Both Shaw and Thornton are actively involved in planning and
securing support for the event which is the third largest March of
Dimes fundraiser in the nation.
Matthew is senior vice
president of FedEx U.S. Operations and has been with the company since
1978. A native Memphian, he is involved in our community and is
currently donating his personal time to building a successful
fundraising event. “The March of Dimes mission is so important to the
future of our community that I felt compelled to participate in helping
raise funds for such a worthy cause,” said Matthew.
A 25
year veteran of the financial industry, Robert Shaw is the president,
chief executive officer, and a founder of Paragon National Bank. A
native of Oxford, Mississippi, Robert is a recognized leader in banking
and has a strong commitment to the mid-south community. “As a father, I
am particularly aware of how precious our community’s children are and
the March of Dimes works to save babies lives everyday,” he says. “I
can’t think of a better way to help our community than working with
them.”
FedEx is the presenting sponsor and Paragon National
Bank is a corporate sponsor of the event. This year’s gala will be held
at The Peabody Hotel in the Grand Ballroom, November 4 beginning at
5:30 p.m. Almost two dozen chefs will serve their signature dishes and
guests will have the opportunity to bid on custom dining and travel
packages. Wine tasting and silent and live auctions will be other
highlights of the evening. The gala is ranked among the top 10 events
staged by the March of Dimes nationally raising a record-breaking
$293,781 in 2006 directly benefiting birth defects and premature
births.
A limited number of individual tickets are
available at $150.00 per person. Sponsorship tables also are available
beginning at $1,500. For ticket and table sales or more information go
to www.marchofdimes.com/tennessee or please call 901-385-8580.