The 2025 Light the Way Luncheon is a Poignant Reminder that Hope Shines Brightest Together

The Belle Meade Ballroom at the Green Hills Hilton glowed with soft candlelight as more than 200 supporters gathered for the 2025 Light the Way Luncheon, an annual celebration of resilience, renewal and the profound mission of Thistle Farms. The crowd reflected the familiar and devoted mix of community leaders, dedicated volunteers, corporate partners and longtime advocates who return each year to stand with women rebuilding their lives.

Guests settled into their seats as Kim Stevens, national network specialist for Thistle Farms, opened the program with words of gratitude and a reminder of the organization’s ongoing work to support women who have experienced trafficking, prostitution and addiction. Presenting sponsor Karen Thompson of HCA Healthcare followed with heartfelt remarks underscoring the importance of corporate partnership in sustaining opportunities for healing and employment.

Board chair Brooke Schiferle offered a powerful reflection on the steep barriers survivors face. She asked the audience to consider the so-called “rap sheet” many of them carry — a lasting record of crimes committed under the manipulation, coercion and violence of traffickers. She emphasized how rarely these circumstances are understood or explained, and how essential Thistle Farms is in opening doors that would otherwise remain closed.

The afternoon’s most moving moments came during a panel discussion moderated by Thistle Farms CEO Tasha Kennard. Four alums openly shared their journeys, describing how they found refuge at Thistle Farms, gained meaningful employment, and eventually stepped confidently into the wider world. Their stories, delivered with honesty and grace, drew both tears and applause.

Then, Thistle Farms founder and president, the Rev. Becca Stevens, took the stage barefoot, as is her tradition. She thanked the board members, sponsors and attendees, whose generosity fuels the mission. She repeated her timeless reminder that love is the force that changes everything, and that when you invest in women, entire communities are transformed. Volunteers and corporate partners, she noted, are the spark that keeps the candle lit.