Welcome 2020 Board Member

Nyda Brook is a Women’s Fund of East Tennessee Legacy member, serves on the Annual Women’s Fund Luncheon Committee, and is a major sponsor. Most recently, she, and her husband William B. Smith, MD, FACC, shared their sea-going vessel, Sensation, with the Women’s Fund for a successful Cruising with the Coaches fundraiser. She is passionate about the WFET mission and vision.

Nyda is the Vice President and General Counsel of the New Orleans Center for Clinical Research (NOCCR) now aligned with AMR Company. Prior to that time, she practiced healthcare law in New Orleans. Established in New Orleans in 1985, NOCCR still maintains the original Canal Street location. Following Hurricane Katrina, the Phase I unit and company headquarters were moved to Knoxville, which brought Nyda and family to our community.

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From Julie’s Desk

Thank you all for being here! I am thrilled to be celebrating my first anniversary as Executive Director of the Women’s Fund of East Tennessee (WFET), I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve this organization. Although I had spent several years volunteering with WFET—including serving as Chair of the Annual Luncheon Committee—and joined the Board before accepting this role in July 2025, nothing could have prepared me for the pace and excitement of this first year. Together, we’ve accomplished more than I could have imagined.

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Grantee Spotlight: Fostering Hope TN

We sat down with Chante Hensley, Executive Director of Fostering Hope TN, one of the Women’s Fund’s newer Self-Sustainability grantees that has supported foster care, adoption, and kinship community in our area since 2013. Chante and her husband, Matt, have not only...

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From Julie’s Desk…

Our 15th Anniversary Year has launched with a blast—thankfully not the Arctic kind we’ve all been experiencing recently! As we celebrate this milestone, we are truly “saving a seat at our table for you” and actively seeking luncheon sponsorships.

If you are reading this, we hope you have already made plans to join us on Thursday, March 26.

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