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Cempa Community Care to Host 27th Annual Strides of March as an In-Person Celebration

After taking the signature fundraiser online for the past two years, Cempa is bringing Strides of March back to Renaissance Park as an in-person celebration.

Cempa Community Care is bringing back its Strides of March fundraiser/awareness-raiser as an in-person event this year. The 27th annual event is slated to take place on Saturday, March 26, from noon to 2 p.m. at Renaissance Park on Chattanooga’s North Shore.  

“We have been waiting to host Strides of March as an in-person event for two years now. To say we’re excited about bringing it back is a massive understatement,” said Shannon Stephenson, CEO at Cempa Community Care. “Due to circumstances brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, we were forced to host the 2020 and 2021 celebrations — even its 25th anniversary — as Facebook Live events. Though our incredible supporters still took part and committed thousands of dollars to the cause, there’s nothing like getting together with those who share a common goal and celebrating the strides we’ve made in the fight against HIV/AIDS.”

With a history tracing back to 1995, Strides of March raises thousands of dollars each year that help provide holistic care for those with HIV, hepatitis C, and other STIs in our community. 

“When we held our first walk in 1995, receiving a diagnosis of HIV or AIDS was a stark reality without much hope,” said Mitzi Ward, Development & Events Coordinator at Cempa Community Care. “Today, things are much better, though the fight is still not over. Care for HIV has advanced lightyears beyond what was available 27 years ago. Strides of March allows us to celebrate that, while also honoring lives lost in those early days.”

Cempa hopes to raise $60,000 as a part of this year’s Strides of March, a threshold it was able to exceed each of the past two years, even as a virtual event. Prospective business sponsors are welcome and encouraged to contact Mitzi Ward (mitziw@cempa.org) with any questions. To sign up as a fundraiser (as a team or as an individual), or to sign up as a participant, visit www.cempa.org.

For additional Cempa Community Care information, please visit: www.cempa.org

For​ ​additional​ Strides of March ​information and to donate,​ ​please​ ​visit:​ https://my.chattanoogacares.org/campaign/strides-of-march-2022/c387521

For any event or media-related questions or needs, contact:​ mitziw@cempa.org

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Natalie Martin

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Robert Morris

Robert Morris serves as Chief of Staff to the CEO at Cempa Community Care, where he drives organizational alignment, strategic execution, and a mission-driven culture. Since joining Cempa as a Senior Strategic Advisor in June 2025, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s future-ready structure, advancing leadership development, and guiding operational transformation. 

Robert brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across healthcare, aerospace and defense, utilities, and nonprofit sectors. His career includes senior roles at the Tennessee Valley Authority, where he served as Senior Strategic Advisor, Director of Communications Operations, and Senior Manager of Nuclear Materials, as well as Vice President of Program Management & Supply Chain at AAR Corporation. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for translating strategy into execution, leading large-scale transformations, and fostering inclusive, high-performing cultures. 

Deeply committed to service, Robert has dedicated his leadership beyond the workplace. He served as Chair of Cempa’s Board of Directors from 2019 to 2025, and has held leadership positions with the American Red Cross, Thrive Alabama, and the City of Huntsville’s Human Relations Commission. He is also a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga and currently serves as President-Elect of the Leadership Chattanooga Alumni Association. 

Morris earned an Executive Bachelor of Business degree from Faulkner University and has completed executive leadership programs with the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. 

Guided by his personal why—to approach each day with empathy, curiosity, and purpose, cultivating a culture where genuine belonging fuels excellence and empowers everyone to thrive—Robert lives out the Cempa values as a compass for every decision, action, and interaction. Compassion means meeting people with empathy, seeing them fully as they are. Empowerment provides patients and staff with the tools to thrive and grow. Excellence pushes the organization to raise the bar every day. Integrity calls leaders to do the right thing, even when it is difficult. Unity reminds everyone that Cempa is strongest when it stands together. These values are not slogans—they are lived commitments to the community and to every person Robert encounters.