UNITED WAY of South Central Tennessee hosted its annual United in Spirits fundraiser on Saturday, June 13, at the historic Jack Daniel’s BBQ Hill in Lynchburg. The event welcomed 250–300 community leaders, partners, and supporters from across Middle Tennessee for an evening of fine dining, entertainment, and connection. Held from 5 to 9 p.m., the event featured a gourmet dinner by Strawberry Moon Catering Co., three Jack Daniel’s drinks per attendee, live music sponsored by Common John Brewing Company, and a silent auction.
Each guest received an exclusive commemorative wooden coaster, with this year’s design featuring a whiskey barrel. The design was created by Ashley Gibbs, regional director of United Way of South Central Tennessee, and crafted by Jack Daniel’s own Kevin Sanders.
Sponsors enjoyed a VIP pre-event experience at the Tennessee Whiskey Trailhead and Lynchburg Welcome Center, hosted and sponsored by Experience Tennessee. VIP guests enjoyed dedicated entertainment, charcuterie, and refreshments, and each sponsor received a swag bag containing gift cards and a community passport highlighting local tourism and charitable opportunities. The package also included perks such as a Jack Daniel’s distillery tour, an engraved barrel hat, and engraved bottles.
General admission guests arrived at 5 p.m. Gibbs said the event is intentionally limited to 300 guests.
“We value exclusivity,” she said. “We want to ensure that we can genuinely connect with the people who attend. Our goal is for everyone to mingle and network, and once an event gets too large, that becomes difficult to maintain. We’re also grateful for their support in being present and want to ensure each guest feels that.
”United in Spirits originated in 2022 in response to COVID-19 restrictions, with the goal of bringing people back together and supporting families in need. Gibbs said the event offers top-notch food and local entertainment, while returning guests can expect something new each year.
“I want our attendees to have a new and exciting experience every year, and we are already in the process of planning and discussing next year’s United in Spirits event to continue to make it better,” Gibbs said.
All proceeds benefit United Way of South Central Tennessee, which serves Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Lincoln, Moore, Rutherford, and Warren counties. Funds are distributed through an annual competitive grant process open to local nonprofits and through the organization’s own internal services.
“We want to make sure that those funds that we receive are making the biggest impact in our community,” Gibbs said.
Those internal services include the 211 Helpline, which connects residents to housing, food, healthcare, and emergency assistance; the VITA free tax preparation service; SingleCare prescription savings; the Tennessee Benefit Kitchen screening tool; the Imagination Library, Dolly Parton’s initiative that delivers free books to children; and Born Learning Academy, which supports families preparing children for school. The organization also offers Launch Point, a financial empowerment and career development program for working households in need.
“United Way of South Central Tennessee prioritizes supporting ALICE families as well as a wider range of community needs,” Gibbs said. “ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — working households that still struggle to afford necessities like housing, childcare, food, transportation, and healthcare. United Way programs aim to stabilize and uplift these households through financial, educational, and resource-based support.”
These efforts reflect United Way’s mission of moving families from short-term crisis toward long-term stability and economic mobility. Events like United in Spirits allow the organization to continue offering this level of care and support to
local families. GN
To learn more about United Way of South Central Tennessee and its events, visit www.yourlocaluw.org.
