Gov. Bill Haslam and his wife, Crissy, are expecting to become grandparents this fall.
The governor said his son, William E. “Will” Haslam Jr, and daughter-in-law Hannah, are expecting a baby boy in November.
The soon-to-be grandparents are “really excited,” he said.
While family discussions of a name for the youngster have not been finalized, he said it has been determined that the child will not be a William Haslam III.
Crissy Haslam had hoped to meet with a dozen female church leaders Wednesday in Memphis to promote a program that helps children reach their potential, according to The Commercial Appeal. About 175 women turned out.
Haslam, wife of Gov. Bill Haslam and a Memphis native, was promoting the role churches can play in raising healthier children at a luncheon at Neighborhood Christian Centers, a ministry uniting 86 congregations.
“She is warm, down-to-earth and genuinely concerned about the children in the state,” Ephie Johnson, NCC president and CEO, told the crowd while introducing the state’s first lady.
Haslam was in Memphis last month reading to elementary school students as part of her emphasis on literacy. On Wednesday, she announced her statewide initiative, “First Ladies for Healthy Babies.” Haslam’s campaign is inspired by NCC’s Operation Smart Child, which connects church leaders and pastors’ wives — often called first ladies — with mothers to mentor them on the importance of early interaction with their babies.
News release from governor’s office:
NASHVILLE – Tennessee First Lady Crissy Haslam today began a month-long statewide reading tour to promote improving literacy rates.
The tour kicks off a year-long partnership with ten Tennessee schools located across the state to improve local reading proficiency levels.
Haslam will work to help each of the ten schools with specific needs or struggles they might face will promote early reading initiatives and programs available to students in their communities.
From the First Lady’s office:
NASHVILLE – First Lady Crissy Haslam announced at Children’s Advocacy Days 2011 event that she will creatively seek out ways to increase and inspire parental involvement, both in Tennessee schools and during early childhood development.
“To help convey the message that a parent is a child’s first teacher, I want to encourage parents, engage communities and empower families in Tennessee,” Mrs. Haslam said.
The First Lady said she plans to travel the state and meet with parents in order to listen and challenge communities to set local objectives for parental engagement. Mrs. Haslam plans to work with parents to help meet their goals.
The First Lady also announced as part of her initiative, she will be focusing this first year on early childhood reading and plans to partner with Governor Haslam and the Tennessee Department of Education to raise the literacy rates for children.
WBIR -TV has a story on Crissy Haslam’s approach to her new role as First Lady.
“The job going from campaigning to governing is so different, but it feels great to be here,” said Mrs. Haslam. The Haslam’s have moved into the Tennessee Residence, a guarded mansion set on 10 acres just a few minutes from downtown Nashville.
The First Lady’s office is in charge of arranging and giving public tours of the home built in 1929, and purchased by the state in 1949.
“The downstairs of the residence is furnished by the state, and is for public events. The upstairs of the residence is our private living quarters,” said Mrs. Haslam.