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Fundraiser set for organization helping first responders





wine tasting

wine tasting

The Spring Hill Knight Foundation is hosting a fundraiser on Oct. 23 at Rippavilla Plantation.

Set to begin at 6 p.m., the event features a wine tasting and silent auction. Among the silent auction items is a signed guitar from Vince Gill and Amy Grant.

Each year, the Spring Hill Knight Foundation hosts an art contest for school-aged children and then awards prizes at a dinner gala. Due to COVID-19, the non-profit has been unable to host the event each of the last two years.

“We really need to replenish our accounts,” Knight Foundation board member and Spring Hill alderman John Canepari said. “Not being able to host a fundraiser due to COVID will be detrimental to what we are able to accomplish.”

The foundation offers a multitude of benefits to first responders, such as counseling, crisis intervention and more to help the first responders and their families.

“A lot of times, if you get injured on the job, the first responder is taken care of through workman’s comp or sick leave or whatever, but the families are affected, too,” Canepari said. “We try to step in and fill those families’ needs as we can.”

knight foundation

knight foundation

The foundation stepped up recently and provided additional support for one of the Nashville Six, the officers who were on-scene for the Christmas Day bombing in downtown Nashville. One officer was only allowed a certain number of psychologist sessions, but needed more to continue working through the trauma and stress. They’ve paid for the officer to be able to continue those.

Additionally, the foundation has also completed projects in the past such as installing a new swing set for a police officer’s daughter.

“The scope of what the Knight Foundation does is unlimited, really,” Canepari said. “We try to help our first responders and their families however we can.”

In order to help as much as possible, the foundation is counting on a large crowd at their wine tasting event. Tickets are still available, and are $50 per person or $35 for a designated driver.

A live jazz band will be on hand, and tours of the home are included in admission.

“Our community is amazing, and Spring Hill supports each other in times of need. Our mission is to get that support to those who need it,” Canepari said.

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