TOWNSEND, TN — Preparations are well underway for The Many Roads Home, the 2014 eleventh annual Heritage Happening gala and auction fundraising event. The event will be held on the grounds of the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend on Saturday, May 17, 2014. The gala consists of both silent and live auctions as well as an elegant dinner provided by Rothchild Catering of Knoxville. This year's event features Ted Hall, popular WVLT broadcaster, as Master of Ceremonies. A new addition to the auction is an on-line bidding process to enable those unable to attend the Gala itself the opportunity to bid on select items. Hosted on e-Bay Giving Works, the on-line auction process began in early March.
The Heritage Center Guild was founded by a group of twenty-one women in 2003 whose goal was to help raise funds for the yet-to-be-built Heritage Center museum. According to its mission, the Guild hosts the annual Heritage Happening auction and dinner to raise funds for the continued development of the Center and its extensive educational programs for children. This year, more than 8,000 students are expected to participate in the Center's unique educational programs.
Commenting on the Guild's role in the Heritage Center's story, Director Bob Patterson said, "We could not do educational programming, have existing exhibits, bring in new exhibits, maintain our grounds and fund transportation for visiting schoolchildren, among many other needs, if it were not for this Guild. In addition to their fundraising efforts, they put in thousands of volunteer hours on each year's school tours, festivals and concerts."
This year's invitation and program artwork, designed by Lois Alexander, depict the various paths generations of Americans, from Native Americans, to hardy settlers, to immigrants from around the world, have taken to find a home in our beautiful Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. As Gala Chair and Guild Vice President, Melody Silverberg, states "Each of us who call the Smoky Mountains home took a particular path here. Some of us are here because our ancestors came and their descendants stayed through generations. Others of us are transplants. We came here from many other locations and found a special sense of belonging in the area that cannot be matched in any other location. That sense of home is what binds us in our dedication to the Heritage Center and its mission."
The wide array of unique and lovely items to be auctioned off this year includes beautiful artwork from area artisans, destination vacation trips, and wine, food and dining experiences. Silverberg states that "those looking for unusual gifts or a treat for themselves will all find something at this event." She attributes the large variety and high quality of donated items "to the generosity of donors all across East Tennesse and to the dedication of our Guild members who solicit these items." Items to be auctioned can be viewed at www.gsmheritagecenter.org/about/guild/heritage-happening. Note that items are continually being added, so check the website frequently.
Invitations will be mailed in April to Heritage Center members and past attendees, but all are welcome to purchase tickets by calling the Heritage Center at 865-448-0044. Tickets are $100.00 per person, $65 of which is tax deductible. We are limited to 350 attendees, so please make your reservations early.
For more information call 865-448-0044.
The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is 501 c3 Museum and Cultural Center. The Heritage Center is open Monday thru Saturday 10 am - 5 pm and on Sunday 12 noon to 5 pm. Admission is free for Heritage Center members, Adults $6.00 ,Seniors 60 plus and children ages 6 - 17 $4.00, children 5 and under are free. Closed Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.
The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is a not for profit museum and is located between the traffic light and the national park entrance, on scenic Highway 73.
