Spring Hill Community Rallies Around Local Youth at 2026 Hero of the Year Celebration

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Spring Hill, Tenn. — Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee brought the Spring Hill community together on Thursday, June 11, for the 2026 Spring Hill Hero of the Year celebration at the UAW Hall, an evening dedicated to honoring local leaders, celebrating Club youth, and raising critical funds for children and teens in Spring Hill. 

The event marked the close of a six-week peer-to-peer fundraising campaign led by three community Hero candidates: Tom Champion, Erinn Hartwell, and Chief Don Brite. Including Ticket sale & peer to peer fundraising, the event raised approximately $33,000 to support Boys & Girls Clubs programs in Spring Hill. Funds raised will support youth at four local Club locations in Spring Hill: Marvin Wright Elementary, Spring Hill Elementary, Battle Creek Elementary, and Battle Creek Middle, which together serve more than 350 children each year. 

The evening featured performances from Club youth, remarks from Board and Club leadership, speeches from the 2026 Hero of the Year candidates, and a keynote address from speaker, author, worship leader, and youth advocate Mari Ramsey.   

Guests enjoyed a staffed buffet from local food partners, including Olive Garden, Costa Vida, Julie’s Sweet Treats, Rock N’ Roll Sushi Spring Hill, and W’Lin’s Asian Cuisine. 

Volunteers played an important role throughout the evening — helping with setup, event support, food service, and breakdown. Dominion Payroll helped organize volunteer support and brought together volunteers from Ultium Cells and UnitedHealthcare. Columbia Power & Water Systems also helped manage the W’lins Asian Cuisine station. 

Eight Ultium Cells volunteers pose for a group photo in front of a Hero of the Year backdrop in Spring Hill.

Guests were reminded throughout the evening of the true purpose behind the event and the growing need for support in Spring Hill. As Board Secretary Bruce Hull shared during the program, “Tonight we are not just raising funds — we are raising futures.” 

That message carried through the evening as guests heard how Boys & Girls Clubs supports local youth in underserved communities through safe spaces, caring mentors, academic support, healthy lifestyle programs, and opportunities to build character and leadership. 

“Kids need consistency. They need safety. Encouragement. People who see their potential,” Ramsey shared during his keynote address. “Some kids are going to ask questions like, am I safe? Do I matter? Will anyone show up for me?” 

Ramsey continued by pointing to the work of Boys & Girls Clubs as a direct answer to those questions. 

“I’ve come to tell you today that Boys & Girls Club has answered each and every one of those questions, because the answer is yes, you do matter. You are loved. You are cared for.” 

Ramsey also challenged guests to view their support as something deeper than a donation. 

“Money is practical, but it becomes powerful when connected to a mission,” he said. “It’s not just money when it is used to change lives. Money becomes meals. It becomes mentorship, transportation, tutoring, sports, art, leadership programs, and safe spaces.” 

He reminded the audience that their support can create a lasting change in a young person’s life. 

“Your donation may show up as a number on a receipt, but in a child’s life, it can show up as confidence and belonging,” Ramsey said. “When you give, it’s not charity—it’s an investment. When you invest, the return is generational.” 

Each of the 2026 Hero candidates also reflected on their decision to step forward for Spring Hill youth. 

Erinn Hartwell shared the importance of investing in the next generation. 

“This is for kids. This is our future. This is the next generation,” Hartwell said. “We’ve got to continue to love on them. If we don’t, who will? Everyone has been so amazing. And we are so thankful that you all were able to join us tonight.” 

Chief Don Brite spoke about what he learned through the campaign and the real need that exists in Spring Hill. 

“I’ve had people ask me, what is the Boys and Girls Club? And I explained to them, and they say, was there a need in Spring Hill? Because everybody just thinks about Spring Hill, we don’t need a need,” Brite said. “And what I learned is there’s 350 reasons that there’s a need, and that’s how many children, young people, they serve throughout the program.” 

The evening concluded with the announcement of Tom Champion as the 2026 Spring Hill Hero of the Year. Champion earned first place among this year’s candidates after raising $6,500 during the campaign. 

Champion, whose son attends Boys & Girls Clubs programming, shared a personal reflection on the impact the Club has had on his son, Declan. 

“I’m blessed and have the unique opportunity to see my son Declan’s face every day when he comes home from Boys & Girls Club. I get to listen to him, see the enthusiasm on his face, and hear the enthusiasm in his voice about everything he got to do that day. 

The artwork, the activities, the curriculum, and all the ways you support the children who attend Boys & Girls Clubs are absolutely amazing. He loves it, and I know the other kids there absolutely love it as well.” 

When asked about his sentiment and approach to peer to peer fundrasing, Champion shared:  

“Winning Hero of the Year was never really about me—It was about the children in our community who deserve a safe place to grow, learn, belong, and dream big. Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee provide exactly that. 

My approach to raising awareness was simple: tell the story! I shared why the Boys & Girls Clubs programs matter, described their value, and reminded our community that investing in a child here in Spring Hill is one of the greatest investments we can make. The return is measured not just in dollars raised, but in the kids we support, their futures strengthened, and a stronger community.” 

The celebration was made possible through the support of event sponsor Ole South Builders, along with table sponsors and business supporters including First Farmers Bank, Spring Hill Police Department, TriStar Healthcare, Spring Hill Pediatric Dentistry, Listerhill Credit Union, Parks Motor Sales, Inc., and generous individual donors. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee extends its gratitude to the 2026 Hero candidates, sponsors, food partners, volunteers, individual donors, and the Spring Hill community for showing up in support of local kids and teens. 

As Ramsey shared during the evening, “You don’t have to know the ending. You just have to be part of the process of helping to write a better chapter.” 

See all photos from event here

About Hero of the Year 

Hero of the Year is a six-week fundraising initiative led by Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee. Each year, local leaders are nominated as Hero candidates and use their platforms, networks, and community influence to raise funds and awareness for Boys & Girls Clubs programming. 

The campaign supports the organization’s mission to provide young people with safe places, caring mentors, academic support, healthy lifestyle programs, and character and leadership development opportunities. 

About Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee 

The vision of Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee is to provide a world-class Club Experience that assures success is within reach for every young person who enters our doors. Founded in 1999, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee serves youth across Clubhouse sites and school-based locations in Maury and Giles Counties. 

Through programs focused on academic success, healthy lifestyles, good character and citizenship, and a culture of safety, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Tennessee helps young people build great futures. 

For more information, visit BGCSCTN.org. 

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