions policy and philosophy that reflects the company's commitment to the needs of children and families. Under Williams' leadership, Goody's became a philanthropic leader in all the communities where their 332 stores are located.

Williams became involved with Children's Hospital through the Fantasy of Trees. She was a Committee Chair in 1989 before moving into a Vice-Chair role in 1991. Williams recruited volunteers and worked at the show for 14 years. In recent years, Williams coordinated the Fantasy of Trees Celebrity Corner; she worked year-round to collect celebrity merchandise to be auctioned or purchased in this shop. Under Williams' leadership, Celebrity Corner has raised over $50,000 for the Fantasy of Trees. After joining Goody's Family Clothing in 1995, Williams also became an instrumental part of the team planning for Center Stage, bringing creativity and leadership to the committee.

The 2003 Outstanding Foundation Award went to THE WILLIAM B. STOKELY JR. FOUNDATION. The foundation gives more than $500,000 per year. The gifts stretch across a broad area and include charities in Kansas, Missouri, New York, Virginia, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee.

In the local community, the foundation has supported the "Nine Counties, One Vision" program and has funded local schools, the University of Tennessee, law enforcement, the Knoxville Museum of Art, the Knoxville Symphony and Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains. The foundation also contributes to Children's Hospital and other organizations that deal with children's issues such as the Boys and Girls Club, Project Grad, Mission of Hope, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Junior Achievement, Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes and many others. These contributions have touched the lives of thousands of children.

The Stokely Foundation is also a major sponsor of the Fantasy of Trees. Through contributions to the Fantasy of Trees, the foundation helps fund the purchase of much needed medical equipment for various departments at Children's Hospital.