Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation (GBBF) recently hosted four “Growing Imagination Library’s Future Together” (G.I.F.T.) Summits for Imagination Library volunteers. The Summits, which took place in Morristown, Spring Hill, Cooksville and Jackson, featured panels sharing best practices, tips and tools for major fundraising strategies, developing sustainable leadership and local Imagination Library fundraising ideas and events. 

President Emeritus of University of Memphis and GBBF Advisory Council member Dr. Shirley Raines presented “Developing Sustainable Leadership and Community Participation” at all four summits. 

“We were honored to have Dr. Shirley Raines present on sustainable leadership at our recent training summits for Imagination Library programs across the state of Tennessee,” said Theresa Carl, president of Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation (GBBF). “Her ability in using the trains of The Little Engine That Could as a metaphor for different types of volunteers made leadership succession a relatable topic for the audience and left our volunteers with the inspiration and drive to start engaging their communities to recruit new leaders. We are so proud to call Dr. Raines a member of GBBF’s Advisory Council as she embodies the spirit of our early literacy mission.”

The 2018 Summits were incredible days of sharing best practices to develop sustainable Imagination Library Programs. Attendees heard from a panel of Imagination Library leaders in their region about successful fundraising and community engagement initiatives. They heard from foundation representatives and corporate leaders as they shared practical tips to create successful funding requests in their communities and recruit engaged leaders. The G.I.F.T. summits fostered sharing, brainstorming, development of new ideas and positive networking in each region.

Each of our Imagination Library programs has experienced more than a decade of success. Together, we have mailed almost 33 million books to children in our state. Our 2018 G.I.F.T. summits helped us all learn from each other’s successes.

To see pictures from the Summits, click here.

Thank you to all of our presenters:

Engaging Major Fundraising & Donor Strategies Panel

Representatives from Tennessee corporations, foundations and community leaders discussed major fundraising strategies from the funder’s perspective and share best practices when making an ask.

Morristown:

• Etta Clark, Eastman Chemical
• Trudy Hughes, East Tennessee Foundation
• Gary Human, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TN ECD)
• Iliff McMahan, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TN ECD)
• Don Hurst, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TN ECD) 
• Lottie Ryans, First Tennessee Development District

Spring Hill:

• Anne Davis, Christy-Houston Foundation
• Michael McDaniel, Community Foundation of Middle TN 
• John Hatfield, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TN ECD)
• Zach Skipper, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TN ECD) 

Cookeville:

• Missy Acosta, Delta Dental of Tennessee
• John Bell, Cookeville Regional Charitable Foundation 
• Cody Huddleston, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TN ECD)
• Michael McDaniel, Community Foundation of Middle TN      

Jackson:

• Missy Acosta, Delta Dental of Tennessee
• Scott Conger, President, United Way of West Tennessee 
• Judge Brandon Gibson, Crockett Co. IL; GBBF Board of Directors
• Sutton Mora Hayes, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis Representative from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TN ECD)

Developing Sustainable Leadership & Community Participation

Community leaders and Imagination Library volunteers share ideas for recruiting diverse, sustainable program leadership from the community.

Morristown:

• Dr. Shirley Raines, President Emeritus, University of Memphis and GBBF Advisory Council member
• Tish Jones, Hamblen County Imagination Library
• Regina Jennings, Blount County Imagination Library

Spring Hill:

• Dr. Shirley Raines, President Emeritus, University of Memphis and GBBF Advisory Council member
• Jan McKeel, Maury County Imagination Library

Cookeville:

• Dr. Shirley Raines, President Emeritus, University of Memphis and GBBF Advisory Council member
• Judi Davis, McMinn County Imagination Library & GBBF 

Jackson:

• Dr. Shirley Raines, President Emeritus, University of Memphis and GBBF Advisory Council member
• Jason Schultz, Madison County Imagination Library
• Jerilyn Thornton, Haywood County Imagination Library

Sharing Best Local Fundraising Practices

Tennessee’s Imagination Library leaders discuss local fundraising activities to engage families while raising book bill dollars.

Morristown:

• Laura Travis, GBBF Advisory Council
• Julia Reedy, McMinn County Imagination Library
• Danielle Velez, Knox County Imagination Library

Spring Hill:

• Peggy Simpson, Wilson County Imagination Library
• Peggy Hubbard, Marshall County Imagination Library
• Emily Vaughn, Montgomery County Imagination Library 

Cookeville:

• Mayor Michael Brady, Grundy County TN
• Jonathon Connell, Southeast TN Development District
• Donna Jerden, Morgan County Imagination Library
• Jill McMaster, Roane County Imagination Library
• Julia Reedy, McMinn County Imagination Library

Jackson:

• Gail Avery, Crockett County Imagination Library
• Judy Sanders, Henderson County Imagination Library
• Tamara Stanfield, Madison County Imagination Library