First Tennessee Foundation Contributes to Salvation Army’s Local Relief Efforts

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, May 4, 2010 – This past weekend, severe weather impacted the lives of many Tennesseans, and with the help of the First Tennessee Foundation and bank customers, The Salvation Army is providing disaster relief assistance to the people who were affected by the weekend’s storms throughout Tennessee.

On Monday, May 3, the First Tennessee Foundation announced it will provide up to $500,000 to Tennesseans afflicted by this weekend’s storms through a direct contribution and by matching First Tennessee and FTN Financial employee and customer contributions.

The First Tennessee Foundation will evenly split a $250,000 direct donation between The Salvation Army and American Red Cross. The foundation will also match First Tennessee employee and customer gifts to these two organizations up to $250,000.

“We are so blessed to have a state organization like First Tennessee recognize the urgency and importance of The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts,” said Major Mark Woodcock, Area Commander of The Salvation Army. “The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts not only distribute basic necessities to those in need, but they also provide spiritual and physical comfort to those afflicted by disaster.”

First Tennessee customers who want to contribute to relief efforts can visit any First Tennessee financial center in the state from now until May 15, and make a donation to The Salvation Army.

Locally, Salvation Army volunteers and personnel have been concentrating relief efforts in Millington, Tennessee, which was severely impacted by the weather. The Nashville Adult Rehabilitation facility was severely damaged from the weather, and 35 clients from Nashville will be transferred to the Memphis Adult Rehabilitation Center. The Salvation Army canteen, a mobile feeding unit manned by Salvation Army personnel and volunteers, is providing local and regional relief as needed by distributing hot coffee, meals and clean-up kits to those in need.

For more information on The Salvation Army’s relief efforts, please contact Elizabeth Duncan, Director of Development. For general information on the local Salvation Army, please visit www.salvationarmymemphis.org.

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 129 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide.

The Salvation Army began its work in Memphis on October 18, 1900. Since then, the organization has fought hunger, homelessness, addiction, poverty, abuse, and suffering caused by disaster. At the center of The Salvation Army’s work in Memphis are four core ministries: The Purdue Center of Hope, a facility that houses three shelters for homeless women and children; the Adult Rehabilitation Center, a work-therapy program for men; the local Corps which provide neighborhood outreach and support; and the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, which once construction is complete, will offer programs in the arts, education, recreation and worship. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.salvationarmymemphis.org.

CONTACT:
Emily Fletcher
Thompson & Berry PR
(901) 238-7443
Elizabeth Duncan
The Salvation Army
(901) 260-9130