The GREATER GREER EDUCATION FOUNDATION will present its 5th Annual Education Gala to benefit Education in the Greater Greer Area on Thursday, September 20, 2012, from 6:30-10 p.m. This year, the Gala will be held at the new Cannon Centre at 204 Cannon Street, Greer, S. C.
The Gala will feature beach music by The Swingin’ Medallions. The Swingin’ Medallions’ musical roots came from listening to the early rhythm and blues acts.
After a few years of touring colleges from the Carolinas to the Louisiana Bayou, John McElrath took the group to Arthur Smith’s Studio in Charlotte, North Carolina, to record, “Double Shot (of my baby’s Love).” The song became a million seller in 1966, and has been a party classic for college students for decades. “She Drives Me Out of My Mind,” and “Hey, Hey, Baby,” were top 40 hits in 1966 and 1967, but Double Shot remains the signature song of the band.
The members of the band have changed over the past thirty years, with John McElrath, the leader and only original member to be performing today. The members of the band have always included around eight members with at least a four piece horn section. The high energy party style performance of the first Swingin’ Medallions has been passed down to the band that performs today, known as The Party Band of the South.
The evening will feature heavy hors d’oeuvers, wine and desserts. Tickets are $65 per person and are available by contacting the Greer Chamber of Commerce at 864.877.3131 or at 111 Trade Street in Greer. Dress for the evening is Spiffy Casual.
A live auction will conclude the evening with such items as a week at the beach, a week in the mountains, a BMW drive weekend, catered dinner for eight, a catered barbeque dinner for 50, and many more.
All proceeds will go to the Education Foundation to be given to area schools and students in the form of grants and scholarships. From the 2011 Gala, grants ranging from $300-$1,500 were given to 12 of the 26 schools in the Greer area and $500 scholarships were given to 13 high school students entering Greenville Technical College and Spartanburg Community College.
For additional information, contact Nancy Welch at 864.380.5601 or [email protected], or email the foundation at [email protected].