![]() ![]() “He didn’t want to call it a museum,” explains Rippy. Kirkland thought they could get it done for about $20 million. To travel without traveling, not have to go so far, and have it not be so expensive.” “He wanted to let people in this part of the world see things they would never get to see, to increase their knowledge of what the world really is like, not just what you are here. “Basically, his idea was that he wanted to bring to West Tennessee what people would not get an opportunity to directly see somewhere else, like New York or Washington,” Rippy says. One day, almost a decade ago, Kirkland called up his old friend Rippy to run a notion by him. His wife Jenny is a semi-retired philanthropist still living in the same small Obion County community - 120 miles straight up Highway 51 from downtown Memphis, just south of the Kentucky border - where Robert grew up. Robert Kirkland, who passed away in 2015, was the Union City entrepreneur behind the Kirkland’s chain of home furnishing stores. “Still, to this day, I can’t believe it.” I was the first one who heard it,” says CEO Jim Rippy. Kirkland decided he wanted to do this, he came to me. You can view photos and more information on Discovery Park’s blog post.Discovery Park of America is a crazy idea. A copy of the report can now be viewed online. Other money raised will support every aspect of operating Discovery Park from regular maintenance and day-to-day operations to allowing educators to create new interactive exhibits and develop programs and classes.Īs guests departed the event, they were given Discovery Park’s 2019 Impact Report that showed the many ways the organization contributed to the region in 2019 and listed the names of families, individuals and corporate partners who made a contribution in 2019. Money raised from the silent auction will benefit the Kirkland scholarship fund that provides free admission to students from schools where 75 percent or more of the students qualify for the free lunch program. In an impact video that premiered during the event, Discovery Park president and CEO Scott Williams commented, “We’ve been given a powerful gift by Robert and Jenny Kirkland and thanks to our volunteers, our sponsors and our generous donors, we plan to make certain we take stewardship of that gift very seriously so that Discovery Park will be here for the communities we serve for decades to come.” Thank you for this award, God Bless and Titan Up!” It’s the most powerful thing that we can do. He said, “Giving back will ignite your soul. Jon Robinson, the general manager for the Tennessee Titans, summed up the spirit of the evening perfectly when he encouraged the crowd to give back however they can in their own communities. I know it will be serving the community for generations to come.” In accepting the award, Carl Kirkland gave a short introduction on how he and his wife, Alice, spent their early years in Union City and their love for West Tennessee before saying, “Thank you for being here and thank you to Jenny and Robert for the idea of this great place coming to be. There was a large group of more than 50 of their friends from Jackson who came to the event to show their support for the couple. Ron Kirkland, who is Carl’s cousin and the brother of Discovery Park founder, Robert Kirkland. Master of Ceremonies was Bill Minihan, director at Badgett Playhouse, while the live auction was led by Jay Cash.Īlice and Carl Kirkland were presented their award by Dr. During dinner, background music was provided by Jackson Symphony musicians Grace Shaw and Elise Dougan on violins and Daniel Strawser on cello. During the silent auction and cocktail party that proceeded the awards dinner, The Brown-Short Duo entertained the guests as they bid on the 70 silent auction items that were donated by organizations in support of Discovery Park’s mission. As guests arrived, they enjoyed music provided by Charles Lewis on the flute and Dr. Live music was one of the highlights of the evening. Rippy was instrumental in the planning and development of Discovery Park and was the president of the organization in its first half decade. Jon and Jaimie Robinson, Nashville, Tenn.Ī special Discovery award, presented at the event by board member Bob Cartwright, was given to Jim Rippy, a close friend of Discovery Park founders Robert and Jenny Kirkland.Carl and Alice Kirkland, Jackson, Tenn.Many in attendance had come to witness their friends and family members receiving the award and were visiting Discovery Park for the first time. The inaugural gala and fundraiser was attended by a sold-out crowd of 350 from around the region who joined Discovery Park in celebrating the winners, all of whom have deep roots in West Tennessee. Union City, Tenn.- On Saturday evening, March 7, Discovery Park of America honored seven individuals who, like the museum and heritage park, bring enlightenment, awareness and education to those whose lives they’ve touched. ![]()
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