Beehan named as ADFAC Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Awardee

ADFAC will host its eighth annual Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Event on Saturday, November 14, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge.

This event celebrates an important volunteer in the community each year who exemplifies the values of the late Bill Wilcox, a press release said. This year’s honoree is former mayor and local volunteer Tom Beehan.

This year’s pandemic-altered event will be a “drive by” event with multiple focuses, the press release said:

• honor Tom Beehan,
• socially distanced and safe,
• fun community event with great food and entertainment,
• fundraiser for much needed support for ADFAC services in the community, and
• all from the comfort of your car!

ADFAC and the Bow Tie Committee, chaired by Cande Seay and Wendie Aurin, are excited about the fun opportunities this unique event offers, the press release said. In addition to the on-site activities at the DoubleTree, there will be a virtual aspect of the event as well. The virtual side will include presentation of the Bow Tie Award to Beehan, as well as thoughts and stories from his friends and family about his important contributions to the community.

Tickets and additional details are available at www.adfac.org or by visiting http://tinyurl.com/BowTie2020 or by calling (865) 425-0256, extension 114. There are two options available:

Drive By ($60 each):

• A delicious three-course catered dinner, safely brought to your vehicle provided by DoubleTree (vegetarian option available)
• The opportunity to personally wish Beehan congratulations from the comfort of your car
• Live music by the Missing Goats
• Special entertainment by the Oak Ridge Dance Cats
• Handcrafted decoration for your vehicle
• Bow Tie Swag Bag

Virtual ($30 each):

• Virtual Link for full access to the livestream of the drive-in event, including The Missing Goats and award ceremony
• The opportunity to send Beehan a personal note of congratulations
• An exclusive 2020 Bow Tie souvenir

In addition to all this fun, ADFAC will be hosting an online auction to support the services ADFAC provides in the community, the press release said. The many great offerings include a trip to the beach, a week in an airstream at a regional park, specially made pottery by Bill Capshaw, and much more, the release said. Auction online details will be announced soon.

This event is an important fundraiser for ADFAC each year, even more so in a year that has presented so many additional challenges to the clients that ADFAC serves. A strong group of dedicated volunteers work many hours throughout the year to make each event a success, and this year is no different, the press release said.

Past Bill Wilcox Bow Tie awardees have included Ray Smith, Tim Myrick, Cande Seay, Bear Stephenson, Tom Row, Kathy Stimpson (posthumously), Louise Mixon, and Bill Capshaw.

This year’s event is sponsored by CNS, Jim and Becky Dodson, Assured Bio Labs, Betsy Coleman Realty, CENTRUS, Mortgage Investors Group, ORUD, TNBank, Fox Willis Burnette PLLC, John and Carrol Welch, Wendie Aurin— Realty Executive Associates, Mary Lou Daugherty, Chuck’s Car Care, State Farm—Ruby Miller, and State Farm—Randy McFarland.

Additional and essential support is being provided by Leidos, M&M Productions, BBB TV, All Occasions Party Rentals, Estate Sale Professionals, DoubleTree, Trish Polfus, Judi Gray and the Sew Good Mask Project, Bill and Connie Capshaw, Louise Mixon, Teresa Myrick, Tom and Pat Row, David and Cande Seay, Ray and Fanny Smith, Bear Stephenson, and the Wilcox Family.

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) began in the mid 1980s as a local ecumenical effort to provide assistance to impoverished families. As the broad needs of the low-income community became evident, the faith-based collaborative moved to become a 501(c)(3) public charity in January 1987. Over the years, ADFAC has honored its roots by developing a broad variety of programs designed to meet unfilled needs in the community and currently answers over 6,000 requests for assistance each year, the press release said.

Note: This press release was submitted by a subscriber or advertiser to Oak Ridge Today.