Chamique Holdsclaw: ‘No one heals alone.’

Chamique Holdsclaw speaking last week at Knoxville Convention Center during a luncheon for Volunteer Ministry Center.

Former Lady Vol basketball star Chamique Holdsclaw, an Olympic gold medalist and WNBA Hall of Famer, opened up to a large luncheon crowd at the Knoxville Convention Center last week about her own mental health struggles. 

In the process, she urged the audience which had gathered for a fundraiser for the Volunteer Ministry Center, to support efforts to help the community’s homeless population. 

“That could be me,” she said when reflecting on someone she knew who experienced homelessness. “I lost hope. I didn’t survive because I was strong. I survived because people refused to leave me alone.”

Holdsclaw said she was raised by her grandmother due to her parents’ battles with schizophrenia and alcoholism. She said those early experiences caused childhood trauma which later resulted in her extended battles with depression, anxiety, and even a suicide attempt. 

She said she took inspiration from something her UT basketball coach, Pat Summitt, often said: “Enough complaining. What are you going to do about it?”

“Struggling does not mean you are weak; it means you are human,” Holdsclaw said. “Life begins in the re-build. No one heals alone.”

Tracey Williams, the chief executive officer of Volunteer Ministry Center, asked guests to look around the large room where the event was held. There were more than 700 people there. “Now imagine two more rooms this size,” she said. “The number of people contained in those three rooms equals the number of unhoused people in Knoxville right now.”

She also said that last year the average wait for a homeless person to be provided with housing was about six months. Today, the average wait is 11 months.

UT-Knoxville’s Women’s Athletic Director Emeritus Joan Cronan introducing Chamique Holdsclaw.

Volunteer Ministry Center is a non-profit agency whose mission is to prevent and end homelessness. They provide a range of services designed to help people get off the streets or assist and protect them while they are unhoused.

Anna Justice, a member of the VMC Board and an employee of Clayton Homes, a sponsor of the luncheon, took the podium and said, “What I see at VMC is love in action.”

On the night prior to the luncheon, a more intimate group of sponsors and supporters gathered at Bistro by the Tracks in Bearden to hear a few remarks from Holdsclaw and Joan Cronan, the women’s athletic director emeritus at UT-Knoxville and honorary chair of the event. Unfortunately, however, Holdsclaw was not able to attend. 

She had been involved that afternoon in a freak elevator accident at the downtown hotel where she was staying. The elevator jammed and then “jumped,” she said, causing her to smash her knee. She was taken by ambulance to UT Medical Center where she was fitted for a leg brace as her knee swelled so much that pants she was given had to be cut open to accommodate the increased size.

Holdsclaw, from her hospital bed, posted a lengthy description of the incident to her Instagram account where she said she was grateful that the injury had not been to her head or her back. “I’m grateful, but pissed!” she said in the recording. 

At her speech the next day, she said the hospital had given her medication to control her anxiety after the accident. “I feel like I’m on a space ship!” she said as she took the podium, referring to the effects of the drug.

But, as I’m sure Pat Summitt would have predicted, she soldiered through and her speech was inspirational.

If you would like to make a donation to Volunteer Ministry Center, click this link.

The Suzuki Hart-Strings provided music before and after the speeches. Director is Kathy Hart.

Chamique Holdsclaw with her new leg brace.

The other celebrity at the luncheon besides Holdsclaw was long-time editorial cartoonist Charlie Daniel. He was on the VMC Board for many years. He’s pictured here with Karen Sproles, another longtime supporter.

Joan Cronan, center back, stopped by our table to say hello. Seated are our friends Jerry and Emily Lenn. In back are Lisa Soland, left, and Maria Cornelius, right. Soland is an actor and playwright who recently starred in “Pat: the Play,” a one-woman show about Pat Summitt. Maria Cornelius is a journalist who has covered the Lady Vols for years and authored a book about Pat Summitt’s final season.

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon, left, and former Mayor Madeline Rogero.

From left, Joan Cronan, VMC Board Chair David Arning, and Chief Executive Officer Tracey Williams.

Jerry Askew and Betsy Child.

Margaret Ritchie and Mark Mamantov.

Bo Townsend and Susan Brown, director of philanthropy for Clayton Homes.

David Arning and Anne Sprouse.

From left, Margie Nichols Gill, Joan Cronan, Jimmy and Ilene Cheek. He’s chancellor emeritus of UT-Knoxville.

Marsha and former Knoxville City Councilman and Vice Mayor Duane Grieve.

Karen Sproles and Alan Carmichael.

Maria Cornelius, left, and Katie Kline.

Mary and Dan Holbrook.

Rose Moseley and Charlie Daniel.

Chamique Holdsclaw signing copies of her book, “Breaking Through: Beating the Odds Shot after Shot.” Pat Summitt wrote the foreword.

It was very windy outside when I caught these folks as they left the Convention Center. From left, Mark Mamantov, Melynda and Bob Whetsel.

Here are a few shots from the reception the night before:

VMC Board Chair David Arning making welcoming remarks.

Joan Cronan, the honorary chair of the “Carry the Torch” event the following day. She said that the Lady Vols and VMC have three things in common: “Pride. Passion. And putting the right people in the right spot!”

Dawn and Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond.

Joan Cronan, second from left, with VMC staffers, from left, Mary Beth Ramey, Tracey Williams, and Gabrielle Cline.

Beth Townsend, left, and Sheila White.

Marty Smith and Bo Townsend.

Brandon Ford, left, with Joan Cronan and David Arning.

John and Kathy Buckingham.