Glenda

Glenda has been connected with Begin Anew from the very beginning. In 1997, Glenda was working in the TN Women's Missionary Union (WMU) office when Creely Wilson founded Begin Anew (Nashville's Christian Women's Job Corps). This was a new program that was being offered across the country by WMU and when Glenda heard about Nashville's Chapter, she knew she had to get involved.  A few years later, in 1999, Connie Davis called Glenda about asked her to join the Begin Anew Board.

“When I joined the board, we were broke and in terrible shape,” Glenda recalls. “Connie said they needed new blood and new ideas.” The board quickly realized that Begin Anew needed a full-time staff member to run the program. “Becky Sumrall would be perfect!” Glenda told them. Glenda had previously worked with Becky at the WMU office and knew she had a strong social background and a proven history of fundraising. Becky became the first Executive Director of Begin Anew and would serve in that role for the next 18 years.

In addition to helping establish the initial staff of Begin Anew, Glenda also played an important role in creating the organization’s first Spring Fundraiser. “We found out the program was going to take a lot more money than we were raising from our local church partners,” she explains. “In one of the early board meetings, Nelda [Brown] said, ‘Why don’t we try something totally different and have a fundraiser? Let’s see if we can get other companies and individuals involved who want to support our community.’”

A committee was formed to organize the first event, which has since grown to raise more than $200,000 each year. Although Glenda was not on the original planning committee, she has held a sponsor table at every Spring Fundraiser.

“I just love it when there’s something we can do for people that helps them grow—spiritually, educationally, and in confidence,” Glenda says. “We aren’t just handing out something; we are lifting someone up.”

We are deeply grateful for the tremendous impact Glenda has had on Begin Anew and the Middle Tennessee community we serve. We truly would not be the organization we are today without her.