Join us each Tuesday in September as we host fundraisers to support adult education.  A portion of the proceeds from all food and drink sales generated during lunch and dinner at both Tomato Head locations goes directly to Friends of Literacy. Every $100 provides one month of instruction for one student.

“Friends of Literacy is excited to partner with Tomato Head as their Loving Spoonful recipient for the month of September,” said Melissa Nance, Executive Director of Friends of Literacy. “As a small local non-profit, it is great to work with another local small business to raise funds to provide free reading classes for the 1 in 12 adults in Knoxville unable to read or write above a 6th grade level.”

Since 1991, Friends of Literacy (FOL) has been a resource for adults in Knox County, Tennessee, who are under-educated or illiterate. Working in partnership with area adult education providers, FOL offers free literacy and high school equivalency diploma (GED and HiSET) classes at locations throughout Knox County. Additionally, FOL’s NEXT STEP program helps GED/HiSET students and recent graduates transition to post-secondary education and/or the workplace.

“Friends of Literacy provides a much needed service to the Knoxville Community with their adult literacy programs. Their highly effective means of using their budget and their dedicated volunteers to deliver results made the decision to partner with them for the September Loving Spoonful fundraiser a very easy one, “said Tomato Head co-owner Scott Partin.

To make a donation to Friends of Literacy and see how money people will benefit from your gift, please visit http://friendsofliteracy.org/donate/.

For more information or interviews, please contact Melissa Nance, Friends of Literacy Executive Director, at 865-549-7007 and melissa@friendsofliteracy.org, or Michael Kuczmarski, The Tomato Head’s Marketing Director, at marketing@thetomatohead.com and 865-850-2318.

About Friends of Literacy

The mission of Friends of Literacy is to support the delivery of free, high-quality literacy and adult education programs for adults in Knox County who are inadequately educated to meet the challenges of daily life. Working in partnership with area adult education providers, our goal is to help provide basic education and life-skills training so that our students become better workers, parents and citizens.

The Tomato Head celebrates the conservation and trail preservation efforts of the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club with their next round of Loving Spoonful fundraisers. The last three Tuesdays in April provide our community the opportunity to help raise awareness and much needed funds for AMBC trail development in Knox County.

“AMBC is excited to be partnering with The Tomato Head in the month of April,” said AMBC Secretary Molly Robinson. “We love to support local business, and Tomato Head’s commitment to healthy, quality food and sustainability is a perfect match. Funds raised from this partnership will go directly to the trails and our efforts to conserve Knoxville’s open spaces.”

Appalachian Mountain Bike Club currently maintains the Knoxville Urban Wilderness trail network in south Knoxville and Concord Park in west Knoxville as well as Sharp’s Ridge in north Knoxville and I.C. King Park in south Knoxville. AMBC provided over 1300 man hours for the layout and construction of trails in Hastie Natural Area.

By partnering with Knox County, Ijams Nature Center, TWRA and numerous private land owners, AMBC developed 35 miles of multi-use natural surface trails at Forks of the River WMA, Ijams/Ross Marble Quarry and Marie Myers Park.

“The network of hiking and biking trails created by AMBC in South Knoxville creates a world class outdoor attraction that is within easy cycling distance of our downtown and close-in neighborhoods. What truly amazes us is the dedication of the AMBC volunteers who get the work done, said Tomato Head co-owner Scott Partin.

“On any given weekend 30-50 incredible folks will show up and toil for several hours with hand tools, literally hacking the trails out of the forest. We are inspired and humbled by the work done by our fellow Knoxvillians and are honored to support their work this month.”

A portion of the proceeds generated at each event goes directly to AMBC.

April 15 (Sandwich Day Fundraiser) Both Tomato Head locations during lunch and dinner will offer a special AMBC sandwich with $3 dollars from each sandwich sold going to the nonprofit.

April 22 (Pint Night Fundraiser) Foothills Brewing’s Bourbon Barrel Aged People’s Porter. AMBC receives $1 from each draft sold, whether it’s the  Bourbon Barrel Aged People’s Porter or any tasty craft beer we offer on draft. This event takes place at both Tomato Head locations.

April 29 (Beer Dinner Fundraiser) Four course menu paired with a selection of Foothills Brewing beers. Tickets are only $45 (including tax and gratuity). AMBC receives $10 from each ticket sold. Our location in The Gallery Shopping Center at 7240 Kingston Pike hosts the beer dinner.

For more information or interviews, please contact Molly Robinson, AMBC Secretary, at 865-250-0425 and mollymr1@gmail.com, or Michael Kuczmarski, The Tomato Head’s Marketing Director, at marketing@thetomatohead.com and 865-850-2318.

About Appalachian Mountain Bike Club

The Appalachian Mountain Bike Club is a chapter of the South East regional division of IMBA, committed to complement the goals and purpose of IMBA. They are a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable trail access for off-road bicyclists and, to maintaining the trails on which mountain bikers ride and other user groups rely on. The Appalachian Mountain Bike Club supports the conservation of open spaces and is committed to educating mountain bicyclists to ride sensitively and responsibly in order to protect the natural environment and the experience of other trail users.

About The Tomato Head

Opened in 1990, The Tomato Head serves delicious sandwiches, pizzas, and burritos for carnivores, vegetarians and vegans, and is committed to teaming up with East Tennessee nonprofits to enrich the lives of the less fortunate in the area. Its new charitable donation program, Loving Spoonful, is a partnership between East Tennessee nonprofits, regional craft breweries and the restaurant. It consists of a series of fundraisers and special events with a percentage of the proceeds raised going to our community partner of the month.

Thank you to everyone that came out in February for the launch of our charitable giving program Loving Spoonful. With your help, we raised $610 for WUTK.

In March, we’re partnering with Junior Achievement of East Tennessee and Highland Brewing Company from Asheville, NC.

Why Junior Achievement?

“We like the fit between Junior Achievement and Loving Spoonful because of our focus on nonprofits that work with kids,” said Tomato Head co-owner Scott Partin. “Junior Achievement of East Tennessee does an outstanding job helping school children understand the realities of work life through its in-class work and by immersing kids in a day at work using its Biz Town campus.”

“Tomato Head stepping up to host a series of fundraisers for us will help us not only financially but to have the opportunity to get interest from participants to possibly get involved in a volunteer role.  Both aspects will  allow us to provide quality JA experiences for even more students – and to meet the demand for our programs,”said Callie Archer, VP of Development of Junior Achievement of East Tennessee.

“We appreciate the support and are looking forward to growing the partnership to serve even more young people.  It’s a WIN, WIN, WIN situation –  customers win because they get to enjoy great food and beverages from Tomato Head, the company wins by being known as one that invests in their community, and most importantly, students win when they get a JA program!” 

You’ll have three opportunities to come out and show your support for the kids of Junior Achievement.

Be sure to save these dates!

Tuesday, March 11 (Sandwich Day Fundraiser)

Both Tomato Head locations will offer a special Junior Achievement Banh Mi sandwich with $3 dollars from each sandwich sold going to the nonprofit.

Sriacha Mayo. Bo Ssam Roasted Pork/Asian Glazed Tofu. Pickled Carrots. Daikon Radish Slaw. Braised Napa Cabbage. Fresh Cilantro

Tuesday, March 18 (Pint Night Fundraiser)

Our friends at Highland Brewing Company are sending our Market Square location their Ashevilliner Weiss, a delicious award winning beer in the Berliner Weiss style. You won’t be able to get this anywhere else in Knoxville. The Gallery of Knoxville store will pour Highland’s Little Hump Spring Ale. Junior Achievement receives $1 from each draft sold, whether it’s the Ashevilliner Weiss, Little Hump Spring Ale or any tasty craft beer we offer on draft. Highland has also been kind enough to send pint glasses that will be given away as thank you gifts.

Tuesday, March 25 (Beer Dinner Fundraiser with Highland Brewery)

Rye Toast. Herbed Goat Cheese. Smoked Salmon. Pickled Onion. Gaelic Ale

Scotch Egg (Riverplains Sausage or Savory Fennel Cornbread). Spinach. Maple Mustard Vinaigrette. Black Mocha Stout

Shepard’s Pie or Vegetable Shepard’s Pie. Devil’s Britches IPA

Bourbon Vanilla Custard. Raspberries. Flour Head Bakery Shortbread. Black Mocha Stout Whipped Cream. Ashevilliner Weiss

Tickets are only $45 (including tax and gratuity). Junior Achievement of East Tennessee receives $10 from each ticket sold.

Seating is limited for our Highland Brewing Beer Dinner so call 584-1075 today for reservations.

Good morning,

Your last chance to raise money this month for WUTK by participating in our Loving Spoonful fundraisers is next Tuesday, February 25. We’re hosting a Blue Pants Brewery inspired beer dinner. Call 584-1075 for reservations. Seating is limited. $45 ticket with $10 from each ticket going to the UT’s College of Rock.

The Tomato Head is introducing Loving Spoonful. It’s our new charitable donation program that is a partnership between our restaurant, regional craft breweries and East Tennessee nonprofits.

We’re excited to launch our new program in February with proceeds benefiting one of Knoxville’s biggest supporters of local culture and a valuable independent voice – WUTK 90.3 UT’s College of Rock. WUTK receives zero financial support for the University of Tennessee and needs funds for a much needed audio board.

The kind folks from Blue Pants Brewery in Madison, AL have been generous enough to send us special one-off beers and styles that make for a delicious reason to come out and quaff a few for an important community backer.

You’ll have three opportunities in February to raise these crucial funds, and we encourage you to come out and show your love for UT’s College of Rock.

Be sure to save these dates!

February 11 – Sandwich Day fundraiser at both locations. $3 from every special sandwich sold goes to UT’s College of Rock. Mahasti is making a meatball grinder using Belted Galloway beef from Riverplains Farm in Strawberry Plains, TN. You’ll have a choice of ground beef meatballs or vegetarian portobello balls with roasted onions and peppers topped with house made marinara. It will be served on a Flour Head Bakery beer mash hoagie.

February 18 – Pint Nights at both locations. The Gallery of Knoxville and Market Square will pour Blue Pants Brewery’s Belgian Red Ale aged in Cabernet barrels. $1 from each draft sold goes to WUTK

February 25 – Beer Dinner at The Gallery of Knoxville location featuring craft beers from Blue Pants Brewery paired with a special menu crafted by Sam and Mahasti. WUTK receives $10 from each ticket sold.

Seating is limited for our special Blue Pants Brewery Beer Dinner. Call 584-1075 today for reservations.