In June 2026, the Ted H. Denning, Jr. Council 8781 in Farragut, TN, gifted three charities that support persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) a total of $12,000 through disbursements made by KIND Charities of TN, Inc.; each charity received $4,000.
Riverside Coffee Shop in Dixie Lee Junction (Lenoir City, TN) serves “coffee with a cause.” It promotes community inclusion, social interaction and teaches vocational, social, and life skills to teens and young adults diagnosed with autism and other developmental delays so that they can be more independent, productive, and have a healthy lifestyle. Up to 22 are trained at the coffee shop. The Council arranged to have its gift received during a double match, which tripled its value to $12,000. Pictured at right is Angie Davidson (Executive Director) with Grand Knight Walt Hanson.
Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding (STAR) in Lenoir City, TN, fosters personal achievement by providing therapeutic experiences using horse-related activities for its IDD clients. Last year STAR served 1,579 clients ranging in age from 4 to 65+. STAR was founded in 1987 by Lynn Petr who started with five riders, one horse and three volunteers. The Petr family are longtime members of St. John Neumann Catholic Church and Lynn’s dad was a member of the Council. Pictured at left from L to R is Grand Knight Walt Hanson, Punky Brewster, Emily Justus (Executive Director) and Angela Bartlett (Director of Development).
Sunshine Services in Knoxville, TN, is an organization that has served IDD clients in Knoxville since 1953. It had been a chapter of “The Arc,” a national advocacy group. It now does its own advocacy; so it rebranded. Sunshine Industries, which it operated for many years as a means of vocational training and employment closed this year; as a charity it couldn’t meet Federal wage demands. Regardless, it continues its many other programs: early home intervention for children, group homes and semi-independent living arrangements for about 150, and day services and supported employment to foster independence for adult clients. The Executive Director is Kelsie Crittendon, who is not pictured. Pictured are some of the Sunshine Services clients with Grand Knight Walt Hanson at far right.
Monies raised for these charities came from two sources. Lenten meal proceeds that were designated for IDD charities raised $893. We thank those Knights who cooked and the parishioners who dined after Stations of the Cross. The balance came from the proceeds earned by volunteers working UT home football concessions in the fall of 2025. KIND Charities of TN, Inc., managed the monies on behalf of the Council.