Supporting projects, charities and community organizations is a major part of the mission of the Rotary Club of Farragut, something the club does year after year. Here is just a sampling of the recipients of those funds during this current Rotary year:
- Ridgedale Alternative School
- Michael Dunn Center
- Smoky Mountain Service Dogs
- Honor Air Knoxville
- Knoxville Challenger tennis tournament
- East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
- Good Samaritan Center of Loudon County Food Pantry
- The Change Center
- Tour de Tellico bike race
To do this, the club has two major fund-raising events. The first is its annual wine tasting event in the fall. The second event is coming up on April 22 – the International Food Gala. The date is Sunday, April 22, and it will begin with a cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m. at Kitchen 919 in Bearden. Diners will be enjoying foods from Thailand, Spain, Germany and Italy prepared by chefs from the Culinary Arts Institute at Pellissippi State Community College.
The goal is to raise $8,000.
Kitchen 919 is the former home of The Orangery and is now owned by the father-son team of Deron and Drake Little. Drake is a member of Farragut Rotary. Deron, of course, also owns Season’s Innovative Bar & Grille in Turkey Creek and is a well-known chef in Knoxville.
Tickets are $85 each and the club has one table sponsorship available for $1,000 or two sponsorships at $500 each. Table sponsors will be recognized at the dinner, in the event’s program and in the club’s social media posts. If you would like tickets to this event or find out more information, please call Water Into Wine owner Candace Viox at 865-771-0780 or you can buy them at our weekly noon meetings on Wednesday at Fox Den Country Club. Candace is a Farragut Rotarian and is the event Co-Chair along with Drake Little.
A trio of celebrity chefs (to be announced) will decide which team of chefs is the best. Each chef on the winning team will receive a $250 scholarship from the Rotary Club of Farragut.
The wine and beer to accompany the food is being donated by Dixie Lee Wine & Liquors.
Three table sponsorships have been sold — Club President Chris Camp/Denark Construction, Ray Fisher/Fisher Tire, and PP Dale Read/Read Window Supply.
Supply Sponsors for the Gala are Pellissippi State Community College, US Foods, Dixie Lee Wine and Liquors, Kitchen 919, Image 360, the UT Culinary Arts Institute and All Occasions Rental.
