The Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Awards Gala and Fundraiser will bring together thought leaders, policymakers, philanthropists and others to celebrate the winners, all of whom have deep roots in West Tennessee. The 2022 Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Award winners are:

• Anita Kay Archer, Jackson, Tenn.
• LtGen John “Glad” Castellaw USMC (Ret.), Crockett Mills, Tenn.
• Dr. Ron Kirkland, Jackson, Tenn.
• Jerry Reese, Tiptonville, Tenn.

The gala and fundraiser will be held on Sat., March 5, 2022 with cocktails at 6:00 p.m. and an awards dinner at 7:00 p.m. The award ceremony will be hosted by Jennifer Horbelt, co-anchor of WPSD Local 6 News.

Entertainment for the cocktail party will be Terry Mike Jeffrey. Jeffrey is an Emmy-nominated singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who has performed all over the world. A unique entertainer singing musical styles from most genres all of his life, Terry Mike is especially known world-wide for his presentation of Elvis Presley’s music. In recent years he has performed the king of rock ‘n’ roll’s songs with symphony orchestras across the country, including those in Detroit, Jacksonville, Birmingham, Denver, St Louis and Knoxville. Jeffrey has also performed live with Jewel, The Chicks, Travis Tritt, Jerry Lee Lewis, Juice Newton, BJ Thomas, Ricky Skaggs, Leon Russell and many others. A popular performer in Tennessee, he has been featured in 5 concerts with the Nashville Symphony, and 17 concerts fronting the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He also sings and performs shows regularly at the Badgett Playhouse Theater in Grand Rivers, KY.

Dinner entertainment will be provided by “The Art Edmaiston 4tet.” Art Edmaiston began playing the saxophone at age 11 in Troy, Tenn. and later moved to Memphis.

Being a reliable soloist and flexible section player has carried Art around the world providing opportunities to perform, record and jam with a wide variety of well-known musicians, producers and music legends.

Gregg Allman, the Doobie Brothers, Bobby “Blue” Bland, JJ Grey & Mofro, Wayne Newton, Justin Timberlake, Jonny Lang, North Mississippi Allstars, Allman Betts Band, Stevie Wonder, Lucero, BJ the Chicago Kid, Al Green, the Memphis Horns, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Southern Avenue, Jim Dickinson, Don Bryant & The Bo-Keys,  John Nemeth, Mason Ruffner, Matt Ross-Spang, Scott Bomar, Boo Mitchell and the Coasters have all called on Edmaiston for stage and studio work.

“The Art Edmaiston 4tet” features Logan Hanna on guitar, Neal Bowen on bass, Tom Lonardo on drums and Art Edmaiston on saxophone.

TICKETS

Tickets to the 2022 Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Discovery Awards are available to purchase here.

The 2022 Robert E. and Jenny D. Discovery Awards Gala and Fundraiser Sponsors

• Cocktail entertainment sponsor – Color Shop Construction.
• Trophy sponsor – His Call, Inc.
• Welcome champagne sponsor – Whitehorn, Tankersley & David, PLLC.
• Signature cocktail sponsor – HC Hospitality and Holiday Inn Express and Suites.
• Dinner entertainment sponsor – Central Technologies, Inc.
• Fund-A-Need sponsor – Lee Turner from S.M. Lawrence.
• Diamond table sponsors – the Kirkland family and Tri-State International.
• Ruby table sponsors – Alexander Thompson Arnold, Commercial Bank and Trust Company, Cox Oil Company, Inc., Farmspace Systems, LLC, friends of Anita Kay Archer and Dr. Ron Kirkland, HC Hospitality and Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Jerry Ward Autoplex, Aspell, The Bank of Jackson, Union City Coca-Cola Bottling Company, University of Tennessee at Martin, Warner Law Firm PLC and Third & Church, Westan Insurance Group, West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation and Jerry and Gwen Reese.

The mission of Discovery Park of America is to inspire children and adults to see beyond. Discovery Park of America is a 501(c)(3) public charity funded by generous individuals, corporations and foundations including its founder, the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation.