Franklin Wine Festival

FRANKLIN, TN (MAY 17, 2011) –The seventh annual Franklin Wine Festival, presented by Cool Springs Wines and Spirits and supported by Nissan, held its committee kick off at Big Brothers Big Sisters offices in Nashville. The food and wine tasting event is a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, and will be held Friday, October 21 at the Factory at Franklin.

The celebration of food and wine also includes live entertainment on two stages throughout the Factory, a silent and live auction, and delicious samplings of more than 300 wines and culinary tastings from 30 Middle Tennessee area restaurants and caterers. Advance tickets will be $75, and will be available soon at www.FranklinWineFestival.com. If available, tickets sold at the door will be $85 each.

Andrea Smith, Event Chairperson, commented, “I am so honored to chair the 2011 Franklin Wine Festival – there simply isn’t a more impressive event in Middle Tennessee. We hope that many area businesses and individuals will join us in coming together to help Big Brothers Big Sisters help children overcome adversity and realize a new and brighter future.”

Committee members for 2011 include: James and Jackie Woodard, Honorary Chairs; members Karen Ahern, Fifth Third Bank; Jessica Arnold, Bass, Berry & Sims; Olivia Billingsley, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce; Cindy Blume, Nissan North America; Raffaella Braun, Creative Artists Agency; Ashley Byron, AIM Healthcare; Widley Cesar, Kirkland’s Home; Lois Conley, HCA Healthcare; Past Chairperson Sandy Draper, Wirtgen America; Tiffany Dobson, Sprint; Brian Donnelly, Prudential; Angela Evans, Double Diamond Design; Katie Evans, Legal Aid Society; Penny Floyd, Cool Springs Wines & Spirits; Kimberly Gray, Essential Learning; Meredith Herberg, SESAC; Lauren Lane, Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity; Molly Fay Lester, Perk Products Chemicals; Heather Martin; Michael Martin, Whole Foods Market; Diane Murphy, Mix 92.9/Jack FM; Courtney Oppman, Xerox; Angela Patterson, Bridgestone; Corey Perry, AT&T; Ebony Quinn, Spectracell Laboratory; Theresa Reiley; Julie Sandberg, Merrill Lynch; Matt Sigmund, The Sigmund Group; Chairperson Andrea Smith, Bank of America; Kristen Smith, Williamson County Schools; Kim Ann Snodgrass, AAA; Christen Sottolano, Vanderbilt University; Angie Stapleton, Vanderbilt University; Christie Trost, Wirtgen America; Stephanie Valdez Streaty, Nissan North America; Jordan Waldron, FirstBank; Christina Weems, Emdeon ; Cynthia Whitfield, Allstate; Gary Wynn, Exit Realty; and Jeff Young, Tennessee Bank & Trust.

The funds raised by the event will be used to serve more children with a mentor throughout Middle Tennessee through Big Brothers Big Sisters programs. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee served 2,812 children in 2010 with a mentor.

The organization depends on donations to help recruit volunteers and reach more children. Funding is used to conduct background checks on volunteers to ensure child safety, and provide ongoing support for children, families and volunteers to build and sustain long-lasting relationships.

For more information on the Franklin Wine Festival, visit www.FranklinWineFestival.com. For more information, visit www.mentorakid.org or call Big Brothers Big Sisters at (615) 329-9191.