By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist
If you don’t already have plans for next Saturday, March 28, we have a suggestion. Go to Brinson Ford in Athens; listen to wonderful music; drive an awesome car; view outstanding artwork; eat a free hot dog; treat yourself to cotton candy; then head over to the middle school and see more amazing art work. Or, if you’d prefer, execute in reverse order. You can’t go wrong.
Two things are happening to make all this goodness possible. For the third year, Brinson Ford is hosting a “Drive 4UR School” event for the Athens High School Pride of the Hornets Band. In addition, this is Youth Art Month, and Athens High School’s art show will be taking place in the dealership showroom on the same day. The Athens Middle School art show will be held in the Athens Middle School cafetorium. The middle school art show is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Drive 4UR School event and high school art show will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brinson Ford. There are no admission fees.
Here’s how Drive 4UR School works: The dealership will have virtually every vehicle that Ford makes lined up on their lot. For every person who takes a test drive, the AHS Band Booster Club gets a donation from the dealership, up to $6,000. To hit that amount, at least 300 people with unique addresses must take a test drive. (Two or more adults from the same residence can each take a test drive, but will only count as one.)
“There is no pressure,” said Band Booster President BJ Davies. “You just complete a quick form, pick out what you want to drive, and enjoy. It’s really fun.”
The AHS band takes a trip every other year. This is an off year, but next year band members will be traveling to Florida, where they will likely perform at either a Disney park or at Universal Studios.
“This fundraiser is absolutely crucial to offsetting the cost of that trip and making it possible for them to go,” said Davies. “We’re so grateful to Brinson for this opportunity.”
In addition to the beautiful artwork and the opportunity to drive your dream car, there are also several performances slated throughout the event. Beginning at 10 a.m. the high school band will perform. At 11 a.m., the drumline will take over. At 12:30, the middle school’s sixth-grade band will perform. Then at 1:15 and 2, members of the seventh- and eighth-grade bands will perform.
In addition, the Henderson County Humane Society will be on-site with animals in need of adoption, concessions will be sold, and the dealership will give away hotdogs. Refreshments will also be served at the middle school during their art show.
The AHS students will actually begin displaying their artwork at Brinson beginning this Tuesday, as a preview to the Saturday show. Both the high school and middle school shows are juried.
“The whole goal of this is to support our fine arts program,” said AHS art teacher Cynthia Kling. “We want to celebrate the talents of our children.”
Athens Middle School art teacher Cricket McNatt is hoping for a good turnout at their campus as well.
“We are so excited about displaying our students’ art, and we’re proud of all their accomplishments,” she said. “We hope to see people here to support us as a community.”
Brinson Ford is located at 2970 Hwy. 31E (Tyler Street), and Athens Middle School is located at 6800 Hwy. 19S (Palestine Street).