Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group's Hometown Heroes

Camp Will is a seven week summer day camp for children, adolescents, and young adults, ages 6-23 years, with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities. Campers with disabilities like Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, autism spectrum disorder and more are able to enjoy a typical summer camp experience that includes swim outings, arts and crafts, sports, special events and more. Hosted by Williamson County Parks and Rec they offer two camp sites (Pearre Creek and Crockett), with up to 60 campers per site. At each site, campers are divided into smaller groups (campers are divided by age). Each individual group has around 8-12 campers, with 3 counselors and 1 head counselor. The summer of 2019 Camp Will hosted more than 150 campers!

Vickie Harris created and runs Music City Animal Rescue, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that rescues abandoned, abused or neglected animals in and around the Middle Tennessee area. Music City Animal Rescue is a foster based home network of highly dedicated individuals that care for the animals in their own homes until they can find their forever families. This network is dedicated to the complete care and placement process. From the moment an animal comes into their program, it is treated as part of a family. They are socialized not only with other humans, but with cats and dogs at the appropriate time. They never euthanize to make room for more and all of their foster homes are dedicated to seeing each and every animal through their journey to their forever home.

Sarah Hart founded the Nashville Chapter of Achilles International, a nonprofit whose sole purpose is to partner athletes with and with out disabilities so that all can enjoy the sport of running and participating in running activities and events.  Specialized programs include the Achilles Freedom Team which serves wounded military personnel and veterans; Achilles Kids which provides training, race opportunities, and an in-school program for children with disabilities; the Achilles Para-triathlon Team which expands our running program into biking and swimming; Achilles Chapter workouts, plus our signature race Hope & Possibility® which takes place in several cities worldwide.

Established in 2009, Tucker's House helps families determine what modifications are needed in a home to make it a safer environment for a child and those who care for the child.  After the determination has been made, Tucker's House performs the necessary work.  Construction may range from installing a wheel chair ramp to removing carpeting and replacing it with hardwood flooring enabling easier wheel chair mobility.  Based on the needs of the client, renovations often include the widening of doorways, remodeling of bathrooms, including curb-less showers and roll-under sinks.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has made it their mission to create hope and answers for families living with muscular dystrophy and related diseases that take away physical strength and mobility.   These families are at the heart of everything MDA offers- from clinics to prepare and train them to care for their loved ones to assistance getting them the equipment they may need in their home.

For more than 23 years, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville has provided a "home away from home" for families of critically ill children receiving care at Nashville area hospitals.

Stephen Huff spent his life as an athlete. He played baseball in college and then played in the pros. He never smoked. He took care of himself. All of these are just some of the reasons it was so shocking that at the age of 29 he was diagnosed with stage IV inoperable lung cancer. As Stephen goes through treatment he his wife Emily have decided to put this horrific experience to work with the creation of The Huff Project. The Huff Project is committed to raising the awareness around lung cancer, destroying the negative stigma that's associated with it, and investing in innovative research to continue the development of successful treatment options.

For over a decade Gail Powell has served as the Executive Director of High Hopes Development Center. During this time she has played a key role in helping High Hopes expand and grow to serve the high demand for the inclusive preschool education and physical, occupational, speech and feeding therapies which they offer.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has made it their mission to create hope and answers for families living with muscular dystrophy and related diseases that take away physical strength and mobility. These families are at the heart of everything MDA offers- from clinics to prepare and train them to care for their loved ones to assistance getting them the equipment they may need in their home.

When Mary Ann Parks moved to middle Tennessee nine years ago to be close to her children she immediately began to look for a place where she could be of service in her new community. She found just that place at The Well Outreach in Spring Hill, Tennessee, serving on their prayer team, in the pantry and working at their events. ? The Well Outreach began as a food pantry in a local church in 2006, with the goal of showing God's love by giving food to those in need. The Well is supported by the generous community in Spring Hill and surrounding areas. Numerous individuals, churches, civic organizations and businesses contribute on a regular basis to insure that no household in Spring Hill, Thompson Station, College Grove, or northern Columbia is without food assistance when needed.

Agape Animal Rescue is dedicated to finding forever homes for abandoned and displaced dogs while educating the public to be more responsible pet owners. From the moment dogs enter their foster program, Agape is dedicated to making a positive difference in these dogs' lives, emotionally, socially, physically, in order to aid in a smooth transition into their forever homes. While in foster care they work to teach their foster dogs basic obedience skills, including proper leash manners and friendly house manners through their Foster Care Training Program.

After watching their nephew battle cancer, Andrea and David Gillespie wanted to do something to not only thank St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for everything they did for their family but in hopes that they can help other families in the same position. David ran the Memphis marathon in 2015 as a St. Jude Hero and raised an incredible $14,000 in 2 weeks. In the Spring of 2017 Andrea joined David and "Team Garrett" raised $12,770 for St. Jude.

When Tommy Rhodes was a PhD student at Vanderbilt he had a vision to start a camp that brought together kids from all socioeconomic levels, races and backgrounds. Not long after he had that vision Tommy and his wife sold all of their possessions and began Barefoot Republic. Seventeen years later they welcomed their 10,000th camper and now have camps in three states. Barefoot Republic's overnight campground is located in Kentucky and campers stay in "Swiss family Robinson meets MacGyver" style treehouses.

Many Nashville locals are familiar with the Thistle Farms brand. We see it in our grocery stores and enjoy their lavender hand soaps, lotions and candles. What many may not know is how the Survivor-Leaders, graduates of the Thistle Farms program, are paying it forward mentoring other women who have also survived abuse, prostitution and addiction. The Survivor-Leaders are actively involved in not only mentoring newer residents of the program, but also in sharing this work through speaking, and events, with the wider community.

"Donnie has gone out of his way time and time again not just for us but for people all in the community," said Darrell Waltrip about Dr. Headrick, his personal vet of 20+ years. "I could tell you stories about things he has done. He's a special man and this was a big honor for me to have him here and present him with this trophy." ? In honor of the countless lives he has impacted during his 40+ years as a practicing vet, Doctor Donnie Headrick was named a Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group Hometown Hero.

Cary Ralph, RN, spends her days, and often her nights and weekends, helping women who are battling breast cancer learn to navigate their way through the disease. As soon as they are diagnosed, Cary is there with them. She doesn't keep any set hours. She is at the hospital, on the phone, or in her office with a patient whenever they need her. She almost never says no to them. She answers questions, holds their hand during a biopsy, goes into surgery with them, and on and on.

Snooty Giggles Dog Rescue, based in Thompson's Station, TN, began over 10 years ago as a grass roots organization when founder Shawn South-Aswad and her husband began taking in a few dogs here and there who found themselves in need of a place to lay their head until they could find their own home. As time passed they developed a love and special touch with seniors and medical needs dogs that needed more one on one attention and were being overlooked by the general rescue population.

"I can't think of anyone who embodies the qualities of a hero more than Jennifer," shared Gail Horton, a dear friend of Jennifer's and her inspiration for exploring foster parenting. "She is a champion for the least of these, the children who are medically fragile and in foster care. Jennifer advocates for these children as if her life depends on it! She is a champion for the children that are in her care. There are some weeks where she spends more time talking to doctors, taking kids to therapy than she is at home. The days at home are filled with sick babies who she rocks and loves on. She not only loves on these babies but also mentors, coaches and empowers the birth families who have not been able to care for their own children. The Wilson family is sacrificial in their giving. Brad, Trent, Liana and Nolan have been a Super Bowl winning team when it comes to working at a calling that God has put on their hearts. I am so proud and privileged to call them my friends."

Michael Fletcher is a well known public servant in Williamson County. A decorated US Army Veteran, Michael has served as a Lieutenant with the Williamson County Sheriff's Department, a paramedic for Williamson Medical Center EMS and currently serves as the Director of Safety and Security for Williamson County Schools. "'Fletch' has an extremely rare combination of subject matter knowledge, wisdom and empathy," said Jason Golden, Deputy Superintendent, Williamson County Schools.