AndreaWalks Crosses Finish Line at Speedway

Bristol- April 13 - First Lady Andrea Conte, Governor Phil Bredesen, and registered "AndreaWalks" participants celebrated the last leg of First Lady Conte's statewide walk for children with a victory lap around the Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday, April 13.

The walk in Bristol marked the last community portion of "Andrea Walks for Tennessee's Children."

Starting at the Sullivan County Child Advocacy Center in Blountville, the First Couple and "AndreaWalkers" representing Sullivan County walked the last 5.5 miles to the Bristol Motor Speedway. They were greeted by dozens of local supporters and the release of hundreds of red and yellow balloons, signaling the First Lady had reached the "finish line" of her statewide walk.

To see more photos from Sullivan County click here.

AndreaWalks from Mosheim to Johnson City

Johnson City - April 9 -First Lady Conte and AndreaWalkers walked more than 45 miles through Greene and Washington Counties. During the four-day hike, the First Lady had the chance to visit several schools, including Mosheim Elementary School, Tusculum View Elementary School, Chuckey Doak Middle/High School, Jonesborough Elementary and Middle Schools, University School in Johnson City and Southside Elementary School and Northside Elementary School. First Lady Conte also had the chance to meet employees at the Washington County Courthouse and Johnson City Medical Center.

To see more photos from Greene and Washington Counties click here.

Conte Visits Children's Advocacy Centers in Oneida and LaFollette

March 22 - Oneida - First Lady of Tennessee Andrea Conte and registered "AndreaWalks" participants walked more than 30 miles during a three-day walk through Campbell and Scott Counties. This segment of "AndreaWalks for Tennessee's Children" kicked-off at the Children's Center of the Cumberlands in Oneida, and ended 30 miles later at the Reachs Children's Center in LaFollette.

During the walk, Conte paid visits to a number of local schools where she was cheered on by students, including Scott County High School, Huntsville Elementary School, Fairview School, Campbell County High School, Caryville Middle School and Jacksboro Middle School. Local Girl Scout and Boy Scout Troops also came out to support the walkers.

To see more photos from Campbell and Scott Counties click here.

"AndreaWalks" Progresses through East Tennessee

March 18 - Knoxville - First Lady of Tennessee Andrea Conte and registered "AndreaWalks" participants moved the 600-mile walk even further into East Tennessee with a four-day, 40-mile walk through Loudon, Blount and Knox Counties March 15 - 18.

First Lady Conte paid visits to the 9th Judicial District Child Advocacy Center in Lenoir City, the Blount County Child Advocacy Center in Maryville, and then ended the walk at the Childhelp USA Children's Center of East Tennessee in Knoxville. To date, AndreaWalks has raised more than $700,000 towards its statewide goal of $1 million, and Conte has covered nearly 500 miles.

To see more photos from Loudon and Blount Counties click here.
To see more photos from Blount and Knox Counties click here.

First Lady and Registered Walkers Mark 400^th Mile

March 3 - Riceville - AndreaWalks reached its 400^th mile when First Lady Andrea Conte and registered walkers ended their three-day trip across Bradley and McMinn Counties this week.

Conte and registered walkers now have 200 miles left in the journey that began last year in Memphis and continues across the entire state to raise $1 million for Child Advocacy Centers, nonprofit facilities that help children who have experienced abuse.

To see more photos from Bradley and McMinn Counties click here.

AndreaWalks Resumes in East Tennessee

February 22 - Chattanooga - First Lady Andrea Conte launched the East Tennessee portion of her statewide walk on Tuesday, February 22. More than 60 AndreaWalkers from Hamilton and surrounding counties, including a team from statewide AndreaWalks sponsor BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, joined the First Lady for her first-day's walk through Chattanooga. Students and residents lined the 10-mile route to cheer on Conte and AndreaWalkers as they walked through Downtown Chattanooga and then made their way down Lee Highway toward Cleveland.

On the way, Conte paid visits to Park Ridge Hospital, the McCallie School, Barger Elementary and the 21st Century School, where she received generous donations for the Walk from students. On Day 2, AndreaWalks visited Chattanooga State's East Campus, Blue Planet - a subsidiary of statewide sponsor McKee Foods, and statewide sponsor Corrections Corporation of America's Silverdale Detention Facility.

AndreaWalks started Day 3 from Ooltewah Middle School, where students presented First Lady Conte with an Ooltewah sweatshirt embroidered with the walk logo, the state flag and the words "First Lady" on the sleeve. They also gave her a book of poetry the students had written about the walk, a collage of photos from her ending the day before and a check for $500. Also on Day 3, U.S. Congressman Zach Wamp and First Lady of Idaho Patricia Kempthorne joined the First Lady to walk 10 miles from Chattanooga to Cleveland.

To see more photos from Hamilton and Bradley Counties click here.

First Lady To Kick-Off East Tennessee Portion Of AndreaWalks

February 17 - Nashville - AndreaWalks, First Lady Andrea Conte's 600-mile journey across the state to raise awareness about child abuse and to raise funds for the 27 nonprofit organizations that provide support to child victims of severe physical or sexual abuse, will resume Tuesday, February 22, in Chattanooga, the First Lady announced today...

For more information click here.

First Lady Donates Books to Bobby Ray Memorial Elementary

January 25 - First Lady Andrea Conte presented 700 books to the students of Bobby Ray Memorial Elementary in Warren County recently as an Ambassador of Reading for the "Scholastic Read For 2005" program.

Joining first spouses across the country, Conte became an active participant in "Scholastic Read For 2005," donating 500 English-language children's books from the program as part of a worldwide initiative to encourage literacy.

Conte first became familiar with Bobby Ray Memorial Elementary when the students collected donations and presented them to the First Lady during her walk through McMinnville for "AndreaWalks for Tennessee's Children," her initiative to raise awareness about child abuse and the need to support Tennessee's Child Advocacy Centers. Conte chose to donate her books to Bobby Ray Memorial as a way to reward the McMinnville students for their generosity...

For more information click here.

First Lady Announces "AndreaWalks" Dates For 2005

December 20 - Nashville - Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte today announced the 2005 walk dates for "AndreaWalks for Tennessee's Children," the 600-mile journey she is making across the state to raise awareness of child abuse in Tennessee and to raise funds for the state's nonprofit agencies that provide help to children who have experienced sexual or severe physical abuse...

For more information click here.

"AndreaWalks" Visits Dickson, Putnam Counties

November 16 - First Lady Andrea Conte took the 600-mile journey that she is making to raise awareness of child abuse to Dickson and Putnam Counties. While in Dickson,Tenn., Conte visited the Dickson Police Department. She and registered walkers spent the next day walking through Cookeville, Tenn., where they visited the Upper Cumberland Child Advocacy Center, one of twenty-five nonprofit facilities that help children who have experienced abuse and are the focus of the "AndreaWalks" marathon...

To see more photos from Dickson County click here.
To see more photos from Putnam County click here.

"AndreaWalks" Visits Coffee, Warren Counties

November 9 - First Lady Andrea Conte and registered "AndreaWalks" participants completed a four-day walk segment through Coffee and Warren Counties. Upon reaching the Wilkins Child Center in Tullahoma and the 31st Judicial District Child Advocacy Center in McMinnville, Conte had logged more than 250 miles since she began the statewide marathon in September...

To see more photos from Coffee, Warren Counties
click here.

First Lady Visits Wilson County to Promote Child Advocacy Center Project

November 3 - "AndreaWalks for Tennessee's Children" continued its way across the state as First Lady Andrea Conte and registered participants journeyed through Rutherford and Wilson Counties. In Lebanon, local officials and concerned citizens are working to build a Child Advocacy Center like the twenty-five nonprofit facilities already operating in Tennessee that help children who have experienced abuse...

To see more photos from Rutherford and Wilson Counties
click here.

Governor Joins First Lady, Walkers when "AndreaWalks" Hits Music City

October 27 - Nashville - Governor Phil Bredesen joined First Lady Andrea Conte and registered "AndreaWalks" participants when the 600-mile marathon arrived in Music City . Conte and registered participants began the walk segment at the Nashville Child Advocacy Center, and then made the twenty-mile journey to the Williamson Child Advocacy Center in Franklin, Tenn. Conte is walking to raise badly-needed funding for these nonprofit facilities that serve children who have experienced abuse...

To see more photos from Davidson and Williamson Counties
click here.

First Lady Receives AndreaWalks Donation

October 19 - Clifton - Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte accepted a $1550 check written "for the kids," a donation that brings the "AndreaWalks for Tennessee's Children" campaign closer to its $1 million fund raising goal. Warden Kevin Myers presented the check on behalf of inmates at the South Central Correctional Facility, who held their own indoor marathon there, in honor of the statewide trek Conte is making. She is walking 600 miles to raise funding for nonprofit centers that help children who have experienced sexual or severe physical abuse...

For more information click here.

AndreaWalks in Lawrence, Giles, Lincoln Counties

October 18 - Lawrenceburg - Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte visited with local schoolchildren to speak with them about protecting themselves and their friends from abuse during the Lawrence, Giles and Lincoln Counties segment of "AndreaWalks for Tennessee's Children." Conte is walking across the state to promote awareness of child abuse in Tennessee and to raise funding for the nonprofit centers that help children who have been experienced abuse...

To see more photos from Lawrence, Giles and Lincoln Counties
click here.

AndreaWalks in Robertson, Sumner Counties

October 12 - Springfield - Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte continued her trek across the state as she and registered participants logged another 31 miles for "AndreaWalks for Tennessee's Children" in Robertson and Sumner Counties. Since launching the journey in Memphis, Conte and registered walkers have logged more than 150 miles in their march to support nonprofit centers that help children who have experienced abuse...

To see more photos from Robertson and Sumner Counties
click here.

AndreaWalks Marches into Middle Tennessee

October 5 - Clarksville - Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte took time out in Middle Tennessee to visit with local children, who are the focus of her 600-mile journey across the state. Conte and registered "AndreaWalks for Tennessee's Children" participants are walking to promote awareness of child abuse in Tennessee and to raise funding for nonprofit centers that help children who have experienced abuse...

To see more photos from Montgomery and Robertson Counties
click here.

AndreaWalks In Weakley County

September 28 - Dresden - Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte visited the Weakley County Department of Children's Services when she and registered participants completed the Dresden to Martin leg of "AndreaWalks for Tennessee's Children." Since launching the walk in Memphis earlier this month, hundreds of supporters have joined Conte in supporting Child Advocacy Centers, nonprofit organizations that help children who have experienced sexual or severe physical abuse...

To see more photos from Weakley County
click here.

AndreaWalks in Madison, Henderson Counties

September 14 - Jackson - Madison and Henderson County children surprised Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte with flowers and a song when she walked through the area on her 600-mile journey, "AndreaWalks for Tennessee Children." While in Jackson, Conte also visited the Madison Child Advocacy Center, one of 25 nonprofit agencies that help children who have experienced abuse and are the focus of the statewide trek...

To see more photos from Madison and Henderson Counties
click here.

Governor and First Lady Launch AndreaWalks

September 8 - Memphis - Governor Phil Bredesen joined First Lady Andrea Conte in Memphis when she and a group of "AndreaWalks for Tennessee Children" participants launched the journey that will take Conte across the state. They completed the first portion of a 600-mile trek to raise badly-needed funds for Child Advocacy Centers, nonprofit organizations that help children who have experienced sexual or severe physical abuse...

To see more photos from Kick-Off of Statewide Walk
click here.