Chair-ish the moment
FHS Education Foundation holds gala for auditorium renovations
“Usually every year, we kind of set out with some very
specific goals in addition to some of the general projects and student initiatives we
try to fund,” foundation president Toni Scott said. “This year’s project is called Chair-ish the Moment because we are trying to bolster our fund and be able to replace [the chairs] and renovate the auditorium.
“We have a lot of seating that is no longer fixable,” she said. “I believe they are antiques at this point.”
“It actually was a project that the school and, I believe, maybe some groups had started before COVID,” Scott said. “Then, with COVID and some other things, it didn’t reach completion so we’re hoping to be able to do that.”
She expects the foundation will need to raise for the
auditorium project about $50,000.
In 2019, students wanted to replace the seating in the auditorium, FHS principal Dr. John Bartlett said during his address after dinner.
“They’re broken. You have to go to an antique seat dealer to get the parts,” he added. “I was told last night that they can’t get the parts from the antique seat dealer anymore, so we’re taking the parts from the balcony [seats] to fix the seats on the floor.”
“It would be dreamy to think that ($50,000) would be attainable this evening,” Scott said. “But generally thinking, we’re just trying to generate drops in the bucket tonight and also just engage with some of the different corporations, businesses and people in the community.
“And, we have really fantastic support,” she added. “I can only speak for this year and last year … but I do feel that we have a lot of great community support and partners.”
Still, “we’re trying to increase our visibility and continue to build on those relationships,” Scott said. “We also have a lot of alumni, both on our foundation board and people who came this evening who have students or have had students who go through the Farragut schools. That is a relationship we also want to continue to build up.”
The evening started with cocktails, featuring music provided by FHS Sound Waves vocal jazz ensemble, FHS Music Man Quartet from the theater class’ production and a strings group coming to play during dinner.
“That’s our kids,” said Bartlett, who has been FHS principal since 2019. “That’s our future.
“Every year, I’m amazed by our kids,” he added. “I’m able to brag on our kids.”
“We’re so excited about it,” Scott said about the evening’s activities. “We have some groups at the high school who have put together a video for us of some different activities on campus that the foundation has been able to support, so we’ll have a video presentation.”
A silent auction and dinner followed the cocktails, then FHS principal Dr. John Bartlett addressed attendees. Completing the evening, University of Tennessee’s DJ, Stearl the Pearl provided music for dancing.
