Jim Souders’ birthday party and fundraising dinner is Feb. 25

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The Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School band alumni will present Jim Souders’ 70th Birthday Party and BBQ Dinner fundraiser, which will be held at The Colonnade in Ringgold on Feb. 25. The evening will feature a BBQ fundraising dinner, a roast of Mr. Souders and entertainment by the Kevin Roberts Jazz Quartet and two other bands formed by LFO band alumni.

“Jim and his wife, Jensi, made it cool to be in the band,” said Event Planner and LFO band alumni Wade Cardwell. “And nobody won more than we did at LFO.”

Proceeds raised from the event will go toward endowing a fund to buy large band instruments that are difficult for a student to purchase. Mr. Souders was always sensitive to the needs of economically disadvantaged students that might not have been able to participate in the band had he not subtly steered them towards the band-owned instruments.

All three Catoosa County high school band programs - LFO, Heritage and Ringgold - are being given a chance to sell both to-go dinners and a VIP Dinner to the Party, both served by Farm to Fork Restaurant in Ringgold. The high school band program selling the most will receive an additional $1,000 for their band.

The public is also welcome to come to The Colonnade and buy BBQ dinners on Feb. 25 as long as the food lasts.

The LFO band alumni are also offering the opportunity for any Group interested in selling tickets to the event to use it as a fundraiser for their organization that will mutually benefit both groups.

“We want any good organization to be able to benefit from the work that is already being done,” said the group’s social chairman, Ann Gullage Anderson. “It will help us raise more money to endow The Jim Souders Band Instrument Fund.”

The two other bands schedule to appear are Midnight Promise, formed by LFO band alumni member Gene Ingram (Class of 1985) and Neil Brock and the Cover Up, which features LFO band alumni member Ed Sloan (Class of 1988).

Entertainment will begin at 5 p.m., while dinner and the roast will begin at 6. Entertainment is scheduled to continue until 10:30 p.m.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door the night of the event. Donations will also be accepted for the endowment fund from those unable to attend the event in person.

Tickets may be purchased at Farm to Fork until Feb. 23 or online at jimsoudersbirthday.com.

For more information, contact Wade Cardwell (423) 762-1942, Ann Gullage Anderson (423) 309-7442 or Tammy Grimes (423) 432-0307.