Upcoming foundation fundraiser to precede Cards vs. Tigers gridiron rivalry
By SYLVIA HORLANDER
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Monday, Sept. 4, 2017 — “The first event of its kind” — that’s how Dorothy White, the executive director of the Nelson County Schools Community Support Foundation, described an upcoming alumni fundraiser called “Tailgate Time.
Tailgate Time is set to precede one of the county’s biggest football rivalries — the Cardinals of Nelson County High School versus the Tigers of Bardstown High School.
DOROTHY WHITE
While kickoff time is 7:30 p.m., the Tailgate Time fundraiser begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8 at the Nelson County High School football field.
Alumni from NCHS and Thomas Nelson High School, as well as fans of the rivalry game and community residents will gather for a night that’s sure to be memorable — and most notably, one that will help students in the county school system.
Tailgate Time will feature a meal that will include a grilled-to-perfection sizzling ribeye sandwich that will be cooked by Adam Wheatley with Kentucky Beef Producers. The meal also includes chips, a chocolate chip cookie, and a drink. A $20 donation will get you the meal and cover the cost of admission to the game.
All alumni and game fans will pass through a large tent before staking a seat at the game. The tent will keep right with the night’s theme and house a photo booth with a referee backdrop and football-theme decorated tables.
White says she’s most excited about the large crowd they’re expecting for this year’s “fun” fundraiser.
“Bringing family and friends together makes it really special to me,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see alumni, current students, parents, and those who want to be at the game to gather, have a good time, and support the students. It really brings the community together.”
As the largest school system in the county, White said the district’s students, teachers and staff benefit from the Nelson County Schools Community Support Foundation.
The foundation is improving the lives of creative students by providing them with musical instruments, who otherwise wouldn’t have one.
For example, the foundation supports many projects at the school district’s Early Learning Center (ELC). Located on Cardinal Drive, the ELC houses the district’s preschool program as well as before and after-school child care.
Throughout the years, several scholarships have been awarded for high school students who exemplify exceptional achievements. This year’s recipients include: Haley Abell and Paula Marie Gagne, both from Nelson County High School; Carsyn G. Kidwell, Jarret Stiles, Laken Culver, and Michaela Johnson, all from Thomas Nelson High School; and Daniel Manion from Bethlehem High School.
Abell was awarded the $1,000 Cindy Ethington Scholarship, which recognizes a student with exceptional achievements in English and/or Drama. The scholarship honors the memory of Cindy Cusick Ethington, a longtime NCHS drama and English teacher.
Gagne and Manion were recipients of the Ann Ewing Scholarship, whose recipients receive $500 or $1,000 for significant achievements in math. The scholarship is awarded in honor of longtime NCHS math teacher Ann Ewing.
Kidwell and Stiles were awarded with the $1,000 Tyler Foster Scholarship, which recognizes students who have made a significant impact on others in their community in memory of 2009 NCHS graduate Tyler Foster.
Culver and Johnson were awarded Taylor Brooke Martin Scholarships of $1,000 in memory of TNHS student Taylor Martin.
The foundation was started in 2000, and is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization.
The foundation board members include Adam Wheatley, Dave French, Toby Lewis, Deanna Newton, and Rick Zielke.
Tailgate Time’s sponsors include Anytime Fitness, Barlow Funeral Home, Bourbon City Print, Brown & Cheek, Inc., Cecil Family Eyecare, Flowers Foods, GBA, Kleentech, Lincoln National Bank, Marshall’s Jewelers, Pro-Mortgages, WBRT, and other donors who wish to remain anonymous.
To purchase tickets prior to the big game, visit https://www.communitysupportfoundation.org/264-2/
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