Randy Smith
Recently a program was started called, "Dining Out For Life," benefitting people who are affected by HIV.Tonight several local restaurants will be partnering with Chattanooga Cares to raise money to support the organization's nutrition assistance program. There is a big need for fresh fruit and vegetables and the funds raised this evening will go to support that need.
My wife Shelia and I will be at the Southern Star restaurant
tonight as hosts for their "Dining Out For Life" event.
Here is how it works. The restaurant will give a portion of the proceeds to Chattanooga Cares. Then, diners will have an opportunity to give again if they wish. (That's when I come around and ask you to give me money.) Those of you who know me have been hit up before to give money for this cause or that cause so this is nothing new to you. The good part about this is, you don't have to give me anything. Just because you chose the Southern Star to dine this evening means you gave money to Chattanooga Cares. I'm hoping you will me a buck or two. but if you don't that's okay! Heck, we can even talk about Tennessee football, but there may be a slight charge for that.
You see, AIDS is becoming a "forgotten" disease by many people. There is no cure for AIDS, but there is treatment that works. Even with treatment, the scars of doing battle with the disease can be too much to bare. Good nutrition is vital to treatment for HIV and AIDS and fresh fruit and veggies for the Cares' Market is critical. That's where you come in.
The Southern Star is one of my very favorite places to eat. They have an array of fresh vegetables to eat with some super meat entrees. And you talk about desserts.....my favorites are the caramel cake and their homemade banana pudding. That's enough about the menu because most of my friends already know about the Southern Star. What they don't know a lot about is Chattanooga Cares.
Cares was founded several years ago to help people who contacted the HIV virus. It's a wonderful caring organization that does so much good in our community for a lot of people.
I am not writing this to take one side or the other in how opinions are formed about HIV, or AIDS. I am writing this to ask for your help for those who are sick. That's all. So come out and enjoy great food and take advantage of the opportunity to help those in need. After all, it is more blessed to give than to receive.
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Randy Smith has been covering sports on radio, television and print for the past 45 years. After leaving WRCB-TV in 2009, he has written two books, and has continued to free-lance as a play-by-play announcer. He is currently teaching Broadcasting at Coahulla Creek High School near Dalton, Ga.
His career has included a 17-year stretch as host of the Kickoff Call In Show on the University of Tennessee’s prestigious Vol Network. He has been a member of the Vol Network staff for thirty years.
He has done play-by-play on ESPN, ESPN II, CSS, and Fox SportSouth, totaling more than 500 games, and served as a well-known sports anchor on Chattanooga Television for more than a quarter-century.
In 2003, he became the first television broadcaster to be inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Area Sports Hall of Fame. Randy and his wife Shelia reside in Hixson. They have two married children, (Christi and Chris Perry; Davey and Alison Smith.) They have four grandchildren, Coleman, Boone, DellaMae and CoraLee.