[Knoxpromise] Knoxville's Promise Transition to United Way

[Knoxville Promise]

June 30, 2005

Dear Friends of Knoxville's Promise,

We are excited to announce plans for the transition of Knoxville’s Alliance 
for Youth to the United Way of Greater Knoxville!

Many of you are aware of the self-evaluation and strategic planning that 
Knoxville’s Promise has undertaken over the past few months. We want to 
thank you for all of your feedback as we have been considering a long-term 
vision for how to achieve the greatest impact for youth in the community.

After acquiring a great deal of input from our partners and the national 
organization of America’s Promise, we found that the original purpose of 
Knoxville’s Promise-building a community collaboration around the framework 
of the five fundamental resources (“the Five Promises”) that kids need to 
become healthy, productive adults-is still valid.  However, we found that 
the need for a self-standing, separate organization to fulfill that purpose 
no longer exists.  As United Way nationally has focused on engaging in more 
proactive community impact, local United Ways have become logical partners 
under which to organize an Alliance for Youth.  Therefore, we have concluded 
that Knoxville’s children and youth will best be served by reorganizing our 
Alliance for Youth under United Way of Greater Knoxville.

We believe the entire community, and especially our young people, will 
benefit from the improved efficiency and resources resulting from this 
action. Fostered by the United Way, the Alliance for Youth and its simple 
framework of the Five Promises will strengthen existing partnerships and 
create new opportunities for collaboration in Knoxville.  Leah Adinolfi, 
formerly of Knoxville’s Promise, will be moving to United Way to help staff 
this effort.

Originally organized and recognized as a national model Community of 
Promise, Knoxville has succeeded in focusing attention on the welfare of our 
young people over the past seven years.  Making children a priority has 
resulted in the establishment of major community collaborations such as 
Project GRAD Knoxville and East Tennessee Friendly Access (for prenatal 
care). In addition, the Alliance for Youth Summit has inspired and equipped 
nearly 1,000 participants annually to better deliver resources to local 
children and youth.  And, the Knoxville/Knox County Mayors’ Youth Action 
Council continues to ensure that youth are engaged in problem solving 
efforts for the community.

By integrating the Alliance for Youth and the Five Promises Framework with 
the United Way’s community impact initiatives, the movement to improve 
children’s lives will be greatly enhanced.   We appreciate the continued 
support you have shown.  For information about the transition, contact 
Laurens Tullock at 637-1912.

Sincerely,				Sincerely,

Bo Shafer 				Ben Landers
Board of Directors Chair		President
Knoxville’s Promise			United Way of Greater Knoxville