Franklin Tomorrow’s 19th annual Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards were held on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Franklin Theatre in Historic Downtown Franklin, with more than 30 recipients announced.
More than 60 nonprofits, other organizations and individuals submitted nominees for the awards, which carry a cash prize to the nonprofit of the recipients’ choice.
Awards were presented in the following categories: Emerging Leader, Youth Initiative, Volunteer Spirit, Civic Group, Corporate Achievement Award, and Individual Corporate Achievement.
A special In Memoriam program honored community leaders, volunteers and individuals who have passed away over the last year.
Franklin Tomorrow also presented additional awards, including the Anne T. Rutherford Exemplary Community Volunteer Award, which went to Bob Ravener, and the Charles M. Sargent Leadership Award, which went to Diane Giddens.
Download the event photos. (Photo credits: Addison Hilton) Watch the awards ceremony.
Anne T. Rutherford Award
Bob Ravener who spends his free time volunteering and serving in leadership positions for various organizations, including Friends of Franklin Parks, Franklin’s Charge, and American Legion Post 215, among several others.
His original nomination came from Mary Pearce.
“After retiring several years ago, Bob maintained his reputation as a man of action and now spends his free time volunteering and serving in leadership positions for various organizations, including Friends of Franklin Parks, Franklin’s Charge, and American Legion Post 215, among several others.
Bob is the Project Leader of a $500,000 Capital Campaign for the historically African American Post 215 in Franklin, TN. Founded in 1946 by three African American WWII veterans to serve the black community, the building, purchased in 1952, was in dire need of restoration. Beyond the building improvements, which also serve as an event and celebration venue for the whole community, the project will create a museum/exhibit hall as the only place in the county to tell the stories of African American veterans dating back to the Civil War.
Bob has served as a board member for Friends of Franklin Parks since 2019 and was president during calendar year 2024. During that time the organization completed a $1.6 million renovation of a historical farmhouse located at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm to be used as offices and an event venue, and raised almost $1 million for the city’s first interactive, inclusive playground designed to better engage special needs children.
His influence extends to the Downtown Neighborhood Association, which he has served as a Board member and past president; Downtown Franklin Rotary where he created the ‘Paint the Town Red, White, and Blue’ initiative several years ago to hang bunting along Main Street to support Memorial Day and Veterans Day. He also places flags on the more than 600 veterans’ graves at Mount Hope and Toussaint L’Ouverture cemeteries each Memorial Day weekend; and finally with Franklin’s Charge and other land preservation partners which are preserving Franklin’s history for interpretation and access by future generations. Bob, as part of the partners and in his role on the Friends of Franklin Parks Board, worked with the city to save 48 acres of land and the historic mansion, which will be turned into permanent parks, trails, and potentially a Welcome Center.”
Rep. Charles M. Sargent Leadership Award
Diane Giddens, Chief of Staff for Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson and under three other county executives over a more than 40 year career in county government, received this award.
A native of Bethesda, Tenn., Diane was the lone girl in a family of five boys, and her upbringing instilled a love of agriculture which has translated into a dedication to preserving that legacy in Williamson County.
When the Williamson County Fair returned in 2005 after a 55-year absence Diane dove in not just in her role as Chief of Staff for the County Mayor, but also to honor the roots of her early life in rural Williamson County.
The Williamson County Fair has won national and international awards and continues to be a great benefit socially and economically for the county. Many of those honors came to the Fair when Diane served as Fair Board Secretary and President.
An active member of the community, Diane has served on the Boards of many organizations, including Waves, Youth Leadership Franklin, and Leadership Franklin. She also supports numerous other nonprofit organizations by offering advice or volunteering when needed.
It would be hard to gauge the impact of Diane Giddens’ work in Williamson County government, but few would disagree that she has been a positive influence on those around her, which includes top leaders.
Corporate Initiative Award:
Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group (DWAG), nominated by Williamson Health, has demonstrated that a local business can – and should – serve as a community’s heartbeat. Under the leadership of Darrell Waltrip and General Manager John Gallagher, DWAG has moved beyond “corporate social responsibility” to create a culture where every employee, from the service bays to the executive offices, is an active participant in Franklin’s well-being. Their support for Williamson County is not a series of one-off events, but a multi-decade legacy of presence at Williamson Medical Center.
Individual Corporate Achievement Award:
Summer Sheldon, nominated by Carrie Drury of A Vintage Affair for her volunteer leadership with Franklin’s Sister Cities and her professional support of local nonprofits including A Vintage Affair; and Taylor Huskey for leading Huskey Truss & Building Supply in a 17-year partnership with Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury, his nominator.
Civic Group:
Franklin Firefighter Charities for its annual toy and clothing drive benefiting children throughout Williamson County and for donating excess supplies to other charities, military programs, and organizations across Tennessee; and Franklin Noon Rotary for giving $350,000 back to the community in 2025
Neighbor to Neighbor:
Alexandria “Ali” Adair, nominated by Greg Freeze for her volunteer leadership with Youth Leadership Franklin, Franklin Rotary at Noon, Sister Cities of Franklin & Williamson County, and participation in Franklin Tomorrow Cohorts for the Healthy Democracy Project; Jerry Batte, nominated by Lydia Gardner, for his volunteer service with Williamson Health’s Operation Pink Chairs program for breast surgery patients, Brentwood United Methodist Church, the Franklin Visitor Center, and the Williamson County Animal Center; Roger Walters, nominated by Kim Cannon and Ondrea Johnson for his volunteer work with Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County and Downtown Franklin Rotary Club.
Youth Initiative Award:
James “Finn” McConnell, nominated by Ondrea Johnson, Missy Brookover, and Suzanne Kreps, for his work as a student and volunteer; Maddie Black, nominated by Franklin Noon Rotary, The Miracle Workers Foundation, One-Gen Away, Franklin High School’s National Honor Society, Interact Club, Spanish Honors Society, and Franklin Noon Rotary; Max Sallman, nominated as an off-site volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury; Robert “Carter” McHale, nominated for his dedicated work with the American Cancer Society and as co-chair of the Father Ryan Relay for Life.
Emerging Leader:
Abby Gustavson, nominated by Cynthia Gittrich, for her work as owner and teacher at Primrose Sewing; Cohen Rogers, nominated by Bree DeMoss for his service as a board member of Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury; Jayla Christmon, nominated by Pamela Barnes, for her lifelong volunteerism with organizations including Hard Bargain Association, Healed Minds Healed Hearts, Daughters of the King, Franklin Cancer Walk, African American Heritage Society, and the Salvation Army.
Volunteer Spirit Awards:
Beth Hilton for her work as a Volunteer Cart Shopper in the Food Pantry at GraceWorks Ministries; Brian Laster for his work as Secretary of the Williamson County Historical Society and volunteer on Franklin’s Historic Zoning Commission and Design Review Committee; Chuck Isaacs for his work restoring historic cemeteries in Franklin, cleaning and preserving graves; Cindy and Allen Gentry for their volunteer work with Gentry’s Educational Foundation; Clay Banks for his volunteer work as a mentor, coach, and advocate with the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC) at Williamson County Schools; Dac Phan for his work with OneGenAway; Jay Sheridan, nominated by Friends of Franklin Parks, Brandy Blanton and Julian Bibb, for his dedicated service to Franklin and Williamson County; Kim Cannon for her volunteer work with Sister Cities International of Franklin and Williamson County, Page High PTO, Franklin Tomorrow, and many other organizations;; Michael Rositano for his work with Recovery Unplugged Behavioral Health and local prevention coalitions; and Mickey Trent for her service with Williamson County CASA
President’s Awards:
Franklin Tomorrow Board Chair Peggy Kidd also presented awards.
Leadership Impact Award to Jo Ellen and Chuck McDowell for their philanthropic efforts in Williamson County and beyond.
Franklin Tomorrow’s Healthy Democracy Advocate Award to Gavin Thier from Page High School. Originally nominated by Youth Leadership Franklin as a proud alumnus of the Class of 2025, Gavin’s engagement and involvement in driving a new initiative by Franklin Tomorrow to engage youth as part of its Healthy Democracy Initiative gained him this award.
President’s Community Leadership Award to Tony McAlister, Board Chair and Interim Executive Director of Studio Tenn.
Public Servant Award to Vernon Gerth, recently retired after 18 years as Assistant City Administrator for Community and Economic Development and a career spanning over 40 years in public service.
President’s Community Service Award to Lawrence “Sully” Sullivan for his volunteer service with The Circle of Giving, Inc. (dba The Carousel of Dreams), nominated by Brandy Blanton and Janvi Shivdasani
President’s Board Impact Award to Greg Freeze, who serves as vice chair of Franklin Tomorrow, but also for service to The Circle of Giving, High Hopes, Leadership Franklin and beyond.
Williamson Memorial Funeral Home joined with Franklin Tomorrow in presenting the award, along with Buerger Moseley Carson, PLC; State Sen. Jack Johnson; The TMA Group; and the following elected officials— County Mayor Rogers Anderson, Property Assessor Brad Coleman, County Clerk Jeff Whidby, Trustee Karen Paris, Register of Deeds Sherry Anderson, Circuit Court Clerk Debbie Barrett, Juvenile Court Judge Sharon Guffee, District Attorney Stacey Edmonson, Sheriff Jeff Hughes, and Juvenile Court Clerk Margaret Mahew. Franklin Tomorrow’s Sustaining Partners, Atmos Energy and Williamson Health, also supported this event.