By Lauren Gass, Special Projects Director
Nearly four weeks have passed since the 2014 Evergreen Ball, but I am still overcome with feelings of gratitude for everyone who worked to make the evening a success – and friends, it takes a village!
Importance of volunteers
A few of our volunteers started working with me as early as Wednesday in an effort to be ready for the big event on Saturday. And ours are not your run-of-the mill volunteers. These guys will do anything you ask! File paperwork, move taxidermy, even craft T-shirts into beautiful chair covers.
For the Evergreen Ball committee and about 20 additional volunteers, the day of the ball begins early.
All hands are on deck at Cherokee Country Club as we transform the Sequoyah and Dogwood rooms and the Pub into upscale boutique chic.
Everyone is negotiating for table topeasels, black table skirts and looking for missing bid sheets. Sometimes it feels like a race, but no one slows down.
By the middle of the afternoon, it looks like everything is coming together. We take just a moment to peek in the ballroom and it absolutely takes our breath away. Once again, the decorations committee has outdone itself and we are so proud!
Now, it is time to rush home, change into evening attire and return for the big event.
As the sun sets, the special lighting adds an air of elegance and festivity to Cherokee Country Club.
The event begins
The logo of our presenting sponsor, the Travel Channel, shines brightly above the roofline of the club.
Forty Trailblazers are getting their last instructions about assisting guests with seating and the silent auction. Auction area chairs are making last minute adjustments to their areas. Final sound checks are made. It is show time!
As the first guests arrive, the excitement builds. As the crowd grows larger with the arrival of each car, a festive buzz begins in the crowd. You see, this is what the committee has worked most of the year to achieve – a fun, interesting evening providing guests an opportunity to give back to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And give back they did!
Silent auction and live auction
The 2014 Evergreen Ball silent auction featured more than 300 individual items and our guests were engaged and generous. One new addition to the silent auction was the Treasures section. This area featured 20 items at higher values and price points than those traditionally included in the silent auction.
We are pleased to report that this one section raised $18,750!
The silent auction as a whole was also very productive, raising over $72,000 – the highest in its 11-year history. Our guests were equally supportive of the live auction which this year included 6 very special items. At the end of the evening, the total for the live auction stood at $77,000.
Evergreen Ball raised over $486,000
Wow! 2014 was a banner year for the Evergreen Ball.
As we close the books on this year’s ball, we are pleased and thankful to report it raised over $486,000 – again, a record.
I believe this success is a reflection of caring. Caring from sponsors who generously commit to support this event which raises not only dollars but awareness of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Knoxville community. And a committee who spends 9 months of the year, and cares very much about providing a quality event.
From over 80 volunteers who converge on Cherokee Country Club Saturday morning to transform ordinary rooms into a magical evening. And finally, to our wonderful guests who make it all possible. Thanks to all of you from the bottom of our hearts!
Thank you to Friends of the Smokies Board Advisor Jack Williams for his amazing photography!
Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization has been helping to preserve and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park by raising funds and awareness and recruiting volunteers for needed projects. Over the last 21 years, support from Friends of the Smokies members, sponsors, donors, and Tennessee and North Carolina specialty license plate owners has totaled more than $43 million. To see this year’s list of Park Support Projects visit our website at FriendsOfTheSmokies.org