Leigh Anne Tuohy to speak at Schools Foundation luncheon

Ashley Thompson was researching possible speakers for the second annual PNC Bank and Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation luncheon event when she turned on her television to find The Blind Side playing. A favorite movie of hers, she decided to research Leigh Anne Tuohy, the inspirational figure behind the film.

“When reading about Leigh Anne, I loved the message of her new book and the way she lives her life,” said Thompson, VHCSF executive director. “The book focuses on how everyone can make a difference in someone’s life.”

Tuohy will be the keynote speaker at this year’s PNC luncheon event, which will be held Oct. 8 at 11:30 a.m. at the Vestavia Country Club. Tuohy is best known for being the legal guardian of Michael Oher, a homeless teenager turned first-round NFL draft pick and now Super Bowl champion. 

Their story was featured in Michael Lewis’ 2006 book, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, and its 2009 film adaption The Blind Side. Tuohy was portrayed by actress Sandra Bullock in the film.

In July 2010, Tuohy and her husband, Sean, released the New York Times best-seller, In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving, and established their charity, the Making It Happen Foundation. Her second book, Making It Happen, details action steps people can take to become more involved in their community. Her latest book, Turn Around: Reach Out, Give Back, and Get Moving, is a five-day-per-week devotional.

“Giving isn’t always about money. You don’t have to be famous to be a difference maker,” said Thompson. “Vestavia Hills is such a giving community, we thought Leigh Anne would be the perfect person to inspire our community.”

All proceeds from the luncheon will support the foundation, which provides grants each year to Vestavia Hills educators for technology improvements, classroom enhancement projects and professional development opportunities for teachers. Over the past 18 years, the foundation has grown its education endowment to more than $2 million. Interest generated from this investment has enabled the foundation to grant nearly $667,000 to the eight schools in the system. 

In 2014 alone, VHCSF awarded 11 grants totaling $60,000 to the system and the Board of Education. 

“Our goal is to grow the education endowment to $5 million to make dreams and innovations possible,” said Thompson.

Reservations can be made for seating and VIP packages. General admission tickets are $60. For more information, visit vestaviafoundation.org.