Knoxville TN, August 11, 2025
News Summary
Tennessee men’s basketball head coach Rick Barnes, in collaboration with the Winegardner Foundation, has initiated a $400,000 matching gift challenge to benefit the Emerald Youth Foundation in Knoxville. This initiative aims to encourage community donations, potentially doubling contributions to $800,000. Coach Barnes emphasizes community involvement to reach the goal and has been a longstanding supporter of the Foundation, which serves young leaders through various programs. The Foundation seeks replacement funding for programs impacted by funding cuts.
Knoxville
Tennessee men’s basketball head coach Rick Barnes, alongside the Winegardner Foundation, has launched a significant $400,000 matching gift challenge aimed at supporting the Emerald Youth Foundation. This initiative encourages the Knoxville community to contribute, with every donation being matched dollar for dollar, potentially doubling the total contributions to $800,000.
Coach Barnes has expressed strong confidence in reaching the fundraising goal with active community involvement. Donations can be made directly through the Emerald Youth Foundation’s website or mailed to their office in Knoxville.
The Emerald Youth Foundation is a long-standing organization in the area, focusing on enhancing the lives of youth by integrating faith, education, and health initiatives. Coach Barnes has been an ongoing supporter of the Foundation since he became the head coach in 2015, also serving as an emeritus member on its board of trustees. His involvement underscores a commitment not only to sports but to the development of young leaders in the region.
Dean Winegardner, a local business leader, highlighted the importance of using this matching funds opportunity to invest in the youth of Knoxville. He emphasized the need for community collaboration to achieve the ambitious fundraising goal.
In the past year, the Emerald Youth Foundation served approximately 3,300 children, teens, and young adults, significantly impacting their lives through various programs. However, the organization faced operational challenges when they unexpectedly lost 70 part-time AmeriCorps workers due to federal funding cuts under the previous administration. This loss has created significant hurdles in maintaining current programs and services, particularly during the summer months when demand is particularly high.
In response to these challenges, the Emerald Youth Foundation is actively seeking replacement funding to support its summer programs. The organization is also making strides to enhance its physical resources with a proposed new facility in East Knoxville. This development aims to foster whole child development with a range of sporting and educational facilities. The ambitious plan includes synthetic turf sports fields, outdoor basketball courts, a community pavilion, and a comprehensive 37,000-square-foot indoor complex. Stakeholder feedback was solicited from over 500 community members in East Knoxville about this initiative, reflecting the community’s active engagement in shaping local services and infrastructure.
While community leaders remain optimistic about the potential of the new facility to meet local needs and improve the quality of life for area youth, there have been concerns raised by the Freedom From Religion Foundation regarding a partnership with the Emerald Youth Foundation. They questioned the implications of potential religious influences on the proposed projects. Nonetheless, the city of Knoxville has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all agreements comply with the separation of church and state regulations.
As the matching challenge progresses, the community’s involvement will be crucial in determining the Emerald Youth Foundation’s ability to continue providing essential services and develop new facilities that serve the youth of Knoxville.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the $400,000 matching gift challenge?
The matching gift challenge aims to raise funds for the Emerald Youth Foundation by encouraging community donations that will be matched dollar for dollar, potentially doubling the total contributions to $800,000.
How can community members contribute to the challenge?
Donations can be made through the Emerald Youth Foundation’s website or sent via mail to their office located in Knoxville.
What programs does the Emerald Youth Foundation offer?
The Emerald Youth Foundation focuses on sharing faith, developing young leaders, providing academic support, and promoting health and fitness for youth in Knoxville.
What challenges has the Emerald Youth Foundation faced recently?
The organization lost 70 part-time AmeriCorps workers due to federal funding cuts, which impacted their programs significantly. They are now seeking replacement funding to sustain their services.
What are the plans for the new facility in East Knoxville?
The proposed facility aims to support whole child development and plans to include various sporting and learning facilities, addressing local community needs.
What concerns have been raised about the Emerald Youth Foundation’s partnership?
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has raised concerns regarding potential religious influences in the Foundation’s programs. The city of Knoxville assures that all agreements will comply with the separation of church and state.
Key Features of the Article
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Matching Gift Challenge | $400,000, matching dollar for dollar to a potential total of $800,000. |
| How to Donate | Directly through Emerald Youth Foundation’s website or via mail. |
| Foundation’s Focus | Faith, young leadership development, academic support, health, and fitness. |
| Recent Challenges | Loss of 70 AmeriCorps workers due to funding cuts; seeking new funding. |
| Proposed Facility | New site with sports and learning facilities supporting child development. |
| Community Involvement | Feedback gathered from over 500 community members for the facility project. |
| Concerns Raised | Freedom From Religion Foundation questions potential religious impact; city assures compliance with church-state separation. |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
New Residential Development Announced in East Knoxville
Knoxville Secures $500,000 Federal Grant for Lonsdale Park
Morgan Wallen Foundation Donates to Youth Sports in Knoxville
Support City Youth at Upcoming Rick Barnes Emerald Youth Golf Classic on September 23rd
Additional Resources
- Knox News: Emerald Youth Foundation Loses AmeriCorps Workers
- Knoxville Focus: The Knoxville Focus for July 21, 2025
- WBIR: Emerald Youth Proposed New Facility in East Knoxville
- Knox TN Today: Mary Slack to be Honored at Emerald Youth Legacy Dinner
- Knox TN Today: Knoxville Community News
- Google Search: Emerald Youth Foundation
- Wikipedia: Youth Development
Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER
The KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKnoxville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Knoxville, Knox County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Dogwood Arts Festival, Big Ears Festival, and Knoxville Asian Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and United Way of Greater Knoxville, plus leading businesses in healthcare, education, and energy that power the local economy such as Covenant Health, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Valley Authority. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
