Darrell Waltrip Automotive Honors Mary Beth Gates

Full-time mother & volunteer named May Hometown Hero

L to R: Darrell Waltrip, Mary Beth Gates (Volunteer Accountant, High Hopes & Hometown Hero of the month), John Gallagher (General Manager, DWA), Holly Beth Roach (Fund Development Coordinator, High Hopes), Sallie Vanhoose (Executive Assistant to ED, High Hopes)

On Tuesday May 17, Darrell Waltrip Automotive honored their second Hometown Hero, Mary Beth Gates of Nashville. In the spirit of Mother’s Day, she was recognized for her inspiring approach to community service as a full-time mother and volunteer.

After leaving HCA in 2006, Mary Beth became High Hopes’ Volunteer Accountant, volunteering approximately 552 hours annually. “Mary Beth goes above and beyond the day-to-day accounting duties necessary for High Hopes to function,” says Fund Development Coordinator, Holly Beth Roach. What began with a complete reorganization and restructuring of their financial system has now become a full-time position. Mary Beth consults with the Board of Directors, prepares and presents reports, pitches in at fundraisers, and is an advocate in the community for the organization.

Above all, Mary Beth spends her time away from volunteer work with her child. As a mother of a child with special needs, Mary Beth has a special connection with High Hopes. It’s no surprise that she chose the $500 donation by Darrell Waltrip Automotive to go toward High Hopes: an Inclusive Preschool and Pediatric Therapy Clinic with a mission to equip children and youth with the skills necessary to achieve success through education, rehabilitation, and loving support. To learn more, visit www.highhopesnash.org.

As a thank you for Mary Beth’s continued service, she received a relaxing weekend get-away complimentary of Aloft Hotel of Cool Springs.
Darrell Waltrip Automotive’s Hometown Heroes is a monthly event honoring Middle Tennessee residents who have made a positive impact on their community. Nominate your hero at www.darrellwaltrip.com. If you have been inspired by this story to get involved in your community, please visit www.givingmatters.com.