Local ‘Point of Light’ Miss Hamilton County honored for her volunteering
By Kathy Gilbert, Staff Writer

Miss Hamilton County Ansley Reagan unwrapped an unusual after-Christmas present. Last month, she became the first person in the Chattanooga area to receive a national Daily Point of Light award from the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network. "I screamed and jumped up and down when they called," Ms. Reagan said. "It’s just a huge honor to be recognized with such outstanding volunteers."

Ms. Reagan, a 22-year-old Ooltewah resident, was saluted for creating Project C.A.R.E., a nonprofit organization that serves the elderly. Project C.A.R.E. links community groups and volunteers to improve living and social conditions for the elderly.

Former President George H.W. Bush first spoke of America’s service volunteers as "a thousand points of light" during his 1988 Republican National Convention acceptance speech. By the end of his administration, 1,020 volunteers had received Points of Light awards, said Sherri Thomas, Points of Light director of recognition services. Today, more than 3,377 people and groups have been honored, she said. One award is given out each business day of the year, she said. Thirty awards have been given in Tennessee. Ms. Reagan is the first honoree in the Chattanooga area, Ms. Thomas said. Awards are given to those who have a "lifestyle of service."

In addition to creating Project C.A.R.E., Ms. Reagan plays harp for nursing home patients, founded an intergenerational reading program with the Cleveland Public Library and the Girl Scouts Moccasin Bend Council, created a "beauty day" for seniors at an area nursing home and designed a Girl Scout patch for reading.

Ms. Reagan also was honored for serving as a legal volunteer guardian for a senior in a Chattanooga nursing home. Volunteer guardians are court-sworn protectors of seniors who meet with social workers, facility staff and others to advocate for their senior’s interests, Ms. Reagan said.

A recent Lee University graduate, Ms. Reagan is preparing for the Miss Tennessee pageant in June, then plans to seek a career in pharmaceutical sales. Jerome Hammond, Lee University’s associate vice president for university relations, said school officials are proud of Ms. Reagan. "Ansley is bright, talented, hard working and engaged in making a difference for others," he said.

For more information on Volunteer Guardianship, call Jan Levan at (423) 280-5203.