By Judge Audrey A. Headrick, Chattanooga

“Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.”

—Aristotle

At the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, our mission is to protect employees and employers from the negative consequences associated with a work-related accident. We fulfill this mission in many ways, just one of which is our support of a nationwide organization designed to help families and children in the most tragic cases—work accidents resulting in death or catastrophic injury.

Did you know that over 100 employees died last year due to a work-related accident? An entire family is affected when an employee is either catastrophically injured or killed in a work-related accident. Children’s lives are dramatically changed when a parent is no longer able to provide emotional and financial support. The inability to afford college expenses is just one of the potential, devastating consequences.      

To that end, Kids’ Chance of Tennessee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that makes a difference in children’s lives by offering scholarships to assist them in pursuing a higher education at a college or technical school. The criteria for eligibility are: 

1. Age. The applicant must be between 16 and 25.
2. Need. The applicant must be able to show substantial financial need.
3. Enrollment.  The applicant must be a full-time student at a university or technical college.

An applicant is eligible to receive a scholarship every semester. To requalify, the applicant must submit a transcript every semester and maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher.

The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation supports Tennessee Kids’ Chance at our yearly Educational Conference. The conference is held at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, from June 11-13. You may participate in the virtual auction, which offers items such as Dollywood tickets, hotel packages, designer purses, gift baskets and gift cards. 

You can also contribute to Tennessee Kids’ Chance by donating either money or items for the auction. The auction is available to approximately 500 conference attendees, and the Bureau’s goal this year is to raise $15,000. 

With your help, we can make a difference in the lives of these children by reaching or exceeding this goal to invest in their futures.

Photos by Tennessee State Photographer Randall Spradlin.