?Governor Bill Haslam with Young Life Chattanooga students and staff at Red Bank High School in August. Governor Haslam will speak at the Chattanooga Young Life banquet on Oct. 27.
Governor Bill Haslam will advocate for Chattanooga-area youth as keynote speaker to more than 600 Chattanoogans at the annual Young Life Chattanooga Banquet, Oct. 27, at the Chattanooga Convention Center, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
The event is open to the general public with reservation at Chattanooga.younglife.org.
More than 50,000 Chattanooga-area middle, high school and college students have been involved with Young Life Chattanooga since its establishment in 1978. Currently, some 5,000 Chattanooga teens at 20 Chattanooga-area urban and suburban middle and high schools offer Young Life clubs. Part of an international organization, Young Life Chattanooga exists to engage with young people on their turf, helping them to discover their worth, meaning, and purpose through God’s love.
Led by more than 150 local volunteers--primarily college students--and 10 staff, Young Life Chattanooga hosted more than 700 area teens at Young Life camp last year. Other local initiatives include “Young Lives” which works with teen moms navigating motherhood, school, and work and future plans include starting a Chattanooga outreach for students with disabilities.
Governor Haslam has a long history with Young Life. Involved as a high schooler, the governor became a Young Life leader at University of Tennessee Knoxville, followed by more than 25 years serving as a Knoxville Young Life committee member. Governor Haslam currently serves on Young Life’s National Board of Directors. Young Life is a worldwide organization currently working in 75 countries with more than 30,000 volunteers and 3,000 staff, reaching more than one million kids annually.
More than 550 Chattanooga-area residents are registered to attend this year’s event so far, which has been moved from last year’s Track 29 venue to the Convention Center to accommodate the interest expected in the governor’s comments.
“To have the governor give Young Life Chattanooga his time and effort is very encouraging to all of us involved with the youth of our city,” said David Haskins, executive director of Young Life Chattanooga since 1992.
Bena DeVaney, chairperson of this year’s banquet at the Chattanooga Convention Center said, “All three of our children’s adolescent years had their rocky moments. Thankfully, Young Life clubs, camps and leaders gave each of them a place to laugh, cry, and feel accepted. My husband, David, and I hope many in our community will join our Oct. 27 event to learn more about Young Life from our governor and Chattanooga’s Young Life leaders.”