But our shade of orange is about to get even more distinct.
Starting Monday.
And again on Friday, June 17.
On those dates, some distinguished orange-blooded guests are coming to town.
First up is legendary UT Lady Vols head coach Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in either men’s or women’s college basketball history. This native daughter of Tennessee, and bearer of eight national championships compliments of her lasses of the hardwood, is coming to Cleveland as part of an annual fundraiser for Trousdale School.
This special lady will be guest speaker during a luncheon at the Cleveland Country Club to kick off a golf tournament that is filled to capacity with 124 players and 31 teams. Luncheon seats are limited, so event planners are making the most of the opportunity whose proceeds fully support the school for special needs students.
This will be coach Summitt’s third official visit to Cleveland in the past few years. The first two were in support of United Way of Bradley County. We like her reasons for visiting our community — to help organizations striving to make a difference.
We thank Cleveland businesswoman Brenda Lawson, an avid UT fan and personal friend to coach Summitt, for her influence in bringing the Lady Vols mentor to town. We look forward to her visit and hearing her plans for the next season of lady hoops.
Just a few hours later, a former UT Vols and National Football League star will pay his respects to our community. He is Peerless Price, a collegiate All-American wide receiver who went on to star for the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys from 1999 to 2007.
Like coach Summitt, Price is coming for the finest of reasons — our young people. He will speak at the 2011 Fellowship of Christian Athletes “Game Changer” Fundraising Banquet which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Cleveland on Stuart Road. The event will honor Ocoee Region high school seniors who are our area’s FCA Athletes of the Year.
We welcome this former UT standout and we thank him for his commitment to one of our community’s greatest resources — our kids — who will one day lead Cleveland and Bradley County into a future shaped by their vision and community convictions.
Information about the FCA banquet can be obtained by calling Robert Green, 423-284-0105; Shane Gibson, 423-284-0155; Mike Claudio, 423-284-4516; or Brian Miracle, 423-871-0344.
Our days of orange return June 17 when UT head football coach Derek Dooley will deliver the keynote address at the Second Annual Bradley Sunrise Rotary Sunset Gala at the Museum Center at Five Points. The lively gala will kick off at 7 p.m. although corporate sponsors will be invited to a 6 p.m. reception with coach Dooley.
Like coach Summitt and Price, coach Dooley is visiting in support of causes that are making a difference in our community. These include Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, the American Cancer Society and the Sunrise Rotary’s Angel Flight program, among others.
Additional information about “Dinner with Derek Dooley” may be obtained by calling 423-479-4744 or access the website at www.sunrisegala.com.
We welcome Pat Summitt, Peerless Price and Derek Dooley to our hometown.
We are honored they have made the decision to support these civic causes so strongly embraced by our community.
In turn, we urge our community to support their visits.
