Everyone involved at that time was dreaming that we'd one day make it to this point, and while I no longer have "hands on" involvement with the paper, I am so proud of Tash and folks who brought this paper into existence, honored I was able to play a small role in getting it off the ground, and thrilled that Tasha won this award because I know how much labor (of love) went into it on her part.
I'm not minimizing the involvement of everyone else in the effort, mind you, but this always was "Tash's baby" and she deserves the kudos and the award. I would add that Tom Wills is also someone who worked every bit as hard, and just as long as Tasha, and I know that Tom is also sharing in the award as a winner, and Tasha and he both couldn't be more deserving of the pat on the back.Titans honor director of homeless newspaper
Tasha French, executive director of The Contributor street newspaper, has won the 2009 Tennessee Titans Community Quarterback Award, recognizing her as the top volunteer in the state.
French, 32, and other volunteers started the newspaper in the fall of 2007. It is written by current and former homeless people, who sell the newspaper on Middle Tennessee street corners for a profit. With an initial press run of 200 papers, the organization is now publishing and selling more than 11,000 copies a month.
About 100 trained and sober homeless vendors buy the newspaper for a quarter and resell it for $1, keeping any tips. More than a dozen formerly homeless people have been able to pay for rental housing since working for The Contributor. French's prize is a $10,000 grant to her organization.
"Tasha is truly an inspiration to us all," said K. S. "Bud" Adams Jr., owner of the Titans, in a prepared statement.
"Community involvement is very important to me and the entire Titans organization. We are pleased to present this grant to The Contributor in recognition of Tasha's dedication."
In addition to the grant, French will be considered for a national award in competition with all the other NFL team community quarterbacks. She was selected out of 140 nominations. There are three runner-ups, each of whom will receive a $2,500 grant.
"Yea, this is huge," French said, accepting the award after the announcement at a luncheon at LP Field Thursday.
"While my name is on this today, this is a community effort — a collaborative effort. Thank you so much."
Steve Underwood, Titans senior executive vice president and general counsel, presented the awards and, with two Titans cheerleaders, posed for photos with the winners.
The runner-ups are Monk Baird, 77, with Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity; Renee Behrman-Greiman, 36, of Franklin, with Big Brothers Big Sisters Middle Tennessee; and Emmit Martin, 38, of Nashville, founder of the Cancer Awareness Project.
Three Additional Finalists were recognized as Tennessee’s Top Volunteers
 |
| Tasha French is the winner of the 2009 Tennessee Titans Community Quarterback Award. |
"This award is such an honor,” said French. “It really is a huge support from the Nashville community and from the Tennessee Titans for this project and for our vendors. The money is really going to help us become more sustainable over the next few years and help us continue to do this project in a more self sufficient way."
French was one of four volunteers recognized today for their work with non-profit organizations. These volunteers were chosen based on their leadership and dedication to bettering their hometown communities. The Titans 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 $17,500, bringing the total grants awarded since the program started in 2000 to $215,500.
The following quotations are from French’s nomination submitted by Andrew Krinks, Copy Editor and Board Member of The Contributor:
“Each year we learn of many great volunteers doing magnificent work throughout the state and this year’s Community Quarterback Award group continues to amaze me,” said Titans Owner K.S. “Bud” Adams, Jr. “Tasha French continues the tradition of statewide winners who give so much to non-profit organizations in Tennessee.”
“Tasha is truly an inspiration to us all,” continued Adams. “Community involvement is very important to me and the entire Titans organization. We are pleased to present this grant to The Contributor in recognition of Tasha’s dedication. We salute not only today’s four grant winners but everyone that was nominated for this year’s Titans Community Quarterback Award! I say this every year, and it continues to be true – this program shows that Tennessee truly is the Volunteer State.”
There was a three way tie for second place among Monk Baird from Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, Renee Behrman-Greiman from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee and Emmit Martin from Cancer Awareness Project. Each of these three finalists received a grant of $2,500 for finishing tied in the runner-up position.
Tasha French, age 32, Nashville - The Contributor
Tasha French is the volunteer Executive Director of The Contributor, Nashville’s street newspaper. In the fall of 2007, she brought together the group of outreach workers, homeless and formerly homeless writers and artists who launched the newspaper beginning with their first issue in the winter of 2007 and continuing with their 21st issue published this month. Tasha solicits, collects and creates news content, edits copy and designs each page of the monthly issue for press. Her efforts in creating and sustaining the paper for the past two years have created jobs and income for many who might otherwise have no way to make a living.
