Philanthropy Projects
WNBA Nashville’s “Spring for the Kids” Book Drive: Mission Accomplished
by Molly Lyon
As our WNBA Nashville “Spring for the Kids” campaign comes to a close, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in and supported our book drive! Thanks to your generosity, we collected 146 books—far surpassing our original goal of 100!
Throughout April and May 2025, we conducted a summer reading project in partnership with Fostering Hope TN, a Tennessee-based nonprofit serving children in foster care. With guidance from members of the fostering community, we curated a thoughtful book list full of stories that educate, inspire, and entertain.
Each of these books are now on their way to children in foster care across Middle Tennessee. We hope these stories will spark imagination, bring joy, and remind these young readers that they are seen, supported, and valued.
It’s been an honor to help lead this initiative, and I’m so grateful to be part of a chapter that puts compassion into action. Thank you for making it such a success!
by Molly Lyon
As our WNBA Nashville “Spring for the Kids” campaign comes to a close, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in and supported our book drive! Thanks to your generosity, we collected 146 books—far surpassing our original goal of 100!
Throughout April and May 2025, we conducted a summer reading project in partnership with Fostering Hope TN, a Tennessee-based nonprofit serving children in foster care. With guidance from members of the fostering community, we curated a thoughtful book list full of stories that educate, inspire, and entertain.
Each of these books are now on their way to children in foster care across Middle Tennessee. We hope these stories will spark imagination, bring joy, and remind these young readers that they are seen, supported, and valued.
It’s been an honor to help lead this initiative, and I’m so grateful to be part of a chapter that puts compassion into action. Thank you for making it such a success!
From a NALC volunteer
I’m Kayla Stierwalt, virtual English teacher, and writer. My education experience and Nashville community have grown as I’ve joined the Nashville Adult Literacy Council (NALC), a local nonprofit that promotes literacy for adult learners. Volunteering as an ESL tutor at NALC has been a great way for me to deepen my connection with the Nashville literacy community and, more importantly, with my student.
NALC pairs each tutor with one student for a period of at least three months. Our twice weekly virtual sessions have given us a place not only to strengthen language skills and meet the student’s goals through the provided lessons and materials but also develop rapport—we’ve bonded over our shared fondness for Taylor Swift and the Backstreet Boys. NALC provides training and continued support through tutor-mentor check-ins and educational opportunities like speaker events. Building trust so the student feels comfortable asking questions and sharing experiences means a lot to me, and I love seeing her confidence grow. Tutoring gives me an opportunity to work with adult students and give back to the city that shares so many literary joys with me.
The NALC website includes information about upcoming tutor training as well as other resources. Visit to volunteer or donate to Nashville literacy. Nashville Adult Literacy Council (nashvilleliteracy.org)
NALC pairs each tutor with one student for a period of at least three months. Our twice weekly virtual sessions have given us a place not only to strengthen language skills and meet the student’s goals through the provided lessons and materials but also develop rapport—we’ve bonded over our shared fondness for Taylor Swift and the Backstreet Boys. NALC provides training and continued support through tutor-mentor check-ins and educational opportunities like speaker events. Building trust so the student feels comfortable asking questions and sharing experiences means a lot to me, and I love seeing her confidence grow. Tutoring gives me an opportunity to work with adult students and give back to the city that shares so many literary joys with me.
The NALC website includes information about upcoming tutor training as well as other resources. Visit to volunteer or donate to Nashville literacy. Nashville Adult Literacy Council (nashvilleliteracy.org)
Kayla recently had a farewell lunch with the student she tutored through NALC. Then she attended their Literacy Matters virtual breakfast held on May 25.
Read Me Day at Shayne Elementary
by Tori Ross
It's always fulfilling to support the important work being done by other noteworthy Nashville non-profits with shared visions. Nancy Dickinson and I volunteered for Book'em Read Me Day at Shayne Elementary School on Friday, March 3rd. It was an honor to be among such a large, enthusiastic group of volunteer readers and the eager listeners in our assigned classrooms. I thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with many other volunteers - friends who all share the love of reading! Well done, Book'em!
It's always fulfilling to support the important work being done by other noteworthy Nashville non-profits with shared visions. Nancy Dickinson and I volunteered for Book'em Read Me Day at Shayne Elementary School on Friday, March 3rd. It was an honor to be among such a large, enthusiastic group of volunteer readers and the eager listeners in our assigned classrooms. I thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with many other volunteers - friends who all share the love of reading! Well done, Book'em!