Ministry Spotlight: September 2026
ANOTHER GREAT DAY ON THE LINKS
A beautiful day and a great course made for a memorable Rick Barnes Emerald Youth Golf Classic, presented by First Century Bank. Golfers and sponsors gathered at Holston Hills Country Club on Monday, Sept. 21, to support Emerald's ministry with Knoxville's city young people.
“As I begin my 12th year at Tennessee, I've had the privilege of being part of the Emerald Youth Foundation family for most of that time,” said Barnes.
“Their staff and volunteers show up for young people every day — sharing the Gospel, providing academic support and teaching the value of health and fitness through sports. It reminds me of the people who showed up for me back home in Hickory, North Carolina, at a time when I needed it most,” he said.
Check out these highlights of the day. And since Coach Barnes loves pranks, here’s one we played on him and a few other friends.
Thank you to every golfer, sponsor and volunteer who made this year's event a success!
CALLED TO SERVE
Vallee Vanover, an Emerald Youth alumna, is doing so well on Rocky Top!
Read more about her journey at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as a senior in the College of Social Work and how she is already serving others.
A HISTORIC YEAR
Emerald Academy, Knoxville’s first and only public charter school, posted its best results in school history during 2025-2026, its 11th year of operation.
Emerald Academy continues to deliver on its mission by achieving historic results: multiple grade levels across multiple subject areas outperformed the average proficiency rates of both the State of Tennessee and Knox County Schools.
LEGACY DINNER - NOV. 9
Emerald Youth Foundation is thrilled to honor Rick Kuhlman as the 2026 Legacy Award recipient.
Rick is director of the Knoxville Fellows, a program that equips college graduates to integrate faith and career while earning a master's degree from Johnson University. A retired Air Force Colonel with 30+ years of service, Rick is passionate about mentoring young people, including through Bible studies, campus ministry, the Boy Scouts, as a volunteer with Emerald Youth Foundation and much more.
The Legacy Dinner will be November 9 at the Knoxville Convention Center.
NET GAINS
Each fall, Emerald Youth hosts a volleyball league for varsity and junior varsity teams from city middle schools.
The league serves student-athletes from Whittle Springs, Vine, South-Doyle, Holston, Gresham, Northwest and Emerald Academy.
The 2026 season recently wrapped up, with the Lady Hurricanes from Holston sweeping both the JV and varsity divisions. The Lady Monarchs from Emerald Academy were JV runners-up, and the Lady Warriors from Whittle Springs were varsity runners-up. Congratulations to all the teams and players!
Following fall break, Rec Volleyball kicks off for girls in grades 5–12. Players will grow their skills in practice, put it all together in games and finish with a season-ending tournament.
GET INVOLVED TODAY
Young people across the city are showing up at Emerald Youth ready to learn, play and grow, and we need caring adults ready to show up alongside them.
Whether you help a young person finally solve a tricky math problem, lead from the sidelines in a game, help serve meals or volunteer in other meaningful ways, we want to connect with you!
A few volunteer areas we could use your help in right now:
Volleyball Coaches: Help girls build skills, confidence and teamwork this Rec Volleyball season.
Tutors/Homework Helpers: Walk alongside students as they tackle homework and grow in the classroom.
Meal Teams: Serve meals and share encouragement with children.
We’re also seeking dedicated men and women to join our team in full and part-time roles. Learn more about career opportunities with Emerald.
YOUR LASTING IMPACT
Did you know October is Estate Planning Awareness Month?
Completing an estate plan can ensure peace of mind by providing for family and establishing one’s legacy. Donors often work with their professional advisors to understand their financial and legal preferences and explore charitable giving options through their estate plans.
Simply stated, an estate plan is the preparation of documents that oversee an individual’s financial and personal situation in the event of incapacitation or death.
When an attorney drafts an estate plan, the documents typically comprise the following: a Will, a Revocable Trust, a Financial Power of Attorney, and an Advance Health Care Directive.
If you need help getting started, download our free estate planning guide.
And learn more by reading these two articles:
Do you already have an estate plan that includes Emerald Youth Foundation? Let us know!
If you would like to discuss next steps, or even if you already have an estate plan that you would like reviewed, schedule a free consultation with our independent gift-planning partner, 25 Giving, or reach out to our team at Emerald directly: Email David Olive, Director of Major & Planned Gifts, or call him at 865.637.3227 ext. 254.