Mountain Youth Charities Barn Dance

Written By: Jane Ellington Davis | Issue: 2019/07 - July

With summertime entertainment opportunities abounding in our magical part of the world, lots of us look for combining our fun with doing some good for the children who live in our mountain community.   

Mountain Youth Charities has the party for you at its Third Annual Barn Dance and Barbecue.   

Come to the beautiful Sawyer Family Farmstead in Glenville on Friday, August 2, at 6:00 P.M. for a summer evening filled with great music, lots of dancing, an auction, and a delicious barbecue dinner. 

Guests will delight in the progressive bluegrass music by the Grammy award-winning Songs from the Road Band.  There’ll be square dancing, line dancing and more dancing until 10:30 P.M.  

A highlight of the evening will be a live auction of a very special opportunity – A one-week stay at a stunning 6,000-square-foot, seven-bedroom canal-front home in Boca Grande, Florida – perfect for a small family reunion or group of friends.      

Mountain Youth Charities is a local, volunteer-run nonprofit.  Founded in 2013, its mission is to raise money “to support great programs for great kids.”  MYC raised the money to launch the Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau by organizing and hosting the “Andy Roddick Mountain Challenge” in 2013 and 2014.  Since then, MYC has made grants to Summit Charter, Hampton Preschool, and Blue Ridge School, as well as other youth organizations including JAM and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Funds for these grants come from donations and proceeds from the MYC Barn Dances.   

MYC also sponsors Blue Ridge Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM), an afterschool program which teaches mountain music and folklore to kids of all ages.  After a music camp at the Sawyer Farm earlier that day, JAM will again delight Barn Dance guests with their skill and enthusiasm.    

Marcia Shawler, president of MYC, says hopes are high that this year’s Barn Dance will raise a record amount of money for the education and enrichment of Blue Ridge students and other youth of our community.     

“This year’s event is a real celebration,” Shawler said. “While the ultimate goal is to raise money for the kids, this year we’re putting everything into making an amazing evening where people will enjoy great  barbecue and hours of some of the best bluegrass music in the country.”  

Top sponsors are Oakbridge Financial, in memory of Jarrett L. Davis, IV; and Sue Mills, Realtor. 

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit mountainyouthcharities.org.  Barn Dance tickets are also available at the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce.