Franklin Wine Festival
The committee has begun preparation for the eighth annual Franklin Wine Festival, presented by Cool Springs Wines and Spirits and supported by Nissan, held its committee kick off in the Oak Room of Cool Springs Wines and Spirits. The annual food and wine tasting event is a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, and will be held Friday, October 19 at the Factory at Franklin.
The Franklin Wine Festival is a celebration of food and wine that also includes live entertainment on multiple stages throughout the Factory, a silent and live auction, and delicious samplings of more than 300 wines and culinary tastings from 30 Middle Tennessee area restaurants and caterers. Advance tickets will be $75, and are available at www.FranklinWineFestival.com. Tickets sold at the door will be $85 each.
Andrea Stilwell from Bank of America and Lisa Accardi from GMAC Mortgage are 2012 Co-Chairs. Accardi commented, “I am so honored to join in helping lead the 2012 Franklin Wine Festival – this event has such an outstanding reputation for the wine, food, and entertainment offered all within the beautiful Factory at Franklin.” Stilwell shared, “We hope that many area businesses and individuals will join us in coming together to help Big Brothers Big Sisters help children overcome adversity and realize a new and brighter future.”
Committee members for 2012 joining Accardi and Stilwell include: James and Jackie Woodard, Honorary Chairs; members Karen Ahern, Fifth Third Bank; Andrea Arnold; Jessica Arnold, The Wild Muffin; Kenneth Bargers, Pilkerton Realtors; Corinne Bergeron, Jackson; Olivia Billingsley, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce; Mary Carlson, Talascend; Jessica Caver, Avenue Bank; Past Chairperson Sandy Draper, Wirtgen America; Past Chairperson Angela Evans, Double Diamond Design; Penny Floyd, Cool Springs Wines and Spirits; Tiffany Gray; Angela Hammitt, Sunset Grill; Connie Harvey, Pilkerton Realtors; Meredith Herberg Waldron, SESAC; Tanzye Hill; Debbie Hotard, Allstate; Valarie Ingram, Allstate; Molly Fay Lester, Office of U.S. Secretary of State; Michael Martin, Whole Foods Market; Joann McIntire, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Emily Moth; Linda Ores; Angela Patterson, Bridgestone; Sam Poteet, Manier and Herod; Rachel Simmons, Team Rapid; Kim Ann Snodgrass, AAA; Heather Steele, FirstBank; Philip Thompson, Cool Springs Wines and Spirits; Rebecca Toler-Davis; Christie Trost, Wirtgen America; Jordan Waldron, FirstBank; Christina Weems, Emdeon ; Sherry Winecoff; and Gary Wynn, Exit Realty.
The 2011 Franklin Wine Festival raised over $137,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters. To date, the event has raised more than $658,000 for children.
The funds raised by the Franklin Wine Festival events will be used to serve more children with a mentor throughout Middle Tennessee through Big Brothers Big Sisters programs. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee served 2,613 children in 2011 with a mentor.
The organization depends on donations to help recruit volunteers and reach more children. Funding is used to conduct background checks on volunteers to ensure child safety, and provide ongoing support for children, families and volunteers to build and sustain long-lasting relationships.
For more information on the Franklin Wine Festival, visit www.FranklinWineFestival.com. For more information, visit www.mentorakid.org or call Big Brothers Big Sisters at (615) 329-9191.
