Sue Hillman Named The 2011 Titans Community Quarterback Award Winner

Three Additional Finalists were recognized as Tennessee's Top Volunteers

Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Titans announcedSue Hillman of Murfreesboro, TN as the 2011 Titans Community Quarterback Award Winner.  Hillman received the annual award *during a special recognition luncheon today hosted by the Titans at LP Field West Club.  Hillman earned a $10,000 grant from Titans owner K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr. and the Tennessee Titans Foundation for her non-profit organization, Catholic Charities of Tennessee. 

VIDEO | PHOTOS

Titans EVP Don MacLachlan with 2011 Titans Community QB Award winner Sue Hillman

Hillman, 68, was one of four volunteers recognized for their volunteer work with non-profit organizations throughout Tennessee.  These volunteers were chosen based on their leadership and dedication to bettering their hometown communities.  This year's runner-up was Jack Taylor, 86, from Memphis, who volunteers for the Forever Young Senior Wish Organization.  Taylor's selection earned a $5,000 grant for his organization.

Carrie Goodwin, 46, from Ooltewah , a volunteer for Special Kids, Inc based in Murfreesboro was a finalist in the state-wide competition and earned a $2,500 grant from the Titans Foundation. 

Nancy Little, 52, of Hendersonville and a volunteer at CASA of Davidson County was also a finalist and she too earned a $2,500 grant from the Titans Foundation for her organization.

The following information was included in Hillman's nomination form, submitted by Laura Jumonville at Catholic Charities:  

"Since 1990, Sue Hillman has provided temporary foster care for 100 babies in the custody of Catholic Charities' *Caring Choices Adoption and Pregnancy Counseling *program.  Providing round-the-clock care for newborn only two days old up to infants 12 months of age, Sue will keep a child in her home for as short a period as a few days to as long as seven months.  In doing so, Sue not only meets a child's physical needs, but also provides the nurturing attention and affection needed to begin building a baby's emotional foundation.  Sue is available to Catholic Charities at any time to discuss a baby in her care."

The Titans Community Quarterback Award program is a statewide contest that recognizes outstanding volunteers, ages 13 and up, of non-profit organizations in Tennessee.  The winners were awarded grants from the Tennessee Titans Foundation that totaled $20,000, bringing the total grants awarded since the program started in 2000 to $253,000."We have been presenting the Titans Community Quarterback Award since 2000 and we are continually amazed at the magnificent volunteer work throughout the state," said Titans Owner K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr.   "Sue Hillman continues the tradition of statewide winners who give so much to non-profit organizations in Tennessee."

"Like our winners before her, Sue is an inspiration to us all," continued Adams.  "Community involvement is very important to me and the entire Titans organization.  We are pleased to present this grant to the Catholic Charities of Tennessee in recognition of Sue's dedication.  We salute not only today's four grant winners but everyone that was nominated for this year's Titans Community Quarterback Award!  I say this every year, and it continues to be true – this program shows that Tennessee truly is the Volunteer State."

Below are excerpts taken from the finalists' nomination entries regarding their volunteer efforts plus the amount of the grant awarded from the Tennessee Titans Foundation:

**$5,000 Grant Winner - Jack Taylor, 86, Memphis, TN – Forever Young Senior Wish Organization

**"Forever Young grants wishes for WWII veterans.  The agency has taken over 200 Tennessee WWII veterans on four-day trips to visit the WWI Memorial in Washington, DC.  Special wishes also include a ride for a veteran to once again ride as a gunner in a B-17, just as he had done 67 years earlier!  Trips also include visits to Pearl Harbor and the Beaches of Normandy.  Taylor is himself a WWII veteran and has raised substantial sums of money to fund many of these trips.  Known as the organization's 'entertainer for constantly telling great jokes,' he volunteers at every fundraiser.  He also purchases flags for young children to give our former service members at Forever Young's Veterans Day Ceremony each year.  Jack Taylor is the perfect example of the phrase – age is only a number!"

**$2,500 Grant Winner - Carrie Goodwin, 46, Ooltewah, TN—Special Kids, Inc.

**"Special Kids is a non-profit, Christian organization providing rehabilitation and professional nursing services to children with special needs.  Carrie envisioned a facility where children with special needs would not be turned away to inability to pay for services but would instead be embraced with loving, healing arms regardless of the family's situation.  Carrie's vision came to life when the doors of Special Kids were opened debt free in September, 1998.  Carrie has served in many capacities over the years, including Administrator, nurse, marketing specialist and sub-contractor and current serves on our Board of Directors and Chair of the Expansion Committee.  Carrie has been actively involved in Special Kids since our inception and has helped this organization impact over 2,230 lives of children with special needs and given hope to their families."

**$2,500 Grant Winner - Nancy Little, 52, Hendersonville, TN – CASA Inc. of Davidson County

**"CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) provides trained volunteers to advocate for the best interest of children who come to the attention of the Juvenile Court primarily as a result of abuse or neglect.  Nancy has been a CASA volunteer since May, 2005.  At age three, Nancy was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Her family deprived her of proper medical care and she also was sexually abused as a young girl.  At age 14, Nancy decided she wanted something good to come from her physical and emotional pain and that is when she decided to become a social worker and help other abused children.  In addition to her professional career, she has volunteered at CASA since 2005 as an advocate for abused and neglected children to make sure their best interests are served.  During that time, she has advocated for 22 children to ensure that they are placed in safe, loving homes."

Previous Titans Community Quarterback Award Winners are:
2010 – John Blackburn, Hickman County Long Term Recovery Committee, Collierville, TN
2009 – Tasha French, *"The Contributor," *Nashville, TN
2008- Wayne Howell, Franktown Open Hearts, Franklin, TN
2007- Bill Boss, Hands-On Science Center, Tullahoma, TN
2006- Mary McEwen, Bethlehem Center, Nashville, TN
2005- Sondra Clark, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Nashville, TN
2004- Mary Cunningham, Meals on Wheels, Kingsport, TN
2003- Wayne Watson, Colonial Heights United Methodist Church, Kingsport, TN
2002- Lynn Dunwoody, Auxiliary Probation Service, Memphis, TN
2001- Anna Sternheimer, Nashville Family Shelter, Nashville, TN
2000- Georgeanna Chapman, Martha O'Bryan Center, Nashville, TN

To further salute volunteerism, the Titans recognized volunteers who assisted the team during seven gameday charitable drives that collected a variety of needed items for area locations.   Each of the seven drives below had approximately 40 volunteers collect items donated by Titans fans at collection points surrounding LP Field.  Assisting the Titans with these drives was American Paper &Twine, who provided trucks and drivers to collect items collected at the various charity drives.  Those seven drives were:

LP Pencil Box School Supply Drive staffed by volunteers from LP Building ProductsNurses for Newborns Baby ShowerCell Phone Drive staffed by Vanderbilt University ROTC cadetsYWCA "Undie Sunday" – Ladies Undergarment DriveTitans Foundation Coat Drive staffed by volunteers from Liv2Giv FoundationSecond Harvest Food Bank DriveU.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Drive