May

Kickstarting the summer, the Foundation welcomed 172 local non-profits to 501 Broadway during its annual Helper Grant Presentation, presenting each one with a check to fund their community-oriented efforts.

With a total of $800,040 distributed, the 25th consecutive grant presentation event became one of the largest in Preds history.

But the community building didn’t stop there. The following week, the Preds Foundation partnered with the Nashville Food Project to hold a luncheon for various community relations contacts in the Greater Nashville Area. The group socialized and discussed new opportunities for outreach throughout the city.

The month concluded with a special trip out to Hermitage where Preds goalie Juuse Saros and his wife Minna presented Wags and Walks Nashville with a check for $50,000 to go toward a brand new facility for the organization.

“Since we started it’s been completely foster-based, so it’s really hard to convey what the actual work looks like from a day-to-day basis,” Executive Director of Wags and Walks Nashville Kathryn Hurly said. “So having people to come on site and volunteer and being able to interact with the dogs can show that when you donate, this is what we can do with the money and make a large impact.”

June

June was filled with grant visits, ice skating and plenty of new people – many of which were found at a non-profit mix and mingle hosted by HCA Healthcare. The Predators community relations team chatted with other local organizations and learned about numerous new volunteer opportunities.

One of the Foundation’s biggest events of the year is 615 Day, and this years’ edition was a bit different than those prior. Rather than the usual celebration with food and games at one of the Ford Ice Centers, Preds staff dispersed into the community and spent their days volunteering with different non-profits, many devoting time to more than one. Organizations including The Journey Home, Harvest Hands, Project C.U.R.E Nashville and more welcomed SMASHVILLE with open arms, as each group of staff was gladly put to work.

Kids on Ice was another popular event during the month of June and allowed deserving children from three different organizations to enjoy a meal and skate with Preds staff at Ford Ice Center Antioch. The first session welcomed students from Purpose to Legacy and Cottage Cove, while the second hosted youth from the Tennessee School for the Blind.

Of course, Helper Grant visits are among some of the Foundations’ favorite activities, and the team had the opportunity to stop by three different recipient organizations to see the grants at work in the community.

One of those visits was to a ‘Fuel the Family’ food distribution event held by Food for the Soul, a local non-profit providing meal kits and children’s goods to Nashville families.

“Throughout the school year, we will feed students that live in a food insecure household over the weekend, so they can go through that whole 65 hours from Friday lunch to Monday breakfast [without food],” Food for the Soul Co-Founder/Director of Community Outreach Dylan Sawler said. “We actually step into that gap and get the students nutritious meals and snacks.”

At the Autism Career Training Center, the Foundation team learned about the ways the non-profit works with adults with autism, teaching them life skills and preparing them for life in the workforce. And during a visit to Path United – a group working with underprivileged children in Franklin – the Foundation watched the kids participate in an exciting day of games.

July

July was jam-packed with even more activities as the Foundation visited five grant-recipient locations and sponsored a number of community events.

The Jackalope Peach Yo’Self Event was most certainly a summer favorite. Partnering with Nashville’s Jackalope Brewing Co., the Foundation was able to raise funds while the brewery debuted their new line of peach-flavored beers. Preds staff manned carnival game stations and helped attendees purchase game tickets.

Focusing on the youth, Ford Ice Center Bellevue hosted three more Kids on Ice groups in July, this time with students from Youth Villages, the Nashville Dolphins and G.O.D. International – many of which had never skated before. Finally, the newly-opened Ford Ice Center Clarksville hosted its first ever Kids on Ice session, welcoming YAIPak Outreach to the rink.

Additionally, the Community Relations staff took trips to see five more grant recipients’ funding put into action.

A Soldier’s Child, a Smyrna-based organization, caters to children who have lost a parent while they served in the armed forces. Preds staff traveled north to Kentucky to spend a day at one of the group’s camps, sharing a meal with campers and engaging in various activities.

At Manna Café Ministries, the group received a tour of the facility and learned how the ministry works to help Montgomery County residents by providing meals, clothing and more.

AGAPE Animal Rescue used their donation to fund their Summer Adventure Camp, a program designed to teach children how to properly care for animals. SMASH made an appearance at camp where he was gifted several self-portraits that the campers had painted for him and kids received SMASH bobble heads in return.

The CR team made their way to AbleVoices the following day and joined in on one of their Photography Club’s editing sessions. The organization, a photography-focused organization dedicated to advocating and empowering people with disabilities, provides a way for members to express themselves in a creative way. Some of the Preds staff was able to see the editing process live and watch the group submit entries for the Williamson County Fair’s photo contest.

The final grant visit of the summer was to the American Cancer Societies’ SHE Program in downtown Nashville. The Foundation team was able to learn more about the grant-funded program – a STEM camp for young girls – and took the time to write notes for cancer patients.

Capping off a long list of off-season activities, the Preds Foundation helped sponsor the PENCIL Together for Teachers Event. Alongside GNASH, the CR team attended the annual event, helping pass out much-needed school supplies to teachers from the Metro Nashville Area.

Click here for more information on Helper Grants and the Preds Foundation.