Fred Bailey

CAP is the brainchild of Fred Bailey, one of fifteen children born to sharecroppers in Gallatin, Tennessee. He entered the world without the gift of full sight, so he had to learn early on how to deal with disadvantage. But as Mr. Bailey has famously stated, “Life does not care about your circumstances. Life demands that you adapt and adjust.”

He did just that, working his way to a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee State University and a career at General Electric. As a middle school and high school wrestling coach, Mr. Bailey sharpened his natural talent for getting the absolute best out of students, and taught his athletes the value of hard work and self-discipline. He realized what children need most is the presence of caring adults—those who underscore the importance of a positive work ethic and emphasize personal responsibility.

Mr. Bailey was surrounded by adult mentors in his life that taught him these values, which is the catalyst behind the launch of CAP. He wanted the youth of Sumner County to have the same access to the type of mentorship and positive influence needed to stay on a thriving path to adulthood.