2023 GVSA Business Honorees
East Tennessee Honoree - Borderland Tees
Borderland Tees spends many hours partnering with South Knoxville Elementary School, working with the school's gardening clubs, picking up trash, sponsoring school events, and being a good steward of our environment. They work all over East Tennessee from Kingsport to Cleveland, selling their shirts at reasonable prices or even donating them to some organizations that can't afford them. The principal of South Knoxville Elementary calls them for help and knows that they will deliver. Borderland Tees is part of the school family and serves as a model for other businesses in small communities.
Middle Tennessee Honoree - UBS Financial Services
Early March 2023, UBS Financial Services took on a massive 92-person service project at the Native American Indian Association (NAIA) to support Middle Tennessee’s only Native American resource center as they work to break ground on their cultural center. Hands On Nashville organized dozens of volunteer projects at NAIA, removing invasive species, building trails, and creating a usable outdoor space so they can enjoy the land and reach their building goals. UBS has been instrumental in these projects, and dedicated months to seeing them through. In total, UBS volunteers spent 276 hours clearing 300 feet of trails; building and repairing 20 benches and tables; and mulching several of NAIA outdoor meeting areas.
West Tennessee Honoree - BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
Ten years ago, Blue Cross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) launched its TeamBlue employee volunteer program out of a commitment to its mission of Providing Peace of Mind Through Better Health. It began as a grassroots effort, focused on the organization’s annual food drive but has evolved into an employee-driven program that takes that passion and sense of ownership to the next level. In 2023, 1,413 employees volunteered 11,494 hours across the state, with 21 percent of BCBST employees being active TeamBlue members. For example, one division volunteered 141 hours over four days at the local food bank to prepare food donations for their neighbors. The emphasis on employee feedback and involvement means that TeamBlue is constantly evolving in ways that best benefit the employees and partner organizations.
Special Thanks to Gold Sponsor
