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 one of Knoxville’s oldest and largest parks.

We invite you to join us throughout June as we fundraise for Knoxville’s most beloved park, Ijams Nature Center. Ijams offers over 300 acres of protected wildlife habitat and natural areas with over 12 miles of trails as well as convenient access to Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. As a member and visitor supported nonprofit, your generous donations are needed to continue its ongoing legacy.

“Ijams is excited to partner with Tomato Head and their Loving Spoonful program for the month of June. All of the proceeds for the month will go towards programs to get kids in the Knoxville area active and outdoors,” said Mary Thom Adams, Development Coordinator. “The mission of Ijams is to provide engaging outdoor experiences for all people, and with the help of Tomato Head, we are working towards a happier and healthier community here in East Tennessee.”

A portion of the proceeds generated at each event go directly to Ijams Nature Center.

• All month (Breaking Bread Fundraiser) Proceeds from the sale of any type of Flour Head Bakery bread at both Tomato Head locations goes to Ijams.
• June 12 (Sandwich Day Fundraiser) Both Tomato Head locations will offer a special Ijams Nature Center sandwich.
• June 17 (Pint Night Fundraiser)Featuring Turtle Anarchy Brewing Company’s “More Than Meets the Rye” double dry hopped IPA.

“Ijams is such a positive force in our community that they were an easy choice as Loving Spoonful partners.  Their work at preserving our natural environment and making their campus open and inviting for all of Knoxville to enjoy is paralleled only by the beauty of the Ijams park itself,” said Tomato Head co-owner Scott Partin.

But the fun doesn’t stop there!

Stop by either Tomato Head location to register to win a pair of tickets to WDVX’s Meadow Lark Festival on June 28 and a family membership to Ijams. The drawing will be held on June 25. You gotta stop by one of the locations to enter.