Crowd enjoys ‘Bourbon & Bubbles’ festivities in support of GO Center’s mission
By SYLVIA HORLANDER
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Sunday, April 23, 2017, 11 p.m. — A crowd of 350 people gathered at the Guthrie Opportunity Center Saturday evening for Bourbon and Bubbles, a night of stylish philanthropy in support of the work of the GO Center.
Bourbon and Bubbles is one of the premier fundraising events in Bardstown that helps the GO Center continue to provide job training and employment opportunities for developmentally and intellectually disabled adults in Nelson County.
The evening began at 6 p.m. sharp, with guests receiving the celebrity treatment as soon as they arrived. Guests walked on a red carpet and were greeted at the door with a glass of champagne. One inside the venue, they then mingled with other guests while enjoying a selection of the finest bourbons in the region from Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, Barton 1792, Willett, and Four Roses distilleries.
Guests were treated to top-notch dining prepared in-house by On-The-Go Foods employees and overseen by Chef Rick Hagan, the center’s food services director.
With fresh food and love as the secret ingredient, GO Center employees served a three course dinner that included arugula salad, sesame marinated beef tenderloin, pan seared Atlantic salmon, followed by their choice of tuxedo cake or decadent cheesecake.
Guests also had an opportunity to participate in the two different fundraising auctions — a silent auction or an exciting live auction featuring auctioneer Joey Hayden of Goldmark Realtors, who used his talents of fast-talk and quick wit for the live auction.
Kim Huston, president of the Nelson County Economic Development Agency (NCEDA), and a former WBRT radio personality, entertained the crowd as emcee of the event. Go Center Foundation chairman and Bardstown Mayor Dick Heaton and board member Renea Poston Bartoszek both spoke during the event.
Board member Gary Bishop spoke about the importance and impact that volunteering have on the GO Center. Bishop was named the the 2016 Nelson County Volunteer of the Year. Even though the evening’s speakers each shared a different story, the underlying message was consistent — to continue the tremendous record of success at the Center.
Go Center Executive Director Cindy Hutchins said the center is a “true blessing.”
“You can’t help but to walk in those doors and feel the love and passion of everyone who’s here,” she said.
The GO Center would not be possible without the support of the community, including those who help from afar. The GO Center is always looking for more business partners, and Hutchins urged businesses that haven’t partnered with them to come see the GO Center for themselves.
“Together we can make something happen,” she said. “It’s highly likely we’ll save them money, and we’ll definitely provide a quality product that’s from the heart. If it’s not a good fit, we’ll tell them”.
Both Hutchins and Bishop told WBRT during a live interview Friday that preparing for Bourbon and Bubbles is an ongoing effort — as the Center continues to provide for the community and establish more business partnerships.
An example of community support for the event included a team of volunteer youth who were members of the Thomas Nelson High School football team. The team members volunteered to spend part of the Sunday helping clean up after Bourbon and Bubbles.
The GO Center mission is to provide and sustain a nurturing environment that promotes learning, creates a sense of independence and provides lifelong support to the developmentally disadvantaged in Nelson County.
For more information about The GO Center, visit their website at http://www.guthrieopportunitycenter.org/.
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