With a focus on communication, dedication, and a love for the community, David Glasgow and Van Pond, Jr. have successfully stretched what was once a blind date into a beautiful nine year relationship.
The freedom to pursue their own personal goals coupled with the commitment to support one another’s philanthropic endeavors is the heartbeat of this flourishing partnership.
Both Glasgow and Pond decided to make Nashville their home in the mid-90’s, and each became involved in various aspect of community service at that time.
They both support numerous organizations including The Brooks Fund, SoundForest.org, St. Luke’s Community House, and the Nashville Shakespeare Festival to name a few. Through pledges of both time and financial support to organizations in the arenas of arts, GLBT advocacy and environmental conservation, they demonstrate their sincere belief that community support is about being engaged actively in those causes that they feel are important.
Glasgow is state communications director for Rural Development and also serves on the board of Artrageous Inc, and as an assistant coach with the Nashville Grizzlies Rugby Football Club. Pond is the co-founder of Pond Willis, a residential design company and a board member for the Brooks Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Both men are on the steering committee for Belmont-Hillsboro Neighborhood Association, as well.
While they run mostly parallel paths toward their goals, they say their differences make them a stronger unit.
"We both have strong personalities and our own viewpoints, and when we combine these to offer each other new perspectives, it makes our relationship richer," Pond said. Both say that showing genuine interest in the desires of the other allows them to pursue their creative outlets while always having their partner’s support.
They credit their successful relationship to the mentors who brought them together and a mutual love for serving the greater Nashville community humbly and dutifully.
"We don't consider ourselves role models, we consider ourselves good citizens," Pond said.