Peggie Russell

Peggie Russell is definitely a “Daily Point of Light.” She routinely clothes, feeds, assists and welcomes those in need. In her role at Nike Inc., she works as a full time Business Analyst in Delivery Planning, but she also serves as the Chair of the Nike TN African American Network. Under Peggie’s leadership, the 126 Nike TN AAN Network members sponsor diversity events throughout the year to educate and entertain the Nike employees.

In 2006, Peggie received an Honorable Mention for the Nike World Headquarters for the Community Involvement Award and in 2007 she received the Nike TN AAN Leadership Award. As the Executive Director of Stop the Madness Inc., Peggie has engaged this organization with Hickory Ridge Middle School and works diligently to recruit volunteer mentors from the community. Under Peggie’s guidance, Stop the Madness has established effective partnerships with the Memphis Mentoring Partnership; Operation Reach Coalition; Operation Safe Communities; Volunteer Memphis/Hands on Memphis; Center for Nonprofit Excellence and several other local organizations. Peggie also serves several other organizations such as an Advisory Board Member for EcOp a MLF ministry; Center Industry Council Member for the Benjamin L. Hooks Job Corps Center; an active member of the Coalition of 100 Black Women Memphis Chapter and as an Honorary Advisory Board Member for the Academy of Financial Management. She has been selected as a Leadership Academy 2008 Fellow.

The Memphis community has recognized Peggie’s work with at risk youth through numerous awards, including the 31st Annual Spirit of Giving Award from Volunteer Memphis; selection as Memphis’ Woman Magazine 50 Women Who Make a Difference; Parent of the Year Award form Hickory Ridge Middle School; and several articles in the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper.

In the past year, she has worked to provide 100 new winter coats to elementary children in the Hickory Hill community; trained numerous mentors to work with at risk youth; provided 70 NBA tickets to at risk youth through the Grizzlies Ticket for Kids Program; donated books to Hickory Ridge Middle School; served as the Chair of the Operation REACH (Restoring, Employing, Advocating, Challenging and Helping) Coalition which works to decrease gang involvement and employ individuals with criminal records; served as the Executive Director of Stop the Madness on a volunteer basis; mentored 14 children in the Hickory Hill area who she often escorted to church and served dinner at her home; and served as the faculty/student mentor and the University of Phoenix where she also teaches part-time. She is married; the mother of four biological children and step-mother to four.