It is time to begin Pinnacle's efforts in this year’s 2018 Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon. Pinnacle has a wonderful legacy in this event- historically beating all the other banks and raising thousands of dollars to help JA and our kids.  I have sent this email to you, because you have been so supportive of JA in the past, and I hope you will again. Our theme this year is “Rock’n”Roll”, but as usual, it is all about the kids! If you have questions, or are unsure, please read on.

So why a Bowl-A-Thon? The Bowl-A-Thon is a fundraising event for Junior Achievement, and the proceeds fund the JA financial literacy and entrepreneurship classes taught to our middle Tennessee children, in kindergarten through high school. Each $125 raised, provides a class in a middle Tennessee classroom. This year, JA’s goal is to reach more than 37,000 students throughout Middle Tennessee. Many Pinnacle associates have taught these classes. Through the Bowl-A-Thon, we also have an opportunity to take it one step further, and actually help pay for those classes.

Too many of our children are not being offered these classes. JA needs your help to fund these classes and through its volunteer effort, to reach what we like to consider future potential clients, depositors and maybe someday, even future PNFP employees. Who knows what this/your investment in these kids will provide!

Many of you know I have a passion for and work with kids (no- not my fellow PNFP/IT workers), but rather children in my church, as well as JA, and other outside efforts. For the past few years have asked my kids at church if they have JA classes in their schools or have ever been offered the opportunities JA can provide, and without exception, the answer has always been “no”. I know there are other challenges, but I believe the biggest reason that JA cannot reach all these kids/my kids, is funding. That's the part where we come in. I know JA needs more volunteers, and if you have never had the blessing of teaching a JA class please do so. It even looks good on your PNFP goals, and it will make you feel really good in your heart, but here's the deal- without funding, there are no classes.

Bowl-A-Thon's success is fortunately not dependent on our bowling skills. It does promote teamwork, and does require us as bowlers to meet at a bowling alley for a couple of hours, eat some surprisingly good food, and wear funny shoes while we bowl two games. We do actually have some great bowlers that are very competitive. And we also have people like me- who seem to bowl progressively worse each and every launch of the ball. It is fun, but for us, it's not about the bowling. In the end, it is all about the kids and what we can do to help them succeed. Bowl-A-Thon's success, these classes, and these kids are dependent upon our donations.

Please let me know if you can help this year. If you want to bowl/fundraise, we still have a spot for you! If you want to help me help these kids, that is awesome. If you cannot help, that is fine too. As usual, all donations are tax deductible, and again this year JA has provided us a safe, secure fundraising site for your online donations too- the link is above and to the right. Anything and any amount helps. Please let me know if you have any questions, or are interested in other ways to help. Thanks again for your support of JA- I appreciate you!