Chris Townsend — Give901 Director
Chris Townsend
Chris joined the team in February 2025 and is our Give901 Director.
What I do for city Leadership
My focus at City Leadership is to activate Memphis business professionals to engage with our non-profit partners and programs. Give901 aims to support the recruitment, training and retention of teachers, mentors, and schools to benefit the young people of Memphis.
The mission is to help create a growing, improving and more loving Memphis by giving 1 hour of time and 1 hour of pay per month as a Give901 member. There are so many generous people in Memphis and my intention is to identify and connect with them to raise awareness on how they can directly support Memphis through workplace giving and volunteer opportunities.
The goal for our members is to observe and understand their “return on generosity” from investing in the future of Memphis.
CONNECT WITH ME
Why I Choose901
After living in Middle Tennessee for 10 years, I chose to return to Memphis in 2020. I was initially inspired by Choose901’s social media. I was captivated by how the campaign captured and emphasized the positivity of Memphis and that the organization itself encouraged Memphians who were early career professionals to return to the city.
That resonated with me so deeply that I credit the campaign's impact as what initially recruited me back home. I am also deeply family oriented and most of my family resides in the area.
I truly love Memphis and my intention is to leverage my resources and personal/professional experience to positively impact the lives of all Memphians, especially the youth and young adults.
How I got to Memphis…
I am a native Memphian born and raised between the Orange Mound, Westwood and Whitehaven neighborhoods that I equally represent and wear like badges of honor.
Most of my family is from Northern Mississippi (Tate County); so, I was able to grow up with a healthy balance of country and city life. I lived in Middle Tennessee for 10 years during and after my studies at MTSU.
ALL ABOUT ME
Meet Chris Townsend
I am an avid hiker and my ideal Saturday is spent exploring new trails around Tennessee and beyond.
I am also a songwriter, poet, and performer and I have released multiple musical projects since 2017. I am a sports lover and my favorite thing to do in Memphis is to attend as many Grizzlies games as possible and to cheer… very loudly.
I follow the NFL, NBA, and MLB closely and consider myself a die-hard fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Yankees. As a lover and appreciator of art across all disciplines,
I enjoy anything “artsy” from catching a play at Hattiloo to viewing the latest installation at the Brooks Museum. I am also a self-proclaimed hip-hop and sports historian, but also an overall History buff.