FRANKLIN WINE FESTIVAL POURS OUT OVER $65,000 FOR THE KIDS
Record Attendance of Food and Wine Tasting Benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters in a Big Way
FRANKLIN, TN (November 20, 2007)… The third annual Franklin Wine Festival presented by Cool Springs Wine & Spirits and supported by Nissan was a huge success for Big Brothers Big Sisters – raising net proceeds of over $65,000 for the children of Middle Tennessee.
Record crowds came out to the Factory at Franklin on October 26 to sample over 350 wines and a terrific display of food from Middle Tennessee’s finest chefs. Modeled after the famous New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, attendees enjoyed live entertainment on two stages of bid on unique auction items while taking in the festivities.
Event chairperson Sandy Draper commented, “The Franklin Wine Festival is one of the most enjoyable evenings anyone can experience.” She continued, “But the most heartwarming component I witnessed is that each of our sponsors and partners are so committed to providing mentors to the children in need of our community. I am a volunteer Big Sister myself, and I am overjoyed at the thought of how many children will be served because of the dollars raised by this effort.”
“Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee is honored to have such a first class evening as our signature event for Williamson County,” commented Lowell Perry, Jr. – CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. He continued, “Because of the overwhelming support of the Franklin Wine Festival, we will able to serve even more children in need with a mentor. These children need our help, and we are so glad that so many investors have stepped up to answer the call to support Big Brothers Big Sisters.”
A crowd of over 1,000 gathered during the tasting events, and over 250 volunteers from Big Brothers Big Sisters came together to serve the enthusiastic attendees throughout the Factory.
Bryan Robbins, wine chair from Cool Springs Wines & Spirits noted, “Wine makers and suppliers from around the world see Middle Tennessee as a very wine-savvy area. Thus, we were able to offer attendees some amazing tasting opportunities – and the response was tremendous.”
Music was provided on the Jamison Hall stage by acoustic group Duology, and on the Commons stage entertainment was provided by acoustic ensemble The Storm Kings and vocalist Tucker Perry accompanied by Zoro, drummer to Lenny Kravitz, Bobby Brown, and Frankie Valli as well as a former Little Brother in the mentoring program.
The first 500 attendees through the doors enjoyed a complimentary “Green Bag” full of delicious food items and coupons from event sponsors Wild Oats Marketplace and Whole Foods.
“In short, we had something for everyone attending this festival in the climate controlled comfort of the beautiful Factory at Franklin,” commented Draper. “We hope everyone who enjoys food and wine can join us in 2008.”
Reflecting on the evening, Lisbeth Couser, Vice President of Marketing Development for Big Brothers Big Sisters, commented, “We are so appreciative of each of our sponsors, but in particular Nissan and Cool Springs Wines & Spirits who really make this event possible for us.”
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| Volunteers Elizabeth Gerken, Gregg Gerken, Harvey Jacobs, and Patricia Jacobs were delighted to pour you a glass of wine during the Franklin Wine Festival event. |
The funds raised by the event will be used to serve more children with a mentor throughout Middle Tennessee. Children throughout the area who have a mentor are proven to do better in school, be more likely to avoid drugs and violence, and establish new goals for themselves.
Mentoring services provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters are free to parents and families. “The reality is that every child in Middle Tennessee has a mentor, it’s just that in some cases – that role model is not a positive one,” commented Perry.
Event premiere sponsors included Nissan USA;, Cool Springs Wines & Spirits, Wild Oats Marketplace/Whole Foods, and The Jones Co. joined by Axis Accounting Services; Deloitte & Touche; Fidelity; First Tennessee Bank; ICON Specialized Transportation; Ingram & Associates; Kroll; MIG-Visteon; T.W. Frierson; Ortale, Kelley, Herbert & Crawford; Sofa Seazons; Studio Gaven; Waddey and Patterson; and Wirtgen America.
For more information on the Franklin Wine Festival event, visit www.franklinwinefestival.com. If you would like more information on volunteering or enrolling your child in one of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentoring programs, please visit www.mentorakid.org
About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Youth development experts agree that, in addition to their parents, children need additional supportive, caring adults in their lives. Studies show that children with a mentor are less likely to become involved in drugs, gangs, and violence… and their grades and behavior improve as a result. Big Brothers Big Sisters is certainly a part of the answer to improving these children’s lives and their communities.
Big Brothers and Big Sisters are, foremost, friends to children. They share everyday activities… exploring new horizons, and experiencing the joy that simple moments of friendship can bring. The initial commitment is an hour or two a week, and the volunteer and child are out enjoying everyday activities like playing the park or working on a car. It is through the one-to-one attention that the child comes to think of themselves as the special individual that they are – full of potential and promise.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee serves children all across middle Tennessee throughout Nashville - Davidson County as well as the surrounding areas of Williamson, Rutherford, Sumner, Wilson, Robertson, Cheatham, Hickman and Dickson counties.
The Middle Tennessee affiliate is one of the Top 35 agencies of the 423 member Big Brothers Big Sisters of America federation, and was honored at the 2006 national conference as one of the Top 10% All-Around Performing agencies. In addition, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee (BBBSMT) was honored as having the 2006 CEO of the Year – Lowell Perry, Jr. and its Board of Directors was named as 2006 Board of the Year. BBBSMT was the only affiliate nominated in all three categories.
For more information, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee at (615) 329-9191 or visit their website at www.bbbsmt.org. The administrative offices for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee are located at One Vantage Way, Suite C250, Nashville, Tennessee 37228.
