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Leadership involves much more than heading a company, an organization or group. For members of Leadership Blount, leadership also involves service to the community in ways as diverse as the men and women who are chosen for membership.

Leadership Blount was created in 1990, and its impact on the lives of Blount County citizens has been far-reaching. Through Legacy Projects, which originated in 1997, and other projects, organizations such as Wilderwood Service Dogs, Blount County's school systems, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Pajamas for Kids, Shop with a Cop and New Hope, Blount County Children's Advocacy Center have gained resources to allow them to better serve the community.

Leadership Blount Executive Director Cathy Cate said, “What happens over the course of the year is, people who are participating in Leadership Blount will see organizations that need help monetarily or need board members or need volunteer hours. We try to highlight organizations that don't necessarily get all the attention. ... We try to make sure the class members during the year see organizations that might not be in the forefront of people's minds but still need as much as if not more help than some of the larger organizations.”

Leadership Blount Class of 2008, for example, created a calendar featuring Dogs of the Month and sold them to raise funds so a Blount County child with autism could obtain a service dog through Wilderwood Service Dogs. Tiffany Denyer, president and founder of Wilderwood Service Dogs, said, “Leadership Blount stepped up and helped cover the cost for the family. We were very grateful.”

Some of the class members also volunteered to serve on the organization's board of directors.

The Class of 2009 combined its passion for both education and the environment and distributed grants to five local educators with a focus on environmental studies in the classroom. Funds were raised at the Go Green Gala.

Bonny Millard, Blount Education Initiative executive director, served on the Go Green Grant committee. She said $1,735 was distributed.

“We will have another Go Green Gala next spring and will add those funds to what we had left over this year,” Millard said. “We hope we can get more people to apply for the grants.” Applications will be accepted near the beginning of school, she added.