2011 Tennessee Women of Distinction Announced for 26th Anniversary Event

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Mai Bell Hurley, 2011 American Lung Association in Tennessee's TN Woman of the Year

CHATTANOOGA TN (03/30/2011)(readMedia)-- The Tennessee Woman of Distinction for 2011 is Mai Bell Hurley, the ultimate Tennessee volunteer.

Ms. Hurley was chosen on the basis of her broad-based community involvement in the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, education and her church.

Currently she is on the Boards of the Chattanooga Hamilton County Public Library, the Chattanooga History Center, the Fortwood Center, United Way, Allied Arts, Little Miss Mag, Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, WTCI public television, and the First Tennessee Bank.

She will be honored on Tuesday, May 3, at the 26th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon at the Chattanooga Convention Center Ballroom. This annual event benefits programs and services of the American Lung Association in Tennessee.

This Chattanooga luncheon tradition honors a Tennessee Woman of Distinction along with ten of Chattanooga's most accomplished women who have distinguished themselves through volunteer work, their careers, and community service.

The ten women being honored this year are:

• Dr. Deborah Elwell Arfken, Professor and UTC Coordinator of University Planning;

• Dr. Charlotte Boatwright, President & founding member of Coalition Against Domestic & Community Violence of Greater Chattanooga;

• Sheila Boyington, President of Thinking Media & Vice President of ACT Inc.

• Amanda Buchanan, Dale Buchanan & Associates & Owner of Table Two Frill and Lounge & Fleetwood Development;

• Linda G. Harwell, Retired, First TN Bank Marketing Director

• Lynda M. Hood, Executive Director of the Chattanooga Bar Association;

• Deanne Irvine, UTC Adjunct Faculty Music Dept. and Cadek Conservatory of Music;

• Molly Sasse, Executive Director of Chattanooga Symphony & Opera;

• Susan Callaway Stein, Owner of SCS Designs; and

• Scottie Goodman Summerlin, Volunteer and former News Anchor.

For the first time, four Chattanooga area high school seniors will be honored as Young Women of Distinction for outstanding achievement in leadership, academics, and character.

They are:

• Nisha C. Boyington- Girls Preparatory School

• Anna Georgia Ioannidis- Silverdale Baptist Academy

• Hannah Brooke Jumper- Baylor School

• Janelle Tonge- Brainerd High School

The American Lung Association in Tennessee will also be celebrating the continuing achievements of more than 250 women who have been honored over the award's 25-year history.

Women survivors of lung cancer will also be honored.

Event sponsors include the Title Sponsor, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee; Chatter Magazine, WRCB-TV News Channel 3/ST Productions, Hamico Foundation, Carter Farms, Mustang Leadership Partners, First Tennessee, Luken Holdings, EPB, and Olan Mills Inc.

Channel 3 News anchor, Cindy Sexton, will emcee the event.

Individual tickets are $65 ($70 after April 12th); payment must be made in advance to ensure a reservation. Sponsor Tables at various levels may be purchased in honor or memory of individuals with lung disease.

For reservations or more information, call the American Lung Association in Tennessee at 423-629-1098 or go online www.TNwomenofdistinction.org.

This annual event benefits the American Lung Association in Tennessee and its mission to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Monies raised will fund medical research, advocacy, and education to ensure clean air and healthy lungs for all Tennesseans.

Lung disease is the third leading cause of death in the United States today. In Tennessee alone, more than 814,000 children and adults are affected by lung disease such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer. Smoking, air pollution, and lung disease make breathing difficult for millions of Americans.

Other accomplishments of Ms. Hurley include:

In the Arts:

Ms. Hurley was Founding Member of Allied Arts, Chair of its Board and twice chair of its campaign; Chair of the Tennessee Arts Commission; Board member and Chair of the Chattanooga Symphony. She worked to create Southern Arts Federation, was a member of the Board of the American Council for the Arts, and Board member of Creative Discovery Museum. Currently she is working to create a new Chattanooga History Center.

In Health and Human Services:

She was the first chair of the Partnership for Family, Children and Adults; first woman to chair the United Way Campaign and the United Way Board. She has been deeply involved in UW initiatives: Invest in Children and Building Stable Lives, Chair of the Child Welfare League of America and the National Council on Accreditation. She has worked as a member of the National Commission on Children, and was Chair of the Hamilton County Children's Services Committee. Mai Bell is the Immediate past Chair of Fortwood Center and worked to set up the development office of Siskin Hospital.

In Civic Engagement:

Mai Bell served on the Chattanooga City Council for 11 years as the first woman elected and its first woman chair. As Chair of Chattanooga Venture, she was involved in creating two of its most important outcomes: the Tennessee Aquarium and Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise. She participated in the city/county schools merger and in strengthening parks and recreation.

In Education:

Ms. Hurley chaired the Board of Girls Preparatory School, and was on the Board of the Bright School. As former chair of the Chattanooga Hamilton County Bicentennial Library, she is currently working to expand its reach in the community.

In her Church:

She was the first woman to chair the administrative board of First Centenary United Methodist Church and is active at the Holston Conference level as chair of the Conference Finance Committee.

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