Youth Showcase to benefit Child Advocacy Center on Nov. 2

Singing, dancing, and comedy—coupled with great food and celebrity entertainment—will kick off the first Youth Showcase on Nov. 2, a benefit for the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County.

The fundraiser for CACACT will feature some of the area’s most talented youth, a press release said. It starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the High Places Community Church in Historic Grove Center in Oak Ridge.

The young performers include ballet dancer Taylor Gober and singer/songwriters Nic Cagle, Taylor Kress (who has also appeared on WDVX), and Lara Manning. Two voice majors from UT, Breyon Lattrell Wess and Taylor Stone, and other local singers Maddie and Sydney Buckner will also perform.

Magician Eston Dunn will add his humor and talent, a young men’s quartet will sing, and a string quartet from Oak Ridge High School and a clogging group from Sleepy Eyed Music in Norris will also be featured.

“It should be a wonderful mix of great performances,” the release said.

WUOT Radio’s Matt Shafer Powell will serve as the master of ceremonies and auctioneer Bear Stephenson will conduct a live auction of local treasures and great travel packages between acts, the release said. Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab and Kitchen “promises to tempt the sweet tooth in people of all ages with tasty desserts and beverages,” the release said.

Tickets for the Youth Showcase are $25 for adults and $15 for children before the event, and $30 for adults and $20 for children at the door. Tickets are available online at www.childadvocacycenter.net (follow the link to Event Bright) and at Razzleberry’s, and a limited number will be available at the door on the night of the performances. Go to www.childadvocacycenter.net for more information about the Youth Showcase or how you can become involved with CACACT Inc.

 

Proceeds from the gala evening go to benefit CACACT, a local organization helping young victims of child and sexual abuse. Last year, 405 local children were served by the nonprofit agency, known as a safe place for children. It provides a location where members of the Child Protective Investigative Team, medical professionals, and counselors can work together to investigate suspected child and sexual abuse. Coordinating the investigative processes in one nurturing and safe environment reduces the number of times a child must relive the abuse, the release said.