May 8, 2008

Hosted by

Regions will serve as Host Sponsor for the Big Brothers Big Tribute on May 8 honoring Andrew Benedict and Jo Walker Meador. Regions Financial Corporation is one of the top 10 bank holding companies in the United States. Locally, Regions is the product of several mergers, including Union Planters in 2004 and AmSouth in 2006.

Andrew Benedict is the former Chairman and President of First American National Bank. He began his banking career in Nashville during the Great Depression and was a “titan” of the Nashville banking community in the 1960’s and 1970’s. While he retired from the day-to-day bank management in 1979, he remained as Senior Chairman of the Board for First American, later serving in the same role with AmSouth Bank, and today, Regions. A champion of many causes, Benedict played an active role in Big Brothers for several decades and served as organization’s president from 1955 to 1956.

Jo Walker-Meador was Executive Director of the Country Music Association from 1962 to 1991, playing a pivotal role in the remarkable growth of the CMA and of the country music industry during her tenure. Walker-Meador established several ground-breaking project at CMA during her tenure, including the Country Music Hall of Fame, the CMA Awards, and Fan Fair. In addition to her many other leadership roles in community endeavors, Walker-Meador was the first woman elected to the board of Big Brothers of Nashville and the first woman to serve as the organization’s president.

The Big Brothers Big Tribute will take place Thursday, May 8 at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, contact Charles Bledsoe at 498-9014 or Stephanie Smartt Heckman at 498-9764.