Community Champion: Mary Blake Ferguson
JACKSON, Tenn. (WBBJ) — It’s time to recognize a Community Champion, an honor given to people making a positive impact in the community, in partnership with Leaders Credit Union.
Mary Blake Ferguson is a junior at the University School of Jackson.
“Being a bystander is a lot easier than being the person in action. But when you really look at it, it’s everybody’s job. It’s everybody’s job to help a person in need and to keep just our community safe and healthy,” said Mary Blake Ferguson.
But when she’s not studying for class, or hanging out with friends, she’s helping to spread some life-saving knowledge.
“My platform, Rescue Ready, is just a way for me to teach teens about the importance of being CPR certified and AED trained,” said Ferguson.
Ferguson says it was a situation close to home that sparked this passion for helping others know what to do when it matters most.
“My grandfather suffered from his first stroke in 2024, and that was the first time I realized that I had no idea what to do in emergency situations. And so when I joined the Miss Volunteer America organization and I was encouraged to start a platform, I knew that I wanted to gear it towards teens and being confident in crisis,” said Ferguson.
She shares how she transformed this idea into a reality.
“Through my platform, I was able to create a Heart Club called the Bruins Babysitting Bank. And through my club, I’ve been able to get 57 students CPR certified,” said Ferguson.
The club helps to combine two of her passions into one.
“I love to babysit. And in middle school, I realized that there was no—there’s no babysitting club. And so I kind of took that idea into high school, and starting January of 2025, I put it into place. And now we are a very active club at the school. And it’s just so fun getting to merge CPR certification in with babysitting. And so it kind of merges my two worlds,” said Ferguson.
Ferguson says she has held fundraisers to donate life-saving equipment to a local gym.
“I was able to raise $2,000 to donate an AED to We Rock the Spectrum just down the road. And the feedback that I’ve gotten has been so great—knowing that I made a kid’s gym safer just by that small act—to me, made a huge impact on the community,” said Ferguson.
She is also a part of some local organizations, helping to spread the message of prioritizing heart health.
“I’m a Teen of Impact for the American Heart Association, but I’m also a member of Friends of Heart and the Five Minute City,” said Ferguson.
Ferguson shows that you’re never too young to take action, and shares some advice for other young people with an idea of their own.
“Just getting plugged in to your community, especially with nonprofit organizations. They love the younger generation and they love new faces. And so knowing that what they’re doing is having an impact on the younger generation is great for them, and it gives the younger child a place to go for their passion,” said Ferguson.
And for those who get the opportunity to take part in Rescue Ready, Ferguson says this:
“Learn the information, know it, and put it to use,” said Ferguson.
Up next, Mary Blake Ferguson plans to take her platform to the stage, as she competes for Miss Tennessee Teen Volunteer.
If you know someone doing good in their community, you can nominate them for the Community Champion award by clicking here.
