Press release:
Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues, with Special Guest Eric Congdon, to Headline Fifth Annual Bids & Blues Fundraiser on Sunday, Sept. 18
Thrive’s signature fundraiser will be held outdoors at the Cove at Highland Lake in Flat Rock(Hendersonville, NC – July 11, 2016) Blues legend Mac Arnold and his band, Plate Full O’ Blues, with special guest Eric Congdon, will headline the fifth annual Bids & Blues fundraiser to benefit Thrive on Sunday, September 18 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Cove at Highland Lake. This ticketed, outdoor event will feature fun for the whole family with a summer picnic, beer, wine and a silent auction. Proceeds will support Thrive’s mission to address the gap in mental health services in Henderson County. Tickets are $35 for adults, $10 for kids ages 6 to 12 yrs. and free for children five and under. Purchase a ticket online at thrive4health.org or by calling (828) 697-1581.
“Without the support of the community, particularly through events like Bids & Blues, we could not continue to help those with mental health symptoms get back on their feet,” says Kristen Martin, executive director of Thrive. This year marks a special milestone for Thrive, as it is the fifth year for this fundraising event and the tenth year anniversary for the organization. Martin notes that the decline of mental health funding over the years makes it increasingly difficult for Thrive to provide critical programs that support many in our community. “With your support, we can continue to offer much-needed services to help individuals transition from surviving to thriving.”
Guests will enjoy complimentary beer from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, wine from Metro Wines and food from Larc’s Table. This year’s Bids & Blues will also include a silent auction. Master of Ceremonies Ruth Birge will keep the crowd entertained throughout the afternoon. Blankets are welcome and chairs will be provided.
This year’s Bids & Blues sponsors include:
- “Mac Arnold” Level: Park Ridge Health
- “BB King” Level: Carolina Village, Northstar
- “Muddy Waters” Level: Pardee Hospital
Those interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact the Thrive offices at (828) 697-1581.
Mac Arnold, or “Dr. Arnold” since his recent receipt of an honorary Doctoral Degree in Music from the University of South Carolina, has a steep history in the Blues; his first band included James Brown on piano. Arnold moved from South Carolina to Chicago, where Muddy Waters hired him on the spot. He toured and recorded with the Muddy Waters Band, recorded LPs with Otis Spann and John Lee Hooker. He then moved to Los Angeles and produced Soul Train with his friend Don Cornelius. He retired from show business to be an organic farmer, moving back to Upstate South Carolina. With the encouragement of his harmonica player, Max Hightower, Mac got back into the business and has been touring all over Europe and the United States for the past four years. Arnold ventured into the restaurant business in 2013, opening Dr. Mac Arnold’s Blues Restaurant in West Greenville, S.C. in the spring of 2014. The restaurant is located at 1237 Pendleton St., Greenville, S.C.
About Thrive
Thrive has been consistently filling the gap in mental health services since 1983. Known originally as the Sixth Avenue Clubhouse, due to its location on Sixth Avenue and its clubhouse model of a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program, Thrive started out as a program of Trend Mental Health Services, Mountain Laurel Community Services and New Vistas – Mountain Laurel. In 2006, New Vistas-Mountain Laurel dissolved due to lack of funding and the Clubhouse was left to stand on its own or close its doors, leaving a debilitating gap in mental health services. With the support and advocacy of staff, community stakeholders, constituents, and a not-for-profit business attorney, Sixth Avenue Psychiatric Rehabilitation Partners, Inc (SAPRP) was established, known to the community as the Sixth Avenue Clubhouse. In 2012, Sixth Avenue underwent a rebranding and strategic planning process, resulting in their transition to Thrive. For more information, visit www.thrive4health.org.
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