Free tickets remain for the community to join in celebrating the nominees in Franklin Tomorrow’s 19th annual Exemplary Community Volunteer Awards on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
Dozens of volunteers and organizations in numerous categories are honored as part of the ceremony, which will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. at the Franklin Theatre in Historic Downtown Franklin.
Doors will open at 5 p.m., and thanks to the generosity of partners, including presenting partner Williamson Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Services, there is no cost to attend this year’s event, but RSVPs are requested at https://events.humanitix.com/2026ftvolunteerawards.
For those who attend, Atmos Energy will provide a free popcorn and soda/water and limited concessions will be available.
More than 40 nonprofits, other organizations and individuals submitted nominees for the awards, which carry a cash prize to the nonprofit of the recipients’ choice.
Emerging Leader
Abby Gustavson for her work as owner and teacher at Primrose Sewing; Cohen Rogers for his service as a board member of Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury; Jayla Christmon 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.
Youth Initiative
Adelynn Cherry, for her work the 4:04 Foundation; Alicia “Ali” Clark for her work as a Library Volunteer Greeter at the Williamson County Library in Franklin; James “Finn” McConnell, nominated by Ondrea Johnson, Missy Brookover, and Suzanne Kreps, for his work as a student and volunteer; Gavin Thier, nominated by Youth Leadership Franklin and in statewide leadership with Tennessee DECA, led service projects with the Nashville Young Men’s Service League, founded Tennessee Youth Economic Leaders to deliver financial and investment education, and supported global youth through Cash Compass International; 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 for his work with the American Cancer Society and Father Ryan Relay for Life.
Neighbor to Neighbor
Alexandria “Ali” Adair 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; Chuck and Jo Ellen McDowell for their $100,000 donation and matching challenge to One Gen Away, and for their ongoing support of numerous nonprofits; Jerry Batte 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; Misty Westebbe for her volunteer work with Friends of Williamson County Animal Center through the “Tails of Franklin” project; Roger Walters for his volunteer work with Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County and Downtown Franklin Rotary Club.
Volunteer Spirit
Annette Carrozzo for her work as a Volunteer for several years at the Williamson County Public Library; Arkendra Johnson for her Green Room support at the Dickens of a Christmas; Ashley Hart for her work as Community Partner Liaison with Cross Point Church supporting Waves, Inc.; Beth Hilton for her work as a Volunteer Cart Shopper in the Food Pantry at GraceWorks Ministries; 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; 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; Chuck Smith for his work as a Field Trip Volunteer at the Moore Morris History and Culture Center; Cindy and Allen Gentry for their volunteer work with Gentry’s Educational Foundation; CJ Monte for his volunteer leadership with the Downtown Franklin Rotary Club; Clay Banks for his volunteer work as a mentor, coach, and advocate with the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC) at Williamson County Schools; Corinne Moore for her volunteer service as a Founding Board Member and Director of Inventory for The N.O.O.K.; Dac Phan for his work with OneGenAway; Derby Jones for his work volunteering with Franklin Noon Rotary, and other community organizations; Donna Fisher for her work as a Field Trip Volunteer at the Moore-Morris History and Culture Center; Dottie Northam for her volunteer service with Franklin Rotary at Breakfast; Emily Newton for her service with The N.O.O.K. (Needs of Our Kids; Holly Walker for her work as Director of Light the World Giving Machine Nashville and as co-founder of Make Our Schools Safe TN; Janice Hardrath for her work with Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury; Jay Sheridan, nominated by Friends of Franklin Parks, Brandy Blanton and Julian Bibb, for his dedicated service to Franklin and Williamson County; John Fortune for his service to Franklin Rotary at Breakfast; Kerry Mattox Jr. for his service as a volunteer tutor with United Way’s Raise Your Hand Tutoring Program; Kim Cannon for her volunteer work with Sister Cities International of Franklin and Williamson County, Page High PTO, Franklin Tomorrow, and many other organizations; Lyndsey Willhelm for her tireless volunteer work with YANA and Find Hope Franklin; Lawrence “Sully” Sullivan for his volunteer service with The Circle of Giving, Inc. (dba The Carousel of Dreams); Lee Anne Williams for her 20 years volunteer service with FrankTown Open Hearts; Matt & Julie Brown for their commitment to community through the revival of the Five Points Post Office; Michael Rositano for his work with Recovery Unplugged Behavioral Health and local prevention coalitions; Mickey Trent for her service with Williamson County CASA; Natalie Bingham nominated by the United4Hope initiative of Operation Andrew Group, the Franklin Special School District, and Franklin First United Methodist Church; Peggy Blake for her work for 20 years with United Way of Greater Nashville; Penny Kemle for her work with Williamson County Equestrians for Shared Greenways; Rhiannon Guppy for her work with Arts Council Williamson County; Tony McAlister for his exemplary leadership as Board Chair and Interim Executive Director of Studio Tenn, as well as with numerous other organizations; and Topper and Carole Long for their work with Studio Tenn Theatre Company.
Civic Group
Franklin Noon Rotary for giving $350,000 back to the community in 2025 and the more than 75 years of the club’s service; League of Women Voters of Williamson County for their 250 volunteer hours in 2025; 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; Franklin High School Band Boosters for 14 months of dedicated support preparing The Franklin Band for the 2026 Pasadena Tournament of Roses; Page High School Girls Cotillion for extensive volunteering with FrankTown Open Hearts; Backpack Giveaway Committee, nominated by Cathy Montgomery; Franklin’s Charge, nominated by Bob Ravener and Mary Pearce, for preserving threatened Civil War battlefields and historic properties in Williamson County
Corporate Individual Achievement
Kurt Kane for his leadership as President and CEO of TruGreen in Williamson County, engaging with local parks and recreation leadership, and supporting the community by sponsoring the Friends of Franklin Parks 4th of July celebration and the 2025 Williamson County Fair; Nathan Zipper for his tireless leadership of a high-performing economic development team at Williamson, Inc.; Taylor Huskey for leading Huskey Truss & Building Supply in a 17-year partnership with Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury; Summer Sheldon for her volunteer leadership with Franklin’s Sister Cities and her professional support of local nonprofits; and Bree DeMoss for her leadership at Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury;
Corporate Achievement Award
Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group, nominated by Williamson Health, for its support of Williamson Health and other local organizations through community involvement and partnership.
Also, a special In Memoriam program will honor community leaders, volunteers and individuals who have passed away over the last year.
Franklin Tomorrow will also present additional awards, including the Anne T. Rutherford Exemplary Community Volunteer Award and the Charles M. Sargent Leadership Award. Franklin Tomorrow Board Chair Peggy Kidd will also have awards.
Each award carries a cash prize to the nonprofit of the recipients’ choice.
In addition to Williamson Memorial, Franklin Tomorrow wishes to thank Buerger Moseley Carson, PLC; and the following elected officials for their support — 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, PAPE-DAWSON and Williamson Health, also support this event. The TMA Group and State Sen. Jack Johnson is also a partner in the awards.