The Rev. Dr. Jerry Askew, archdeacon in the East Tennessee Episcopal Diocese, will receive the 2024 Bruce McCarty Community Impact Award at the upcoming Celebration of Design, benefiting East Tennessee Community Design Center. The event will be 5-9 p.m. Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at Historic Ramsey House, 2614 Thorn Grove Pike, Knoxville.
The award is given in memory of Bruce McCarty, a founder of the center in April 1970 to bring professional design and planning services to nonprofit groups and agencies that lack the resources to obtain these services through the private sector. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit serves 16 counties. See its PBS 50th anniversary video here.
The October event will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks, silent auction and the presentation of ETCDC’s two annual awards. Valet parking available. Ticket and sponsorship information here.
Askew, 70, has held many jobs in Knoxville. He currently works at St. John’s Episcopal Church with 16 active deacons across 43 churches.
Highlights of his career include:
- Leadership at St. Mary’s Medical Center and its successor, Tennova
- President of the East TN Foundation
- President and CEO of the Alliance for Better Nonprofits.
In addition to that, he still found time to serve on 61 Knoxville non-profit boards and chaired 14 of them including the Volunteer Ministry Center, the Episcopal School of Knoxville, the Knoxville Utilities Board and the Sertoma MyLife Foundation.
He is married to Robyn Jarvis Askew, an attorney and shareholder in the Knoxville office of Lewis Thomason.
“Compassion and humility are two of Jerry’s greatest attributes and he has an innate ability to connect with people, no matter their status,” according to ETCDC.
“Jerry has made a huge difference in our community and the ETCDC is pleased to honor him with the Bruce McCarty Impact Award.”
Information and quotes provided by the East Tennessee Community Development Center.