Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Walker.
Hi Emily, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been with Team Chad for 5 years and took a windy road to get here. I spent 15 years in the television industry, which I absolutely loved. It was the perfect first career right out of college and taught me the importance of hard work, storytelling and humility. The television industry offered me a chance to see how to take shows from concept to finished product. From Trading Spaces to many a Food Network show, I learned so much from every member of the crew. When I moved to Nashville, I took a break from production and spent time with my children.
I firmly believe that the good Lord opens up the right opportunities at the right time. After spending many years serving various charities as a board member, Team Chad reached out to be their first Executive Director. It’s been an extreme honor to carry on Chad and the board’s mission. When I stepped into the role, my first priority was clarity, whether you read our newsletter or attended an event I wanted to make certain that our mission was very clear. Thanks to an incredibly supportive board support, we’ve been able to expand that vision significantly over the last few years.
Today, as we celebrate Team Chad’s 20th anniversary, our footprint has grown to include our our Direct Patient Assistance Program and the Team Chad Courtesy Shuttles in partnership with Nashville General Hospital. Our impact brings real, tangible relief to those facing a cancer diagnosis and also reminds each patient that they are not in their battles alone. I look forward to celebrating our 20th with all of our supporters on August 22nd at Audi Nashville, 1576 Mallory Lane, Brentwood, TN 37027.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As Team Chad’s first employee, I faced a steep learning curve when it came to mastering the various digital platforms that support modern nonprofits. Some systems I inherited, and others I discovered through networking, colleagues, and endless webinars. I love to learn, so I threw myself into understanding the tech and backend infrastructure needed to scale our non-profit.
In those early days, building that structural foundation felt overwhelming. Not long after I started, our board chair at the time approached me about launching what would eventually become our cornerstone initiative: the Direct Patient Assistance Program. Looking at the sheer mountain of initial details on my plate, I politely told him, ‘Not right now.’
About nine months later, he came back to me with a smile and told me nicely that he didn’t like to be told no.
By that point, fortunately, the organizational foundations were secure, and I had the bandwidth to start thinking through taking a program from scratch. We spent the next nine months working as a dedicated subcommittee to design a program with absolute integrity. Ultimately, we decided on providing up to $5,000 per patient, paid directly to landlords, leasing agencies, banks, or utility companies to ensure every single dollar went exactly where it was needed most.
Launching that program has been rewarding. Hearing the immediate wave of relief in a parent’s or patient’s voice when we tell them that Team Chad is covering their housing for an extended period makes every single hurdle completely worth it. It’s been an honor to watch this program grow.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At our core, Team Chad specializes in identifying and filling the critical, often overlooked gaps that families face when fighting cancer. One of our past board presidents beautifully described us as ‘angel investors’. We don’t just provide standard aid; we look for innovative ways to solve systemic problems, provide the initial seed money to get them off the ground, and let the impact speak for itself.
A perfect example of this is our partnership with Nashville General Hospital. Team Chad provided the initial funding to help launch their Food Pharmacy. Once other organizations witnessed the profound impact it was making on patient health and nutrition, it grew into a permanent, vital pillar of the Nashville General community.
What I am most proud of is how we’ve watched that initial ‘angel investor’ mindset ripple outward into mobility and access. Since I became Executive Director, we have expanded our footprint at Nashville General to include a 13-seater courtesy van and a 6-seat golf cart. The van provides free transportation for patients to any medical appointment in the city, provided their primary treatment is at Nashville General. It has completely opened up access to care for individuals who otherwise had no way to get to treatment opportunities. It is truly remarkable how much hope and relief a single van can restore to a community. Having had the privilege of riding in the courtesy van, I can attest that the sense of community and genuine joy found on those trips is truly a gift.
What sets us apart from others is the sheer scale and speed of our direct support. While there are several wonderful programs that offer minor housing assistance, very few provide up to $5,000 in direct relief. As the cost of living in Tennessee continues to skyrocket, the fear of losing a home creates an agonizing level of stress for someone undergoing cancer treatments. Our homes are meant to be sanctuaries for peace and healing. By securing their housing, we don’t just pay a bill, we protect that peace so our patients can focus entirely on fighting for their lives.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Most of my favorite memories take place in summer. I love the longer warm days and the slower pace.
Growing up, summer always meant a family beach trip to Litchfield, South Carolina, where we spent a week enjoying the ocean, fresh seafood and if I was lucky a key lime pie.
The rest of the summer months were spent skiing, tubing and laughing on Norris Lake. Those carefree easy days on the water, followed by a delicious dock burger and cobbler spent with family and friends are truly some of my favorites memories.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://teamchad.us
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamchad.us/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teamchadtn/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-chad/
- Other: https://TC20.givesmart.com
