Gala rolls dice for charity
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Barbie Cumbess, left and Beth Milam. - Tammy Cheek
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Connor Peak and Carly Kite check out the silent auction items during the Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce’s Charity Gala: High Stakes & Fine Spirits, which took place in The Venue at Lenoir City Thursday evening, Oct. 1. - Tammy Cheek
Hundreds decked out in cocktail attire to attend Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce’s Charity Gala: High Stakes & Fine Spirits, which took place in The Venue at Lenoir City Thursday evening, Oct. 1.
“I want to welcome you to one of our longest standing event and fundraiser, our gala, now in our 39th year,” Farragut president/CEO Julie Blaylock said.
She later estimated the crowd between 300 and 325.
Attendees enjoyed hors d’oeuvres catered by Classy Caterer, casino game tables, networking, the event’s signature silent auction, a bourbon and wine pull and dancing.
“Based on what I heard Thursday during the event, this reimagined version of our annual gala was a BIG success,” Blaylock said Monday. “Multiple people mentioned that they loved the music, the DJ, the change in food and they definitely loved the casino games.”
At the same time, the event raised money for The Dream Connection, which makes children’s dreams
come true, and FWKCC programs.
“We are still matching receipts and will need this week to finalize figures for the donation to The Dream Connection." However, “as for the total gross revenue, we were at over $40,000 in sponsorships and tickets before the event night,” she said. “I anticipate we will gross over $50,000 easily.”
Presented by Rocky Top HVAC as High Roller, its general manager Gerald Allison, a Chamber ambassador, broke out in song to describe Rocky Top’s services.
On a more serious note, Allison related his personal connection with The Dream Connection, the non-profit organization benefitting from the gala. His oldest daughter, Brooklyn, now 26, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was 6 months old.
“The nice thing about Dream Connection is they don’t just focus on children with terminal illnesses, but sometimes children with chronic illnesses,” he said.
About 13 years ago, Dream Connection came along when Brooklyn was in the hospital. Brooklyn, who loved swimming, wanted a swimming pool. Dream Connection gifted her with a 30-foot-diameter pool in which she still swims.
“Another thing I appreciate about Dream Connection is every penny donated to them goes directly to its mission,” Allison said.
“Honestly, for me, on top of watching our members have fun together, my favorite part of this year was working alongside The Dream Connection volunteer board members throughout this whole process,” Blaylock said.
Dream Connection president Denise Rowe’s son Ethan, now deceased, wished for a trip to the headquarters of VAT19.com, a company that makes fun products for children, and sideline passes for a Rams’ football game.
“Ethan passed away two months after his dream,” she said. However, “quite honestly, our family made some incredible memories [during the trip] that we will never forget … so I saw firsthand what the dream connection did.”
Other gala sponsors are: Smoky Mountain Deck Builders, LLC., Rate and MR10 Realty, jackpot sponsors; Segra, Strategic Tax & Business Services, Coffee & Chocolate, Fairway Home Mortgage and Keith Window Company, Full House sponsors; Bowen Door Service, Texana Bank Mortgage and Kerri A. Kor, CRE, broker at LeConte Realty, LLC, game sponsors; and Renaissance Title & Escrow and MR10 Realty, Cup sponsors.
