Great Futures Dinner brings music, mission and community together for local youth
Great Futures Dinner brings music, mission and community together for local youth
Published 11:09 am Monday, September 21, 2026
Music, community and a shared commitment to local children came together as the Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County hosted its annual Great Futures Dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology.
President and Board Chair David LeVeau opened the evening by asking audience members to find their “why” for supporting Club kids.
The highlight of the evening was a special performance by Grammy Award-winning artists and Grand Ole Opry performers Trey Hensley and Daniel Grindstaff, joined by Ethan Church.
The longtime friends and collaborators performed selections from new and earlier projects, shared stories behind their music and gave guests an intimate experience with two of the region’s accomplished musicians.
One of the evening’s most meaningful moments came when Hensley and Grindstaff were joined by the Boys & Girls Club Choir, giving Club members the opportunity to share the stage and perform alongside the award-winning musicians.
For Grindstaff, the evening held an especially personal connection. A native of Elizabethton who continues to call the community home with his family, he understands firsthand the importance of organizations that invest in local children and families.
Hensley, also an Upper East Tennessee native, brought a similar connection to the region and its people. Together, their music, storytelling, humor and friendship created a personal and memorable performance.
The evening also included autograph and photo opportunities with Hensley and Grindstaff, community fellowship, a silent auction and dinner sponsored by Firehouse BBQ. Organizers also thanked Tom and Justin Seaton for their hospitality.
Throughout the program, guests learned more about the Boys & Girls Club’s academic, social-emotional learning, arts, teen and workforce-readiness programs provided to children and teens.
The event was made possible through the support of Premiere Sponsor Citizens Bank, along with Blue Door sponsors, table sponsors, community partners and guests whose support helps the Club continue providing opportunities for local young people.
“This was such a fun night. It was so much more than a fundraiser. It was a celebration of our kids and what can happen when a community chooses to stand behind them,” said Shelly Parham, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County. “We are incredibly grateful to Trey Hensley and Daniel Grindstaff for giving their time and tremendous talent to make this evening so special, and especially for the experience they gave our Club Choir. We are also grateful to Firehouse BBQ for sponsoring dinner, to Kenny Hawkins, our Champion of Kids, and to every sponsor and guest who chose to spend the evening supporting our mission. I never take that for granted.”
Deb Gouge closed the evening with a reminder that when a community invests in its children, that investment reaches far beyond the walls of the Club.
For the Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County, the evening celebrated another successful Great Futures Dinner and a community continuing to open doors of opportunity for children and teens who call Elizabethton and Carter County home.
