The seventh-annual Friends of Franklin Parks “Raise the Roofs” event will be held on Saturday, August 18th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event will take over the Tractor Supply Co. Arena at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm, with the party following on the lawn of the Main Barn. The evening will kick off with an interscholastic polo match in the Arena, then transition to the main event that includes great food, drinks, live entertainment and a silent auction. Tickets are available for $125 per person, and all proceeds benefit Friends of Franklin Parks and the organization’s efforts to continually enhance and connect the City’s incredible park system.
Watch the video to see the planned improvements to the park.
Friends of Franklin Parks from Jason Wain on Vimeo.
Chairs Natalie and Adam Ballash and Ann Frances and Michael Barker have spent the spring months planning the event. Adam Ballash, president of the Friends of Franklin Parks Board of Directors, is the development director in Boyle Investment Company’s Nashville office, and Natalie Ballash is a former Vanderbilt Medical Center clinical psychologist. Michael Barker, also an officer on the Friends Board, is the relationship manager at FirstBank’s Downtown Franklin branch, while Ann Frances Barker is a reading coach at Kenrose Elementary School. The Ballashes and Barkers are both parents of young children, active users of Franklin’s parks and longtime community volunteers.
“Our event chairs are perfect representatives of the type of community leaders who make our work possible: business leaders, parents and tireless supporters of non-profit initiatives, and we are very thankful for their willingness to serve,” said Torrey Barnhill, executive director of Friends of Franklin Parks. “This is an event that people look forward to all year long, because it’s unique and fun and is dedicated to a cause that people hold dear. We’re all excited to see the chairs’ vision come together as we prepare for our largest fundraiser of the year.
“Friends of Franklin Parks has used the proceeds from this event to build the multi-purpose arena at Harlinsdale, to contribute to improvements at Pinkerton Park, and to plant the seeds that will grow into additional enhancements of our incredible park system and trails,” Barnhill said. “We’re looking forward to sharing our vision for the future at the seventh-annual Raise the Roofs.”
Tickets are available for purchase online here. A portion of the ticket price is tax-deductible. For sponsorship information and other details, please contact Barnhill at [email protected] or by phone at (615) 674-5388.
