Big River Grille presents $174,000 to two nonprofits
What: Big River Grille & Brewing Works and its charitable arm, CraftWorks Foundation, presented $174,000 to two local nonprofits. The donation was Big River's largest donation to date raised through proceeds from its annual Southern Brewers Festival. The brewers festival was held in August at Ross's Landing and drew more than 8,500 visitors.
Benefits: Chattanooga's Kids on the Block and Chattanooga Community Kitchen.
Williams roast boosts Chattanooga State scholarship fund
What: Grady Williams, philanthropist, volunteer and businessman, was the "honoree" at the second Dinner of Firsts, a dinner and roast that raises money for Chattanooga State Community College's First-in-the-Family Scholarship Fund. The event was held at The Chattanoogan. Roasters were event chairman Leonard Fant, Patsy Hazlewood, Tom Edd Wilson, Sonia Young, Craig Holley and Fletcher Bright.
Benefits: The scholarship is presented to Chattanooga State students who are the first in their families to attend college. One of six children, Williams was the first in his family to go to college. According to Chattanooga State officials, more than 80 percent of the school's students apply for financial aid, and over half are the first in their families to attend college.