During a December 19th Holiday Donation Drive-By, the Chattanooga Chapter of the Tennessee State National Alumni Association again gave back to the community, providing toys and a check for $1,000 to the local Forgotten Child Fund. The fund began in 1961 when a police officer responded to a domestic violence call at Christmas and saw the children hovering in a corner with only an apple and an orange as Christmas gifts. Since then, police officers, firemen, and community members including TSU graduates have participated in the yearly Santa Train delivering toys to needy families on Christmas Eve. For the past two years, the TSUNAA-Chattanooga Chapter has made donations to the fund in memory of Chief Peggie Bullard, the first African American Chief of Police-School Patrol, a past president of the fund, and mother of a TSU alum.
The chapter, led by President Malcolm Walker, takes on other service projects as well, including filling the TSU Tiger Pantry each January with food and emergency toiletry items for Tennessee State students in need. One of the chapter’s most ambitious projects to date will be establishing a $25,000 Endowed Scholarship with the TSU Foundation. A virtual brunch to raise funds will be held Saturday, February 27, 2021, with the dynamic new TSU Athletic Director, Dr. Mikki Allen, as special guest speaker. Dr. Allen is the grandson of both Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Allen and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Steward, who before their deaths were renowned educators and citizens in the Chattanooga Community. Mrs. Christine Hicks and Mr. Roland McIntyre are co-chairing the event and Judge Curtis Collier is chapter treasurer. TSU alumni, community members, and other friends should check the TSU Alumni Association: Chattanooga Chapter Facebook page for sponsorship opportunities. Photo: Left to right, front row: Awayne Williams, David Young, and Malcolm Walker, Chapter President. Back row: Dr. Joyce Hardaway, Irene Chapman, Marion Baldwin, Jewell Cousin, Dr. Edna Varner (daughter of Chief Bullard and Chapter Vice President), Roland McIntyre III, Rakesha McIntyre, Roland McIntyre IV and Bonnie Cooper.