KNOXVILLE - On Friday, Allison and Derek Dooley joined representatives from Variety of Eastern Tennessee to present checks to seven East Tennessee charities.

The funds, totaling more than $190,000, were raised at a unique fundraising event held in May.

Variety works closely each year with Allison and Derek to create the Big Orange Experience fundraiser which includes an elegant evening hosted by the Dooleys at their home and a golf tournament. Regal Entertainment Group, Pilot Travel Centers and LTCI Limited were the presenting sponsors. Other major sponsors included Charlie Anderson, Christie Digital and Walt Disney Studios.

Friday's check presentation will include representatives from the East Tennessee charities that will receive donations. The charities benefitting are: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, Camp Koinonia, Cerebral Palsy Center, Emerald Youth Foundation, In Full Motion, Knox County Imagination Library and Play It Smart of East Tennessee.

About Variety: Variety - The Children's Charity is a multi-million dollar philanthropic organization that spans the globe with 43 chapters in 13 countries, improving the lives of children through creative fundraising efforts, well-placed donations with exceptional children's charities, and its own charitable programs. The local chapter of Variety was founded in Knoxville by Regal Cinemas in 2001 and since then has generated more than $5 million to assist children in East Tennessee.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley have been serving youth in Knoxville for 68 years. Their mission is to enable all young people, especially those most in need and at risk, to realize their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.

Camp Koinonia
Camp Koinonia is a weeklong outdoor education camp held at Clyde M. York, 4-H Training Center. The camp give as many as 150 children who have a variety of disabilities the opportunity to engage in the same types of outdoor education and recreation programs as any other child.

Cerebral Palsy Center
The Cerebral Palsy Center provides a variety of services to both children and adults with significant disabilities allowing them to be participating members of the community through work, play and living.

 

Emerald Youth Foundation
Emerald Youth Foundation is a nonprofit, faith-based organization that partners with a network of churches, schools and communities serving more than 1,200 young people in 14 of Knoxville's most distressed neighborhoods. For over 20 years they have worked with the youth population in our city's most economically disadvantaged communities helping them become effective leaders who help renew their communities.

In Full Motion
In Full Motion provides assistance to inner-city at risk youth ages 12-17 or grades 7-12th in middle Tennessee. "IFM" assists with ACT test preparation, mentoring, college campus tours, academic tutoring, wellness curriculum, sport camps and scholarships among other assistance to youth in need.

Knox County Imagination Library
Knox County Imagination Library goal is to provide a free, high-quality book to every child in Knox County from birth until their fifth birthday. The purpose of this program is to help Knox County children attain better rates of school readiness by their fifth birthdays.

National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc. "Play it Smart" East Tennessee Chapter
Play it Smart provides an educational program targeted at high school student athletes from economically disadvantaged environments where family and community support are often lacking.

(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)