The Tomato Head celebrates the sustainable urban gardening efforts of CAC Beardsley Community Farm with their next round of Loving Spoonful fundraisers. Join us throughout May to help raise much needed funds for farm improvements and further Beardsley Farm’s community outreach.

“The farm is very excited to benefit from the Tomato Head’s Loving Spoonful fundraiser! The Tomato Head has been tremendously supportive of CAC Beardsley Community Farm for over ten years. We look forward to a successful month with the Tomato Head and encourage all lovers of Beardsley, the Tomato Head, and good food to attend this worthy cause,” said Beardsley’s Farm Manager Khann Chov.

“Funds raised from the Loving Spoonful benefit will go towards Beardsley Farm’s operating budget including paying for utilities, and building materials to repair irrigation, signage, and garden beds. CAC Beardsley Community Farm grows over 4,000 pounds of produce with the help of numerous community volunteers. All of this food is donated to those in need in Knoxville. ”

CAC Beardsley Community Farm is an urban demonstration site that has promoted food security and sustainable urban agriculture through practice, education, and community outreach since 1998. All of the vegetables raised at CAC Beardsley Farm are donated to Family Crisis Center, Mobile Meals, Global Seeds, Knoxville Area Rescue Mission (KARM), and Western Heights Baptist Center.

“We selected Beardsley Community Farm because their mission of educating the public about natural food and the benefits of growing and eating your own crops is essential to creating a local food shed in East Tennessee,” said Tomato Head co-owner Scott Partin.

Proceeds generated at each event goes directly to Beardsley Community Farm.

• All month (Breaking Bread Fundraiser) Proceeds from the sale of any type of Flour Head Bakery bread at both Tomato Head locations goes to Beardsley Farm.
• May 13 (Sandwich Day Fundraiser) Both Tomato Head locations will offer a special Beardsley Farm sandwich.
• May 20 (Pint Night Fundraiser) Featuring French Broad Brewing Company’s Ryehopper Rye Pale Ale.

For more information or interviews, please contact Khann Chov, Farm Manager of CAC Beardsley Community Farm, at 865-546-8446 and beardsleyfarm@gmail.com, or Michael Kuczmarski, The Tomato Head’s Marketing Director, at marketing@thetomatohead.com and 865-850-2318.

About CAC Beardsley Community Farm

CAC Beardsley Community Farm is an urban demonstration site that has promoted food security and sustainable urban agriculture through practice, education, and community outreach since 1998. The mission of the farm is to educate people of all ages about the possibilities and methods of organic and sustainable urban gardening. Beardsley Farm also gives support and tools to community members to help them grow their own food, and teach about the financial and environmental benefits of home food production. All of the vegetables raised at CAC Beardsley Farm are donated to Family Crisis Center, Mobile Meals, Global Seeds, Knoxville Area Rescue Mission (KARM), and Western Heights Baptist Center.

About The Tomato Head

Opened in 1990, The Tomato Head is committed to helping the community by supporting sustainable agriculture, giving to East Tennessee nonprofits, and recycling its food and packaging waste. 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.

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.

We believe in the power of community.

Supporting our neighbors is part of our responsibility not only as business people but also as citizens of our city. As such, The Tomato Head is committed to teaming up with East Tennessee organizations to enrich the lives of the less fortunate in our community.

It’s on this philanthropic note that we’re announcing the launch our charitable giving program, Loving Spoonful.

Loving Spoonful is a partnership between East Tennessee nonprofits, regional craft breweries and The Tomato Head. We’ll hold a series of fundraisers and special events every month at both Tomato Head locations with a percentage of the proceeds raised going to our community partner.

We’re excited to launch our new program in February with proceeds benefitting one of Knoxville’s biggest supporters of local culture as well as being 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.

We have many more East Tennessee nonprofits we’ll be celebrating throughout 2014 including Junior Achievement in March with Highland Brewing Company as our brewery partner. We have future fundraisers planned for Appalachian Mountain Bike Club, Beardsley Farm, Ijams Nature Center, and Imagination Library/Knox County Libraries.

Why the change?

By concentrating our energies on one nonprofit per month, we are better able to measure the impact of our giving as well as direct more money to and create greater awareness of each organization. Your continued support of The Tomato Head will further our charitable giving.

Loving Spoonful includes the following special events:

• Sandwich Day fundraiser at each Tomato Head location with $3 from the sale of each special sandwich going to the charity.
• Pint Night fundraiser at each Tomato Head location with $1 from each draft sold going to the nonprofit (It’s any draft beer sold, whether one the incredible offerings from our partner brewery or one of our other regional craft beers).
• Beer Dinner fundraiser hosted at The Gallery of Knoxville location with $10 per guest going to the nonprofit. Seating is limited.
• Tomato Head employees donating their time to the organization during a company-wide day of service.

GIVING POLICY

Because of the significant number of donation requests we receive, we have put the following criteria and guidelines in place.

To be eligible for participation in our charitable giving program, preference is given to secular 501(c)3 groups that maintain a focus within the following areas:

• Women & Children – Dedicated to the well-being of women and children with a particular interest in serving children with special needs, survivors of domestic violence, or at-risk populations in our community.
• Arts, Culture & Humanities – Focused on preserving, commemorating and celebrating the artistic and cultural heritage of East Tennessee, including studio artists, performance art groups, public broadcasters, schools and museums.
• Human Services – Attend to the housing needs of the homeless, feeding the hungry, or providing literacy programs for children and adults.
• Environment – Promote conservation and sustainable management of land, water, plant and energy resources; promote preservation and appreciation of environment, including outdoor activities.

WE DO NOT FUND

• Educational Institutions (Exceptions are made for organizations within a university.)
• Endowment Campaigns
• Direct grants or scholarships to individuals
• Political causes, candidates, organizations or campaigns
• Advertising in charitable publications
• Sports Organizations
• Labor Groups
• Conferences, galas and charity balls

HOW TO BECOME A TOMATO HEAD PARTNER:

All applications submitted must include the following information:

• Organization’s Name, Address and Office Phone Number (we do not mail to P.O. Box addresses)
• Organization’s IRS 501(c)3 number
• Organization’s mission statement
• Current roster of officers and board members
• Summary of past year’s program service accomplishments with demonstrative results from previous fundraisers. For example, donating $10 provides (x) amount of services or feeds (x) number of people. See how Friends of Literacy describe their accomplishments (http://friendsofliteracy.org/donate/).
• Three (3) most recent Form 990
• Contact Person’s Name, Phone Number and Email Address

WHAT WE EVALUATE

Each charity is evaluated on two bases – alignment of charitable mission with our values as described above and the following financial performance metrics; these include but are not limited to program expenses, administrative expenses, fundraising expenses and fundraising efficiency. Financial efficiency metrics are based on criteria and benchmarks set by bbb.org, charitynavigator.org, givewell.org and guidestar.org.

WHO TO CONTACT

All requests must be submitted in writing on the organization’s letterhead (mail or email) to:

The Tomato Head

Attn: Michael Kuczmarski

12 Market Square
Knoxville, TN 37902

Or, submit your proposal to marketing@thetomatohead.com (Attn: Michael Kuczmarski)

For 2014, applications will be taken on a rolling basis with reviews occurring the last week of the month. The application deadline is 5PM EST, October 1 of current year to be considered for the next year’s partnership. No phone or in-person requests will be accepted other than materials dropped off for consideration.