Great Smoky Mountains News Release
Immediate Release
May 22, 2007

Contact:
Jim Hart
Sarah Weeks

FRIENDS OF THE SMOKIES WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
KODAK, TN- Sarah Weeks joins Friends of the Smokies as Director of Development. “We are delighted that Sarah has chosen to join the Friends’ management group,” says Friends President Jim Hart. For many years, Weeks, a native of Chattanooga, was Director of Alumni Programs at the University of Tennessee. “Our Friends organization is fortunate that Sarah’s deep love for Great Smoky Mountains National Park led her to become part of the staff of Friends of the Smokies.” In Sarah’s words, “To be working with the Friends in the effort to preserve and protect the Smokies is a dream come through”.

Friends of the Smokies’ mission to preserve and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park blends closely with many of Sarah’s personal interests. Her passion for hiking and fly-fishing means that many of her weekends are spent in or near the Park’s streams, in places like the Cataloochee Valley. Also a teacher of fly-tying, Sarah volunteers with Casting for Recovery, a non-profit organization which sponsors fly-fishing retreats for breast cancer survivors. In her service on the board of the East Tennessee Historical Society, and as a volunteer with Knox Heritage, Sarah supports cultural and historical preservation in the region.

“Sarah’s professional background and her personal concern for our mountains make her an excellent fit for our organization,” explains Jim Hart. In her new role with Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, she will focus on broadening Friends’ fundraising base, building relationships with members, and expanding awareness of Friends’ mission and the Park’s needs across Tennessee and in neighboring states.

Since 1993, Friends of the Smokies has raised more than $19 million to preserve and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park by raising funds and awareness and providing volunteers for needed projects. For more information, visit www.friendsofthesmokies.org.