Community Involvement

Ron Knox is an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Nashville, and a member of the Nashville Vanderbilt Club. He supports the United Way as well as research on cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Ron serves on the Board of Regents for Belmont University and the Advisory Board at Brentwood Academy.

Ron is most proud of his support of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. Below you will find the July 27, 2004 article on Ron's involvement with the YMCA and the acknowledgement he earned for his dedicated service.

From: The Tennessean, Williamson A.M. section, Take a Bow column by Peggy Shaw, Tuesday, July 27, 2004.

Northwestern Mutual awards $25,000 to YMCA volunteer

It’s rewarding to do community service work. It’s even better to get a big reward.

Ronald F. Knox Jr., a financial representative with the Pruett Financial Group of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, based in Maryland Farms, will know how that feels today when he accepts $25,000 for his work with the Middle Tennessee YMCA.

Out of some 7,900 Northwestern Mutual employees across the country, Knox was named the “Most Exceptional Volunteer” in the corporation’s national Community Service Award Program.

“Ron’s leadership has been, and continues to be, a tremendous boost to the YMCA,” said Journey Johnson, president and CEO of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. “He shares our values and believes in our mission of helping people from all walks of life to grow in spirit, mind and body.

“Ron is a man of deep faith, integrity, character and generosity. He has poured heart and soul into strengthening core YMCA programs.”

Specifically, the Brentwood resident is credited with helping to introduce a new income-based membership scale, expand the Y’s Urban Services School program for inner city kids, help develop the plan for a resident camp outside Nashville, and help pilot Northwestern Mutual’s financial literacy program for kids.

Knox will accept his award for these and other accomplishments on stage today at the U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, Northwestern Mutual’s headquarters.

“Small-town boy goes to Milwaukee to get the big check for Tennessee,” he joked last week.

Knox has seen other colleagues accept the award over the last 10 years, and said he’s mostly excited about the fact that the $25,000 will go to his favorite YMCA program, a “boot camp,” formally called the Urban Services School of Academics & Athletics, designed to help young men and women improve their academics, athletics and life skills.

“The boot camp program is for 150 disadvantaged kids who come out for two weeks in the summer, and now we’ll be able to provide follow-up,” Knox explained.

Knox is also happy that the award will remind residents that the YMCA of Middle Tennessee provides $7 million worth of charitable services every year.

“It’s one of the best-kept secrets in Middle Tennessee,” said the Vandy grad, who was asked to serve on the YMCA board about 12 years ago. “I didn’t really know that much about it, but I realized it was a great fit for my values.

“I have a great place in my heart for kids and the community and families.”

Knox is also proud of the fact that Northwestern Mutual emphasizes community service.

“It’s wonderful that my company recognizes the value of charitable organizations, and is willing to support it,” he said. “It’s a great way to pay back into the community.”