Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award Honors Philanthropists Susan and Luke Simons
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee could not have been more excited to present the long-awaited 27th annual Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award to Susan and Luke Simons — business, civic and community leaders known for their generous philanthropy in the arts and health care and for their tireless service with numerous nonprofit organizations in Nashville and beyond.
The luncheon took place Thursday, Dec. 2 at the Music City Center’s Davidson Ballroom with 250 confirmed guests gathering to shine a light on the Simons’ remarkable dedication to our community. Speakers included long-time CFMT trustee and founding member of Neal Harwell Attorneys at Law, Aubrey Harwell; president and CEO of Music City Center, Charles Starks; Chief Manager of Kraft CPAs, Vic Alexander; and president and founder of CFMT, Ellen Lehman.
President and CEO of Nashville Electric Service and CFMT’s Board Chairman, Decosta Jenkins presented Luke and Susan with the award.
A tribute video for the honorees produced by CFMT’s Pat Embry and Morgan Yingling included testimonials by the Simons’ longtime friends and colleagues: former Sen. and Gov. Lamar Alexander, Larry Atema, Jeff Balser, Lucas Hagerty, Tari Hughes, Jim Haslam and Tom Ingram, Martha Ingram, Bert Mathews, Anna-Gene O’Neal, Dr. Jennifer Pietenpol, Bobby Rolfe, Ann Teaff, Breck Walker, and featured Susan Simons.
The Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award was created to perpetuate the memory of a remarkable person who led our community by strength of character and unwavering integrity. The award is given annually to individuals who, like Joe, have made life better for others through hard work, bold dedication to service, and strong faith in the human spirit.
A native of Charleston, S.C., W. Lucas “Luke” Simons serves on the CEO Council of Council Capital and is a former Co-Managing Partner at Nashville-based investment banking and brokerage firm J.C. Bradford & Co. He earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial management at Georgia Institute of Technology and his MBA at the University of Virginia. He has served on numerous nonprofit boards and is a graduate of Leadership Nashville.
Nashville native Susan Willingham Simons earned her bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College. Under the administration of Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander, she served in posts that included Commissioner of the General Services Department and Chairman of the Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Susan is a graduate of Leadership Nashville and has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, where she is past board Chair as well as a longtime member of the Building Committee.
PREVIOUS JOE KRAFT HUMANITARIAN AWARD HONOREES
2019
Clare Armistead, Janet Ayers, Inez Crutchfield, Annette Eskind, Carrie Gentry, Rosetta Miller-Perry, and Colleen Conway-Welch
2018
Charles Strobel
2017
Jerry B. Williams
2016
Jack B. Turner
2015
Jim Haslam II
2014
Mayor Karl Dean
2013
Francis S. Guess
2012
John Seigenthaler
2011
Amy Grant and Vince Gill 2010 Governor Winfield Dunn 2009 R. Clayton McWhorter
2008
Cal Turner, Jr. and Steve Turner 2007 Nelson Andrews
2006
Martha R. Ingram
2005
Joel C. Gordon
2004
Governor Ned Ray McWherter
2003
Jim Ayers
2002
Jamye and McDonald Williams
2001
The Founders of The Community Foundation: Betty M. Brown, George N. Bullard, Ida F. Cooney, Richard J. Eskind, F.W. Lazenby, Ellen E. Lehman, Judith O. Liff, Alyne Q. Massey, Elizabeth M. Queener, Benjamin R. Rechter
2000
Irwin Eskind and Noah Liff
1999
Monroe J. Carell, Jr.
1998
Pauline Gore
1997
Chet Atkins and Owen Bradley
1996
Mayor Philip Bredesen and Andrea Conte 1995 Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr.
1994
Elizabeth Jacobs and Mary Jane Werthan
About The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
The Community Foundation exists to promote and facilitate giving in the 40 counties of Middle Tennessee and beyond. It does this by accepting gifts of any size from anyone at any time and by empowering individuals, families, companies, nonprofits, and communities to respond to needs and opportunities that matter. The Community Foundation works with people who have great hearts, whether or not they have great wealth, to craft solutions that reflect the intentions and goals of their charitable endeavors. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.
