Drawn to the ministry of The Smoky Mountain Children’s Home, Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Louise Apple, set up a Living Trust several years ago for the set purpose of donating the entire amount of that trust to benefit The Home upon the time of their passing. You see, the Apple’s niece, Mrs. Stephanie Apple Price, was the first baby girl to ever be adopted from The Home after it became a placement agency.

     Mr. and Mrs. Ted and Janet Apple, brother and sister-in-law of the donors, were unable to have biological children on their own. In 1966, the Apple’s began the adoption process with the assistance of Paul Duncan, a former social worker and Director of The Home. With Duncan’s assistance, the Apple family adopted a beautiful baby girl on February 24, 1967, only 4 days after her birth.

     Earlier this summer, Executor of the Apple Living Trust and brother-in-law to Joe Apple, AllanSchmidt, contacted The Home to inform them of the passing of Mrs. Louise Apple Lamb. On August 12, 2010, members of August 12, 2010, members of the Apple Family (including Ted Apple, Janet Apple, Stephanie Apple Price, Jeff Apple, Ralph and Debbie Cumby) visited The Home to present the generous gift of Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Louise Apple’s lifetime donation.

“This adoption has brought such blessings to our lives,” said Father Ted Apple with tears in his eyes, “I’ve often wondered what we would have done, or what our lives would have been like without our children (Ted and Janet also have an adopted son.)”

“It seemed as if the obstacles were stacked against us when we began the process for this adoption with all of the age and living requirements, but we believe this daughter was a miracle from God to our family!” explained proud Mother Janet Apple.

However, Daughter Stephanie replied passionately to her parents’ statements, “No, the blessings of this adoption have always been mine to receive. My parents did such a beautiful job of making me feel like I was not a castaway, but a part of a true family!!! I can’t adequately put this feeling into words – this opportunity to have a Real Mom and Dad and Brother . . . because of The Home, I got to have a real family!”

Stephanie states, “I wish that my story could influence other young girls that Adoption is a Great Option! I’m so thankful that my biological mother chose to give me an opportunity for a life and chose to give me to a family waiting just for me.”

The Smoky Mountain Children’s Home is honored to have played a part in this wonderful story of Stephanie’s adoption into a precious family. As a “Thank You” for this generous donation, Dr. John Sweet, Campus Care Director, hosted a luncheon for the Apple Family and presented them with a framed and signed, one-of-a-kind, limited edition printer’s proof of Paul Murray’s Hideaway, “The Face” of The Home.

In presenting this donation, Stephanie was quick to credit her Uncle and Aunt for their extreme generosity to The Home. “I feel like my story has been highlighted, but please remember, they were the ones saved and gave to The Home! They obviously had a heart for children and this ministry.”

The Home is honored to be the recipient of the Apple Living Trust. The example of the Apple Family’s Adoption and Donation truly prove their willingness to “Give a Child a Chance!” The support and generosity of donors like the Apple Family continue to allow the Smoky Mountain’s Children’s Home the opportunity to be “the voice for hurting children for over 90 years!” Again, The Home appreciates the lifetime of work and generous giving culminating in the Apple Family’s donation.

Written by Elizabeth Durham, Public Relations, The Home

A work group with several youth and adults arrived today from the Clayton Church of God in Georgia. They are here for a couple of days doing various work projects for the campus. The group is led by Greg Welborn. The group is involved in painting, repairing, moving, cleaning and performing other needs of the campus. Maintenance supervisor Danny Mendal works with groups throughout the year to make their experience on the campus valuable to the campus and meaningful to those who give of their time and effort.  Upon their arrival the group from Clayton presented Dr. Sweet with a generous check for The Home.

Diamond Rio Discovers The Home

Award winning band Diamond Rio, who headlined at Patriot Park’s Freedom Festival on July 3, 2010, discovered the Church of God Smoky Mountain Children’s Home during a meet and greet event prior to their concert.

 Diamond Rio has released seven studio albums, two greatest hits collections and “A Diamond Rio Christmas: The Star Still Shines,” a 2007 holiday album that marked their debut with Word. The band has earned three platinum albums and won the Country Music Association’s Vocal Group of the Year award four times as well as netting two Academy of Country Music Awards in the top Vocal Group of the Year category. When they debuted in 1991 with the hit “Meet in the Middle,” Diamond Rio became the first group in the history of country music to have a debut single reach No. 1. They continued to place 32 more singles on the Billboard chart, including “How Your Love Makes Me Feel,” “Norma Jean Riley,” “Beautiful Mess” and “Love a Little Stronger.”

Most recently, Diamond Rio received a Dove Award for their contemporary Christian album “The Reason” released by Word Records in September 2009.  According to the band’s website their choice to record a Christian album left their fans:

. . . asking why their favorite country band decided to record a Christian record, (but) the answer lies in the music. As the lyrics from (their song) “The Reason” illustrate, this was no casual decision, but a cherished opportunity by a group of believers looking to share their faith and celebrate God’s grace and mercy.

“It was no mistake that we wrote a song called ‘The Reason’ and it exactly answers the question,” Jimmy Olander says. “It’s the reason why we’re here. It’s our story.”

“We’re all believers. We always have been,” adds lead vocalist Marty Roe. “I think a lot of our songs reflected that part of who we are, but this was different to actually be able to say in a stronger voice what our hearts are about.”

Longtime fans of Diamond Rio, Director of Operations for The Home, Timothy Nuckles and his Administrative Assistant, Beth Nuckles Durham were thrilled about the band’s recent Christian album.  Nuckles and Durham were not only excited about the fact that Diamond Rio gives their Christian testimonies through song, but they were also excited to know that Diamond Rio “lives out their faith” by giving of themselves to work for and support many humanitarian causes.  In fact, Diamond Rio was presented with the 2004 Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award in honor of their charitable works.

In light of these facts, Nuckles and Durham were determined to make Diamond Rio aware of the ministry of The Home.  Obtaining the Lord’s favor with Event Security, Nuckles and Durham were allowed to present each member of Diamond Rio with gift bags, t-shirts, promotional materials, and special 90^th Anniversary Posters from The Home.

“When I discovered that you (Diamond Rio) were going to be in The Home’s backyard,” Durham said to lead singer Marty Roe, “I could not let this opportunity pass us by! I knew about Diamond Rio’s reputation as Christians and charitable givers, so I wanted you to know about the ministry and needs of The Home!”

During their conversations, Durham discovered that Roe’s heart is already turned toward the orphaned and the widowed as he serves on the board for Both Hands Foundation (a non-profit organization that rebuilds widow’s homes and raises money to aid in adoption expenses.)

Nuckles also discovered that guitarist Jimmy Olander has two adopted children, one coming to his family from Foster Care.  Nuckles’ hope is that this meeting might bring The Home “a divine connection for the future!”

CEO of PARC Management, Randy Drew, and other executives visited its NASCAR Speed Park in Sevierville, TN on Friday, May 28, 2010 and presented The Home with a $1500.00 donation.  Following the presentation, all executives visited the campus of The Home for a tour and luncheon.

PARC Management LLC is a family entertainment provider with 25 theme parks, water parks, and entertainment venues across the United States and Canada.  Its mission is to create treasured memories for families in a safe, clean, and fun environment.

The non-profit arm of PARC Management, the PARC Foundation, operates to strengthen families and children in the communities served by PARC Management parks.  The PARC Foundation has chosen to build a long-lasting partnership with the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home and the Cherish the Child Foundation as its choice non-profit in the Greater Smoky Mountain geographic region.

“We believe the wellness of children is the barometer of health in communities,” Drew said during the presentation. “Wellness includes the mind, the body, and the spirit, and we support education, health, and faith-based non-profit organizations.”

As a “Thank You” to PARC Management, and the PARC Foundation, the Director of Operations for The Home, Tim Nuckles, along with local artist, Paul Murray, presented Mr. Drew with a signed and framed, special 90^th Anniversary limited edition lithograph of Hideaway.  Through Murray’s donated use of this image and with the help of advertising agency, The Thomas Group, Hideaway has become “The Face” of The Home.

“In celebrating the 90^th Anniversary of the Children’s Home, we were looking for an iconic image that represents the hearts of children,” said Nuckles.  “When I first saw this picture, I thought to myself, ‘I’ve seen this girl . . . I’ve seen her eyes shine with hope and healing on our campus . . .’ this has to be the face of The Home.”

Nuckles continued, “Thank you so much for this incredible partnership.  We’re so thankful that God has connected us.”