OCALA, FL (352today.com) – It’s an event that’s aging like fine wine and one that improves over time.
The Brick City Beer and Wine Festival was held at the Citizens’ Circle this past March, providing the opportunity to sample craft and premium beers and wines.
But it was the community’s spirit of altruism that took center stage, raising $150,000 to be split between three area charities:
A check presentation took place Wednesday morning at the World Equestrian Center, the festival’s presenting sponsor.
This was the 10th year of the event. The idea evolved from its nascent stages during an Ocala Silver Springs Rotary Club meeting where James Clardy and Tarn Thompson came up with the concept for the festival, said David Tillman, Brick City Beer and Wine Festival executive board member. He’s been involved with the process since the beginning. The Ocala Sunset Rotary Club joined shortly after making the charitable cause a combined effort.
“I think the first year, we raised just under $15,000 for the Fort King Heritage Foundation,” said Tillman. “From there, it has grown every single year, and this year we raised ten times as much as we did our first year. It was an opportunity to give back. The work that we put into it, we always see the reward.”
A group of volunteers is a critical component in making sure the event runs smoothly. Event planners, Leighandra Gibbons and Deanna Morey from Tillman and Associates, start planning for the next year’s event, the day after the previous year ends.
“They know that this money is going right back into the community, to serve the community, and that contributes to the bigger turnout each and every year,” said Gibbons, Brick City Beer and Wine Festival director of internal operations.
Organizers say the outpouring of support is a reflection of the importance of the work the charities do to serve the needs in the area.
“I think this is such a beautiful picture of how Marion County comes together as a community for the things they care about,” said Karla Greenway, Interfaith Emergency Services CEO. “If you look at our three charities, you have abused children, people living in poverty, and then you have people that need education. So, you’re hitting all three areas that have a big impact on our society.”
A sense of urgency in assisting others, those who are most vulnerable in Marion County, are among the reasons why people take a proactive role in the festival.
“The charities all work and partner really well together and serve Marion County,” said Dawn Westgate, executive director at Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection. “These dollars for us, specifically at Kimberly Center, make sure that we can keep serving children, after allegations of abuse and neglect, and provide expert care to those kids and put them on a path toward health and healing.”
According to one recipient, the donations have a multiplying effect.
“What I say to people all the time, is that this is a double gift to all these charities. On the one hand it’s the gift of financial assistance to support our mission. On the other hand, every minute we’re not out raising this money is a minute that we can devote delivering service to the community,” said R.J. Jenkins, Marion County Literacy Council. “This $150,000 check; is $150,000 in community support. It’s also $150,000 in time that we can use in serving this community’s most vulnerable people.”
92.5/95.5 Wind-FM is a proud media partner for the event, hosting the Battle of the Bands, which takes place during the festival. Radio personalities Hunter Wallace, Ryan Dupree and Scott Chase, along with promotions director Kaley Phillips were on hand for Wednesday’s check presentation. Wind-FM and 352today are owned by the same company, North Central Florida Media.
