Chamber gears up for Gala
Annual fundraiser scheduled for October 2
Tickets currently are on sale for this year’s event, which will take place beginning at 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2, in The Venue, 7690 Creekwood Park Blvd., Lenoir City.
“We have some treats for sponsor tables,” FWKCC president/CEO Julie Blaylock said. “I think they’re going to be very, very pleased and surprised at what they encounter on their tables when all their guests get there.
“We are very lucky to have 14 sponsors, so 140 of our special guests will get a special treat,” she said.
Additionally, “we’ve got some fantastic items in the live auction that we are finalizing,” Blaylock said. “Those are going to include a chauffeured trip to Smokies Stadium with an opportunity to throw the first pitch; tickets to shows at the Tennessee Theatre with limo service and dinner; and a couple other things that we want to keep in our back pocket. You’ll have to come to the auction to find out.”
The event starts with the silent auction, which ends at 7:15 p.m., followed by the dinner, welcome comments, introductions then the live auction, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Individual tickets are $99 for everyone — Chamber members and the public — and $850 for a Chamber member table of 10. Non-member tables of 10 are $950 per table.
Tickets are available at farragutchamber.com
“Our auction committee for 2025 has done a fantastic job,” Blaylock said. “We have fabulous sponsor support, and we’ve already sold 350 tickets (last week).
“All that is super important because the support of sponsors and attendees are what makes a larger donation to our non-profits possible,” she said.
“This year, we are excited to donate 20 percent of item sales and 20 percent of net operating proceeds to the two non-member profits,” Blaylock said. “You’ll notice this year the non-profits who will get a portion of the proceeds are Alzheimer’s Tennessee and Alzheimer’s Association-Tennessee Chapter.
“They both do excellent work for Alzheimer’s and dementia research, support and treatment,” she said. But, “they’re attached to different organizations. Alzheimer’s Association-Tennessee Chapter is attached to the national Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s Tennessee is just within the state of Tennessee, but they do work at the local level.”
While there is no theme for the event, there is a theme color, which is purple this year.
“You will see — everything will be purple,” she said. “A lot of purple.”
