A student reads to a dog in HABIT’s Ruff Reading Program in East Tennessee. Photo courtesy HABIT.

KNOXVILLE – Judy Lockhart DiGregorio, author, humor columnist and workshop leader, is the featured guest speaker for “Barbeque, Bidding and Bluegrass: An Evening of Good Behavior with HABIT.” The event is hosted by Human Animal Bond in Tennessee (HABIT), one of the country’s oldest animal-assisted therapy programs, and Swofford Financial. HABIT is a non-profit outreach program of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM).

The fundraiser will take place at the Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) Tuesday, March 31, 2015, from 5 – 7 p.m.

A spirited silent auction will take place during the barbecue dinner with guest bluegrass musicians, Grassroots Gringos.

From 4 to 5 p.m. guests can enjoy a complimentary tour of the museum and begin bidding on the silent auction items.

More than 250 HABIT volunteers and their animals make more than 200,000 contacts annually in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, various units at Children’s Hospital, schools and drug recovery programs.

Tickets are $35. For more information about the event, call 865-974-5633 or email habit-et@utk.edu. Visit vetmed.tennessee.edu/outreach to learn more about the outreach program.

One of 28 accredited veterinary colleges in the United States, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine educates students in the art and science of veterinary medicine and related biomedical sciences, promotes scientific research and enhances human and animal well-being.