Nancy’s House
Jackson Padgett and Mark Negrete (owners of Bill’s Filling Station and Georgie’s Alibi) have owned a home in Tennessee for 17 years. Tennessee is their second home, but they treat the charities and the community as well as they do here in South Florida.
Jackson Padgett and Mark Negrete (owners of Bill’s Filling Station and Georgie’s Alibi) have owned a home in Tennessee for 17 years. Tennessee is their second home, but they treat the charities and the community as well as they do here in South Florida. Their favorite charity in Tennessee is Nancy’s House. Unfortunately not all charities are as generously supported as those here in South Florida, so Jackson, Mark and the entire staff of Alibi and Bill’s are throwing a benefit for Nancy’s House the weekend of Friday and Saturday, May 15th and 16th.
Nancy’s House is a not-for-profit agency helping people and families affected or infected by HIV and AIDS in Bradley, Polk, Meigs and McMinn counties of Tennessee. They provide support, advocacy and educational services throughout their four-county region. All services, tests and programs are provided FREE OF CHARGE.
On June 24th Nancy Cardwell would have turned 37. Although she died in 1995, Nancy’s dream of making a difference is a reality today at Nancy’s House as they continue to provide support and promote awareness for and about HIV/AIDS. An honors graduate from Bradley Central High School, Nancy discovered she had HIV at a school-sponsored blood drive when she was only 17 years old. As she learned first-hand how to live with her illness, Nancy began sharing her story with churches, schools and youth groups. At 16, Nancy did what most teenagers do. She got a car, found a job and started dating. She and her boyfriend had unprotected sex and they broke up before senior prom. Although AIDS and other STIs (sexually transmitted infections) were mentioned in health class, Nancy didn’t think she needed to worry about them. “I wasn’t a bad person, so how could it happen to me?” Nancy said in an interview at a local high school. “But it did.” After her diagnosis, Nancy realized that facing HIV required her to completely change her way of thinking. Instead of planning for a career, a husband and children, Nancy began to value every moment. Rather than always looking into the future, Nancy learned to enjoy life one day at a time. “I have to accept the fact that I don’t have as much time as you do. I have to cram more into the time I do have. I feel rushed. I want to do everything.” Support from her family and close friends meant everything to Nancy. She believed that everyone affected by HIV and AIDS should receive the same kind of love and support. This dream birthed Nancy’s House through contributions from family and friends after her death. The stigma surrounding her illness never stopped Nancy from sharing her story and touching the lives of each person she met. “I am not ashamed. People need to see that nice people like me get AIDS, and nobody deserves to get it at all.
The mission of Nancy’s House is to support and advocate for individuals and families who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, as well as provide the community with accurate and appropriate HIV/AIDS education, to facilitate awareness and to offer HIV testing.
For more information call (423) 559-8592 or toll free (800) 454-3316. Mailing Address: Nancy’s House P.O. Box 5086 Cleveland, Tennessee 37320-5086; NancysHouse.org.
