Holly Street Daycare’s annual fundraiser, known as Holly Street Rocks!, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19. Every year, the 3 Star-certified daycare center hosts a beer and wine tasting and auction. The fundraiser, now in its 12th year, has changed things up a bit this fall with the addition of BBQ plates from Drifters and The Wild Cow, accompanied by some tasty desserts from Nashville Sweets and other local bakers. The tasting and auction will run from 6-10 p.m. at The Building in 5 Points. Sadly, this will be the event’s fifth and final year at this spot, with The Building set to close its doors this November. Bidding farewell to the venue may give event patrons all the more reason to get out and support the daycare’s “Jamie’s Fund.”
Holly Street Daycare has a long history of providing financial aid to at-need families who have trouble affording quality childcare. Holly Street Rocks! raises nearly $30,000 every year, which is put directly into offsetting childcare costs for at-need families. Event Chair Emily Covington Waltenbaugh says, “When a parent is facing something like chemotherapy and mounting medical bills and time away from work, not having to worry about the cost of childcare and keeping their child’s day-to-day routine stable can be a godsend.” Jamie’s Fund is named after a beloved member of the Holly Street educational family that passed away three years ago. The fund “provides tuition to families dealing with financial setbacks that threaten their access to childcare.” With about 30 percent of families receiving some form of tuition subsidy at Holly Street Daycare, the need for the fund is apparent.
Tickets for the event, along with live and silent auctions and raffle tickets, are the primary means of fundraising. The auction features over 200 different items, ranging from gift certificates to full vacation packages, all donated by local merchants and friends of Holly Street Daycare. There will be a large silent auction and two “very spirited” live auctions for the bigger ticket items.
Raffle tickets run $5 and are worth 13 chances in the drawing for cash prizes. These raffle tickets can be picked up at Holly Street Daycare, from parents, or online. Also, for those who wish to donate but haven’t purchased raffle tickets or can’t make it out to the event, donations to Jamie’s Fund are accepted online through the Holly Street Rocks! website. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door, which includes a BBQ dinner, desserts, and all-you-care-to-drink wine and beer, provided by Midtown Wine and Spirits.