The Thomas W. Briggs Community Service Award
In 1985, the Board of Directors established the Thomas W. Briggs Community Service Award to be given annually as a memorial to Mr. Briggs. The award benefits the work of a local Memphis organization in the field of community service. Its purpose is to recognize outstanding leadership provided by an individual in an organization whose creativity, effort, commitment, professionalism and exceptional initiative have enabled the organization to excel in its special mission. Recipients are nominated and chosen by the Board of Directors. It is the hope of the Directors that the recognition from the award will inspire others to reach higher and achieve more than they thought they could.
2019 Community Service Award
Steve Nash – Advance
After graduating from the University of Memphis, Steve Nash began a career in sales. During the next 10 years, Steve held various positions throughout the United States gaining business experience while longing to combine his heart for his neighbors in urban Memphis with his knowledge of the business world. In 1999, Steve formed Advance Memphis to bring resources for economic stability to the population in and around the Cleaborn/Foote Public Housing Developments. The same year, 38126 was listed as the 3rd poorest urban zip code in the nation. For decades, the community has been plagued by generational poverty. Conversely, the neighborhood is blessed with residents who unquestioningly share with their neighbors and who take care of one another, even at great cost to themselves.
Steve Nash started the work at Advance Memphis by helping friends from the neighborhood connect with job opportunities. As he continued serving and dreaming, staff and programs were added. From the beginning, the vision at Advance Memphis has been to see the neighborhood transformed into a revitalized community through the empowerment of local adults. Advance Memphis offers holistic programs that rely heavily on instilling knowledge and skills in an environment of relational support while helping South Memphis neighbors see their value in the workforce
In 2015 the Work Life curriculum was published, growing out of a multi-year collaboration with Advance Memphis, Chalmers Center for Economic Development and Jobs for Life. Today, under Nash’s direction, other “stepping stone” programs at Advance Memphis include a matched savings programs, financial literacy program, entrepreneurial class, HSE/GED preparation, an addiction recovery program, and more. Steve’s vision to bring jobs to the community and reduce transportation issues, led to the purchase of 2 warehouses which house outsourcing work. Today, Advance Memphis is a team of 14 FT and 6 PT staff members, over 100 regular volunteers, and a neighborhood full of program alumni who are still working toward the vision that was formed over 20 years ago: an empowered and revitalized neighborhood.
Steve, along with Advance Memphis, has been featured in countless articles and numerous books including When Helping Hurts. He shares with others often what he has gleaned in hopes of encouraging others.
Steve is married to Donna. They have 4 children.
Past Recipients
- 2018 Cordell Walker, Alpha Omega Veterans Services
- 2017 Todd Richardson and McLean Wilson with Chris Miner of Crosstown Arts for the Crosstown Concourse Development
- 2016 Ken Steorts, Visible Music College
- 2015 David Montague, Memphis Teacher Residency
- 2014 Nancy Coffee, New Memphis Institute
- 2013 Dorothy Gunther Pugh, Ballet Memphis
- 2012 Jackie Nichols, Playhouse on the Square & Circuit Playhouse
- 2011 Jim Duncan, Memphis Botanic Garden
- 2010 Richard Nathaniel Donlon, M.D., Christ Community Health Services
- 2009 25th Anniversary Celebration, Honoring All Previous Recipients
- 2008 Beverly Robertson, National Civil Rights Museum
- 2007 David Loebel, Memphis Symphony Orchestra
- 2006 Margaret Craddock, MIFA
- 2005 Kaywin Feldman, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
- 2004 James R. Boyd, BRIDGES
- 2003 Kenneth R. Bennett, Streets Ministries
- 2002 Colenzo J. Hubbard, Emmanuel Episcopal Center
- 2001 Larry B. Lloyd, D. Min., Hope Christian Community Foundation
- 2000 Douglas R. Noble, D.P.A., The Pink Palace Family of Museums
- 1999 Brad F. Baker, Young Life
- 1998 Jeffrey D. Nesin, Memphis College of Art
- 1997 Patrick W. Lawler, Youth Villages
- 1996 Josephine H. Walt, The Neighborhood School
- 1995 Michael J. Labonia, WKNO-TV/FM
- 1994 Eleanor Prest, Thomas W. Briggs Foundation
- 1993 Roger T. Knox, Memphis Zoological Society
- 1992 Gid H. Smith, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis
- 1991 JoeAnn Ballard, Neighborhood Christian Center
- 1990 John E. Buchanan, Jr., The Dixon Gallery and Gardens
- 1989 G. Scott Morris, M.D., Church Health Center Memphis
- 1988 Patricia C. Howard, Girls Incorporated of Memphis
- 1987 James C. Carlile, Boys Club of Memphis
- 1986 Virginia L. Dunaway, Memphis Food Bank
- 1985 Father Donald Mowery, Youth Service USA
University of Memphis Awards
Scholarships
For over forty years the Thomas W Briggs Foundation Inc. has supported the University of Memphis in various ways. The Foundation began this relationship by establishing The Eleanor O’Neill Scholarship to assist deserving students with their educational goals. The scholarship is named in memory of Ms. O’Neill who was a long standing Welcome Wagon employee and University of Memphis Foundation Trustee.
Based on academic merit, each year a student in the University of Memphis journalism program concentrating in public relations and a marketing student in the Fogelman College of Business and Economics are selected.
Teaching Awards
In 1995 the foundation established the Thomas W. Briggs Foundation Excellence in Teaching Awards to recognize excellence in undergraduate teaching, and the first awards were given in 1997. The Awards were given through 2018 with the final award being given to Phillip Babin, Accounting.
Past Recipients
1997
Mr. Kevin Hagopian English
Dr. Phillip Kolbe Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
1998
Dr. Ruthbeth Finerman, Anthropology
Dr. Thomas R. Caplinger Mathematical Sciences
1999
Dr. Jack Grubaugh Biology
Dr. Mark Timmons Philosophy
2000
Dr. Julia Heath Economics
Dr. David Mason Political Science
2001
Ms. Candace Justice Journalism
Dr. Robert Marcini Physics
2002
Dr. Melvin Beck Biology
Dr. Charles Camp Civil Engineering
2003
Dr. Kantaylieniere Hill-Clark Education
Dr. Nele Hemple Foreign Languages/German
2004
Stephen W. Hancock Theatre and Dance
Dr. Charles J. Biggers Biology
2005
Dr. John Hanneken Physics
Dr. William Jerman Electrical and Computer engineering
2006
Dr. Robert Frankle History
Dr. Lawrette Axley Nursing
2007
Dr. Dennis Laumann History
Ms. Margaret Quinn Family and Consumer Sciences
2008
Dr. Joe Hayden Journalism
Dr. Nancy Mardis Accountancy
2009
Dr. Anna Bess Sorin Biology
Dr. Fred Albertson Art
2010
Dr. Phillip Franceschetti Physics
Dr. Irvin Tankersley Accounting
2011
Ms. Charlotte Spiceland Accounting
Dr. John Haddock Mathematics
2012
Dr. Mark Freilich Chemistry
Mr. Kriangsiri Milasri Computer Science
2013
Dr. Angela Grant Mathematics
Leonard Jackson Hospitality and Resort Management
2014
Ms. Nataliya Doroshenko Mathematics
Jacob Allen Communication & Fine Arts
2015
Dr. Douglas Campbell Economics
Dr. Shirleatha Lee Nursing
2016
Denis Grele French
JoAnne Rhodes Physics
2017
Dr. Scott Marler History
2018
Phillip Babin Accounting