Excitement was in the air as guests and patrons arrived at the Carl Perkins Civic Center for the 26th annual West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation Gala. An estimated $200,000 was raised this year through sponsors, a silent auction, table purchases and donations.

The 5th Annual Ladies Night Out at Robert’s Jewelers was once again a rousing success. Held over two nights, with ticket sales benefitting the American Heart Association on one night and a local charity on the other, it was a sellout event. This year the local charity was S.T.A.T. (Saving the Animals Together). Tickets were $10, and Robert’s matched the ticket sales, producing a $2,000 donation to each charity.

USJ’s Christmas Holiday Mart Preview Party held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center filled the center with more merchandise than you can look at in one trip. The Main floor was packed from the full lobby to the side hallways and into the Tennessee Room. The sponsors’ food section was downstairs and was a delight to sample.

On November 6, Union University held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication of its new library, The Logos, which was under construction for 16 months.

Once again Oakmont House was the place to be at the 2015 Patron’s Party for the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation. The hosts were Robert Walden and Jim Norton.

New York Times columnist David Brooks was the featured speaker for the 18th Union University Scholarship Banquet held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center to a sellout audience. David is a writer of several books including The Road to Character. In this book, ten effective individuals demonstrate how character is developed through selflessness. A focus and development of one’s inner self leads to a rich and fulfilled life. The Union University Choir performed three a capella selections to the delight of the audience.

The Jackson-Madison County Library Foundation held a successful fundraiser this year at Jackson Fairgrounds Park honoring Frances Mayes. Frances and her husband, Edward, were gracious to the 270 people who came to hear Frances discuss her book “Under the Tuscan Sun.” For two and a half years the book was a best seller even though it was written and published 20 years ago.  The movie is what breathed life into a hidden treasure, a book of “Hope & New Beginning.”

On an amazingly beautiful night at First Presbyterian Church, the Jackson Symphony Orchestra played classical and blockbuster movie theme music to the roaring crowd. Everyone brought their picnic baskets to sit and eat while listening to the best free concert in Jackson. The concert built up to the anticipated “1812 Overture” and real historic cannon fire. It was rumored there were 3,000–4,000 in attendance as the grounds were covered from Highland up to the stage and side areas.

The Darryl Worley’s Hit Makers & Harleys fundraiser for the Savannah Cancer Center was once again held at Jackson’s Bumpus Harley-Davidson. Featured songwriters were Darryl Worley with “Have You Forgotten;” Jim Brown with “Five O’Clock Somewhere;” Mark Collie, mentor to Darryl Worley, with “Even the Man in the Moon is Crying;” and Daryle Singletary with “Let Her Lie.”

Click here to view and purchase photos from the event.