Comcast Christmas at Chilhowee will launch Friday, Nov. 18, from 6-9 p.m. rain or shine at Chilhowee Park. Mayor Indya Kincannon invited the community for free photos with Santa, free hot cocoa, hayrides and a holiday “Touch-A-Truck” where kids will be able to see construction vehicles, police cars and a firetruck up close. Parking and all activities are free; there will be food sold on-site.

Holidays for Heroes: Ronnie Collins posted an invitation to participate in this event during Christmas at Chilhowee, Friday, Nov. 18, starting at 6 p.m. The group will provide paper for making cards and will have other cards to be signed. The cards will be distributed to veterans before Christmas. “Since 2013, we have written out cards for service members and given them to the Red Cross. In 2019, we went to the James H. Quillen VA Healthcare System at Mountain Home, Tennessee, and learned our one card might make a difference,” according to the post.

KAUL gets $1.5 million grant

Phyllis Y. Nichols had a final announcement before her retirement becomes official. Her successor, Charles F. Lomax Jr., will become president and chief executive officer of the Knoxville Area Urban League on Dec. 12, 2022.

Phyllis Y. Nichols

Nichols said the agency has received a $1.5 million donation from MacKenzie Scott, former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. It’s the largest single donation in the group’s history.

“We are immensely grateful that MacKenzie Scott recognized the Knoxville Area Urban League’s life-changing impact on disadvantaged residents,” said Nichols, in a press statement. “It overjoys us to be a recipient of such a transformational gift, which will help us empower more African Americans and members of other minority groups.”

The money will be used to strengthen the group’s education, workforce, housing and entrepreneurship initiatives.

KAUL is one of 25 national Urban League affiliates that received a similar donation from Scott.

Lomax holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and political science from The University of Tennessee; Master of Divinity in homiletics from Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center; and doctorate in divinity and ministry from Emory University.

For more information, call 865-524-5511 or visit thekaul.org.

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