Dear Oak Ridge:
The board and staff of the Child Advocacy Center wish to thank many of the community who helped create a wonderful event on Nov. 2: The Youth Showcase and Auction. The event raised approximately $4,500 to further our mission of combating severe physical and sexual abuse and the resulting trauma by coordinating and providing services to young victims in a child friendly, safe, and nurturing environment.
Many donated their time to our cause. The evening’s master of ceremonies, Matt Shafer Powell of NPR, amused the audience between acts. David Fall, of Stephenson’s auction, prompted audience members to keep bidding and raised $2,200 on the live auction alone. Volunteers Glen Zahn on sound, Adam Bell as stage manager, and Zachary Picketton on lights provided flawless technical support. Terry Silver-Alford, music director of the Clarence Brown Theater, provided musical skills as an accompanist for several of the performers. Not least, the kind folks of High Places Community Church allowed us to use their wonderfully preserved Historic Grove Theater for the performance.
Young performers were gracious in offering their talents. University of Tennessee students Taylor Stone and Breyon Lattrell Wess wowed the audience with their professionalism. Singer/songwriters Nick Cagle, Lara Manning, and Taylor Kress jazzed up the evening with their performances. Taylor Gober danced elegantly across the stage as if to celebrate the youth. Eston Dunn mystified the audience with interludes of magic. Sisters Sydney and Maddie Buckner each performed separately and demonstrated their beautiful and youthful voices. A teen string quartet from the Oak Ridge High School string orchestra consisting of Elizabeth Shane and Natalie Cross on violin, Ian Barclay on viola, and Caleb Clement on cello reminded audience members of the talents of our local school’s orchestra. A barber shop quartet, “Los Garcons Caliente,” (Alex Catlett, Bryon Wess, Nic Cagle, and Treston Henderson) also harmonized and wowed the audience.
Auction items were donated by many local businesses and nonprofits including Jennifer McRoberts House of Cake, Eckert Chiropractic Center of Oak Ridge, David Schaller, Piano Tuner, Oak Ridge Bicycle Center, Ambler Brown Photography of Lenoir City, Tennessee Winery of Lenoir City, National Fitness Center of Oak Ridge, Dean’s Restaurant, The Museum of Appalachia, American Museum of Science and Energy, Oak Ridge, Starbucks of Oak Ridge, Gondolier’s, Cheddar’s, Texas Road House, Chattanooga Zoo, The Smith Family Dinner Center, Life Development Center of Anderson County, The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Tennessee Smokies Baseball, Dollywood, Wilderness of the Smokies, The Inn on the River of Pigeon Forge, Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, Ober Gatlinburg, Sweet Fanny Mountain Theater, Green Mountain Coffee, Holiday Inn of Pigeon Forge, The Biltmore of North Carolina, Topside Church of God, and Wonder Works.
Thanks also to WBVX Blue Plate special and Oak Ridge Today, who helped publicize the event with their networks.
So, for those who missed a great evening, you will be glad to know that CACACT Inc is already that planning a second Youth Showcase next fall. Please make plans to come as you will not only be seeing some young, energetic, talented and generous youth, as well as helping provide services for local victims of child abuse.
Thank you again!
Fran Pisano, MD
Board Chair and Voluntary Medical Director
Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County (CACACT) Inc.
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