PRSA Nashville Launches Scholarship Endowment Fund

Nashville Chapter President Todd Smith and CFMT President Ellen Lehman formalize the new endowment.
Nashville Chapter President Todd Smith and CFMT President Ellen Lehman formalize the new endowment.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Dec. 12, 2012 – The Nashville Chapter of Public Relations Society of America announced today the creation of the PRSA Nashville Scholarship Endowment Fund, established in testament to the chapter’s commitment to the future of public relations in Middle Tennessee.

The fund is a component fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, a charitable organization connecting generosity with need, and will be permanently endowed, ensuring the chapter’s resources will be available to support deserving students in Middle Tennessee for years to come.

“PRSA Nashville has been privileged to provide an annual scholarship to students for more than a decade, and as the chapter continues to grow we wanted to strengthen our commitment to the next generation of communicators,” said Chapter President Todd Smith. “We are energized by the educational dreams that will be realized thanks to our endowment. This is a real milestone for public relations in Middle Tennessee.”

The scholarship will be awarded annually to one or more full-time public relations student(s) demonstrating academic excellence and an active engagement in their own professional development toward becoming successful PR practitioner(s). Applicants must also be enrolled in a college or university with a PRSSA Chapter officially affiliated with PRSA Nashville’s chapter. Schools currently include, but are not limited to, Austin Peay State University, Belmont University, Lipscomb University, Middle Tennessee State University, and Western Kentucky University.

“For years, PRSA has helped grow and nurture the quality and quantity of professionals providing public relations expertise throughout Middle Tennessee. Now, through the creation of this new scholarship, PRSA Nashville’s long-term impact on the future of our community’s public relations professionals is secure,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. “The Community Foundation is honored to help PRSA support deserving students — now and always!”
PRSA Nashville currently offers professional development opportunities and sets standards of excellence for a membership comprised of public relations professionals across myriad industries.

The scholarship selection process will be handled by The Community Foundation based on criteria set forth by the PRSA Nashville Board of Directors and will begin accepting applications in January 2013. An application will be available online at www.cfmt.org. Contributions to the PRSA Nashville Scholarship Fund of The Community Foundation are fully tax-deductible. Gifts can be made online, www.cfmt.org, or by check to The Community Foundation, PO Box 440225, Nashville, TN 37244.

About PRSA NashvilleThe Public Relations Society of America is the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals. The Nashville chapter is in its 54th year and has more than 180 active members. For additional information on the Nashville chapter of PRSA, please visit www.prsanashville.com. PRSA Nashville can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

About The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee oversees more than 850 charitable funds, providing customized philanthropic solutions with flexibility for donors, nonprofit organizations and the community. In the past 21 years, The Community Foundation has distributed more than $600 million to community programs and institutions. It is located at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue, #400, Nashville, Tennessee 37215. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.

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