Robert Johnson
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Springfield, Ga.
Posts: 4254 |
Name
quote: Originally posted by Bob Hennessey
St Jude's Coon Hunt
I found this article. Is it true, if so crazy?
St. Jude cited racial concerns in asking Decatur County to change the name of its annual hunt. (WSMV)
St. Jude cited racial concerns in asking Decatur County to change the name of its annual hunt. (WSMV)
DECATURVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
For the past 40 years, Decatur County has hosted a hunting event to raise money for the patients at St. Jude Children’s Hospital. So far, it has raised $4.5 million.
Decatur County Mayor Mike Creasy said the hospital is now threatening to turn down the donations unless the county changes the name of the event.
For decades, the event has been known as the Decatur County World’s Largest Coon Hunt.
The Coon Hunt Board told Channel 4 that St. Jude has threatened to disassociate with the event and not accept donations unless Decatur County changes the name to raccoon hunt, citing racial concerns.
“Very disappointed,” Creasy said. “It diminishes our desire to even think of moving forward with St. Jude.”
Creasy and the board agreed to change the event’s name, but St. Jude again asked the county to change the name to raccoon festival, citing animal rights concerns.
“It’s not a festival and it will never be a festival,” Creasy said. “It’s a raccoon hunt and it’s what it’s going to remain.”
St. Jude officials told Channel 4 they never refused donations from the event or the event organizers.
A St. Jude spokesperson issued the following statement:
“It is our standard practice to accept donations from a variety of events and people of all walks of life, professions and backgrounds who desire to help support our mission and we will continue to do so. The event committee voted 100 percent to change the name and we support their decision and appreciate the continued desire of the community to help in our work in finding cures and saving children.
”
“We didn’t do this for the board of directors. We didn’t do it for anyone that’s arguing their point. It’s for the kids, and that’s the reason we wanted to continue our relationship with St. Jude,” Creasy said.
The mayor said the city plans to change all of its signs to now say raccoon. However, the group behind the event is a registered LLC. With six weeks to go before the event, Creasy said they don’t have time to legally change the name.
Read more: http://www.wsmv.com/story/31347645/...t#ixzz41fjZkeWf
It is true Bob. I have been the MOH at the event for 4 of the last six years, with last year being canceled. It was talked of back in 2018 and I thought a resolution was made in 2019. Those folks surrounding the hunt are in it for only one thing, and that is to help the kids in need. When we say kids now, we need to be careful to not offend someone there. Humans have children. Goats have kids. The world is a messed up place and getting worse everyday with the current mess in Washington DC. If the bunch that complain about names would just come to Parsons TN and look around at the sincere concern these people have for the children of all colors, maybe they to would leave there with tears in their eyes. You can feel their love for that hospital and what it has done and will continue to do for our children in the future. I have been blessed to be able to contribute my small part to this hunt, and I am truly thankful for the friends I have made there and the life long commitments they have made to help rid the world of a dreaded childhood disease. Anyone who has ever been there comes away feeling better knowing they helped. In Fact, most of the winners return the cash portion of the prizes as donations. MY HAT IS OFF TO THEM ALL, and to those who come to hunt. A big Thank you from the Johnson's.
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