Kara Lawson, Peyton Manning On Pat Summitt Advisory Board

Here’s the release sent out by the Pat Summitt Foundation:

Knoxville, Tenn. Jan. 8, 2013, – The Pat Summitt Foundation, a fund of East Tennessee Foundation, announced today the establishment of a 13- member Advisory Board to guide the Foundation in strategically building and utilizing its resources to achieve the organization’s mission and vision. Jim Haslam II, founder and chairman emeritus of Pilot Corporation of Knoxville, has been named board chairman. Haslam joins the foundation in also announcing the board’s honorary co-chairs. They are WNBA All-Star and ESPN Analyst Kara Lawson and NFL four-time MVP and Denver Broncos Quarterback Peyton Manning.

As former University of Tennessee, Knoxville student-athletes who have excelled both in their collegiate and professional athletic careers, Kara and Peyton share great respect and admiration for Coach Summitt as a mentor, coach and friend. Haslam noted that their support of Pat and the foundation as honorary co-chairs will help to intensify the national spotlight on the mission of fighting Alzheimer’s disease through research for a cure, support services and building education and awareness.

“It’s not often you get the privilege of working with an icon, particularly on such an important goal. I am honored to be asked to chair the Pat Summitt Foundation Advisory Board and I look forward to working with Kara, Peyton and the other outstanding members of this Board,” said Haslam.

“Almost every family is touched in some way by Alzheimer’s disease and it is our mission to help find a cure as quickly as possible. You know, Pat Summitt has been a success at everything she has ever taken on and I truly believe her support will make a huge difference on the national platform for Alzheimer’s.”

Members named to serve on the Advisory Board include: Dr. Jimmy Cheek, chancellor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Danielle Donehew, associate commissioner, Big East Conference; Dan W. Holbrook, attorney at law, Holbrook Peterson Smith PLLC; Dr. Joe E. Johnson, president emeritus, University of Tennessee; Brenda Lawson, founder, Brenda Lawson & Associates LLC; Michelle Marciniak, former Lady Vol All-American, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, SHEEX, Inc.; Dr. Ronald C. Petersen, director, Mayo Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center / Mayo Clinic Study of Aging; Betsy Roberts, retired women’s associate athletics director of development, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Anne Sprouse, University of Tennessee Medical Center; and Tyler Summitt, Pat Summitt’s son and co-founder of The Pat Summitt Foundation / Assistant Coach Marquette University Women’s Basketball.

“I am both humbled and pleased that each of these individuals have made a commitment to support The Pat Summitt Foundation and our mission to promote Alzheimer’s awareness and to provide assistance by awarding grants to nonprofits providing support services for patients, their families and caregivers and to those conducting research,” said Pat Summitt.
“As a former coach, I know that for a team to be successful, it is essential to recruit great leaders. I have every confidence that with this team of advisors surrounding and guiding Tyler and me that ‘Together We Will Win’.”