The Fairfield Glade Rotary Club hosts its annual Wine on the Plateau fundraiser Saturday assisting nonprofits throughout Cumberland County.
Rotary International District 6780 Governor Deb Birdsall said the event typically raises between $18,000 and $20,000 each year to be distributed back into the community. Birdsall said the club has used previous proceeds to fund specific projects like the construction of a playground at Crab Orchard Elementary School.
“It’s a group of people that just love going out and making a difference in the world that we live in these days,” Birdsall said. “We do things for the veterans and and it’s just a very, very positive way to be able to provide financially, but then we also go out and do service projects in the community as well.”
Birdsall said the fundraiser features various vendors who volunteer their time and products to provide food, wine, and beer samples for attendees. Birdsall said the event has been a staple of the organization’s community outreach efforts for approximately 15 years.
“We in the Fairfield Glade Rotary Club are all about having fun while we’re doing good,” Birdsall said. “And so it’s a way to connect with people. It’s a way to give back without having to try to figure out individually who to give to.”
Birdsall said the club relies on local sponsors and businesses to cover the costs of the event so that ticket sales can go directly toward charitable causes. Birdsall said Harper Acura out of Knoxville serves as the main sponsor for the fundraiser.
“If there’s food involved, people will show up,” Birdsall said. “If there’s wine and beer that they get to sample, a lot of people get to come and relax, spend the beautiful day outside, listening to music, going to our vendors.”
Birdsall said the event is scheduled to take place outdoors, but the club has a secondary plan to move the festivities into the Fairfield Glade community center if there is inclement weather. Birdsall said the fundraiser is designed to be a relaxed environment where guests can enjoy fresh air while supporting local philanthropy.
“Go around, visit the sponsors, go try out the food, try out the beverages, get a little bit of sunshine, a little bit of fresh air and know that you’re just making a huge impact in the world,” Birdsall said.
The event begins Saturday at 2pm at The Square at Fairfield Glade.