MC senior’s non-profit sets Guinness record, helps local children

Oct. 2, 2009
Contact: Annie Standridge, Communications Assistant
865.981.8085; annie.standridge@my.maryvillecollege.edu

Maryville College senior Blake Chasteen is majoring in international business, but this year he applied his entrepreneurial skills close to home.

With help from Victory Baptist Church in Kingston, Tenn., Chasteen’s non-profit organization, the Beautiful Feet Project, “hopped” to success Sept. 26 on Ladd’s Landing in Kingston. The organization hosted the world’s longest hopscotch course, spanning across 20,000 hopscotch squares – approximately four miles.

Chasteen’s goal was to raise enough money to purchase 5,000 pairs of shoes from TOMs Shoes, a company that matches every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need.

Despite the rainy weather, 1,000 participants and supporters showed up at the development on Watts Barr Lake. Chasteen noted that it turned out to be a very inspiring day and the event raised $10,000.

A representative from Guinness World Records honored Victory Baptist Church with a plaque for creating “the world’s longest hopscotch game” and Chasteen’s world record will be recognized on the Records’ official website at www.guinnessworldrecords.com.

Community-minded entrepreneur

The 21-year-old Lenoir City, Tenn., resident said that the liberal arts college helped to prepare him for his first leadership role in a non-profit organization.

“A liberal arts degree is so perfect for me, because I like everything,” said Chasteen. “I’m so happy making businesses successful.”

In order to give his organization a foundation for success, Chasteen learned not only how to develop a sound business plan, but also about the field of graphic design. He created every design for the organization, from its web site to the TOMs shoes.

His father, Eric Chasteen, pastor of Victory Baptist Church, inspired him to give back to his community with a pure motive. In fact, the slogan for the Beautiful Feet Project states, “We are about one thing: serving others. We don’t want money. We don’t want fame…”

As a supporter of TOMs Shoes, Chasteen took advantage of their movement to give a pair of shoes to a child in need with every pair purchased.

While TOMs distributes shoes to communities around the globe, the Beautiful Feet Project will donate their share to the Appalachian community.

“There is so much need in this area,” said Chasteen. “It’s one of the most impoverished areas in the country.”

For more information, visit www.beautifulfeetproject.org.

Maryville College is ideally situated in Maryville, Tenn., between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Knoxville, the state's third largest city. Founded in 1819, it is the 12th oldest institution of higher learning in the South and maintains an affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Known for its academic rigor and its focus on the liberal arts, Maryville is where students come to stretch their minds, stretch themselves and learn how to make a difference in the world. Total enrollment for the fall 2009 semester is 1,103.