For more than six decades, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee has been cultivating future leaders. At this year’s Impact Awards lunch, we joined Goodwill to celebrate three remarkable individuals who have exemplified grit and grace in the face of life’s challenges.

Amber Grant, one of this year’s award recipients, touched the hearts of everyone in the room with her story. Amber was born blind, but her courage and strong spirit led her to confront hurdles head-on. Despite facing multiple rejections for work opportunities due to her disability, Amber’s determination never wavered. What she needed was someone to recognize her potential. That opportunity came through Goodwill, which provided her a chance to thrive as a call center representative, a role in which she has excelled. This is one of many success stories we had the opportunity to hear.

Goodwill’s founder Edgar J. Helms, championed the philosophy of “not charity, but a chance.” This guiding principle has propelled Goodwill to become the largest workforce development company in North America. At Lee Company, we believe in second chances and share Goodwill’s commitment to helping our communities. We recognize untapped potential can be unlocked when people are given access to opportunities. If you too would like to learn more about the work Goodwill does in our community, and how you can get involved, click here.