Will Wade Shares Message of Redemption, Resilience at Cumberland Heights Breakfast of Champions
LSU coach tells Nashville audience that setbacks do not have to define a life as annual fundraiser celebrates recovery and raises support for addiction treatment
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Hundreds of Middle Tennesseans gathered this morning, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at Music City Center to hear LSU Men's Basketball Head Coach Will Wade deliver a candid message about leadership, resilience and redemption during Cumberland Heights' annual Breakfast of Champions, where he encouraged attendees with the reminder that failure does not have to be the final chapter.
The annual event benefits Cumberland Heights' Men's Program and brought together business leaders, community supporters, recovery advocates and individuals whose lives have been transformed through treatment. This year's Breakfast of Champions came as Cumberland Heights celebrates 60 years of helping people overcome addiction and rebuild their lives.
Drawing from both victories and setbacks throughout his coaching career, Wade spoke about perseverance, accountability and earning second chances — themes that closely mirror the recovery journey experienced every day by patients at Cumberland Heights.
For Cumberland Heights, the morning was about more than basketball. It served as a reminder that recovery is possible and that the Nashville community continues to invest in giving people another chance at life.
The event also honored longtime Cumberland Heights leader and philanthropist Jimmy Stansell with the 2026 Duke Kennedy Award in recognition of his decades of service to the recovery community.
Proceeds from Breakfast of Champions directly support Cumberland Heights' Men's Program, providing evidence-based treatment, counseling, family services and long-term recovery resources for individuals battling substance use disorders.
As addiction continues to affect families across Tennessee, Thursday's event underscored the community's ongoing commitment to ensuring that hope, healing and recovery remain available to those who need it most.
About Cumberland Heights
The mission of Cumberland Heights is to transform lives by giving hope and healing to those affected by alcohol or drug addiction. Since 1966, Cumberland Heights has helped countless individuals and families reclaim their lives with dignity through compassionate, evidence-based treatment programs.
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