Fundraising Testimonials

Mr. Downs,

I would like to ask you to extend a special thank you to the many businesses that have agreed to be in the Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™ book.  Their willingness to represent themselves has allowed us to do many things. Many Blessings to those who choose to participate.  We look forward to the next season of
Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™!

Warm Regards,

Kandis Schram

President, Kiwanis Club of Alcoa

Dear Dennis,

Just a note to let you know that the Knoxville Happenings, now
Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™ program has indeed been exactly as the old name read.  HAPPENINGS! We have been in the program for four years and it has helped to send soccer team players to a college soccer camp.  It is easy to sell because it is filled with tons of savings.  We expect to continue as long as the program is available. 

With regards,

David Gohn

Head Soccer Coach

West High School

Dennis,

As you know, the competition to raise funds among civic groups and other charitable organizations is intense.  The discovery of Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™ books have helped us maintain our charity budget through proceeds from sales.  Through the sales of this outstanding value, we have maintained our charitable giving and look forward to years of continued partnership with you.  Thank you for providing us with this opportunity.  It is a pleasure to work with you. 

Yours truly,

Richard Tippens

Chairman, Fundraising   

Knoxville Civitan Club

Dear Dennis,

The Anderson County Baseball Booster Club has sold the
Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™ books for several years, and we have been very successful with this fund-raiser.  Last year, we made close to $2000.00 and the books were easy to sell.  Thank you for providing this service so that we can support our student athletes. 

Sincerely,

Becky Rochelle

Dear Dennis,

St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Lenoir City has been selling Knoxville Lifestyle™ books the past four years.  It has been one of our most successful fundraising ventures.  Because you offer delicious dining values to many great restaurants, two-for-one passes to the zoo, and many other “family fun” activities, the Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™ book sells itself!! Please continue to provide such a fun and profitable fundraising opportunity.  We hope to continue selling the Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™ books for many years.

Sincerely,

Marianne Hartman

Lifestyle Book Chairman

St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church

Dear Greater Knoxville Lifestyle,

Just a note to tell you how much we appreciate being able to have the Knoxville Lifestyle™ books as part of our annual fundraising.  We have received many comments this year regarding the new format and how appealing and easy it is to work with.  Many of those who bought the books last year were waiting and asking when the new ones were coming out.  That was real nice!  I even had one person who flipped through the book, came to her favorite restaurant and then said it was definitely worth it just for that one coupon.  I personally like the Blockbuster buy-one, get-one free, one for the kids and one for me.  Keep up the good work and thanks for helping those of us in the non-profits world. 

Sincerely, 

Lynn Klimas Petr

Executive Director

Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding

Dear Dennis,

On behalf of Sertoma Center, I would like to thank you for giving our organization the opportunity to participate in the Knoxville Lifestyle™ coupon book sales.  We have participated in this sale for three years and have raised much needed funds to help improve the quality of life for the individuals with mental and physical disabilities that we serve.  The funds raised have helped us provide cultural enrichment programs, supplement our emergency fund, pay for uninsured medicines, and even send some folks on a rare vacation.  Our volunteers enjoy both the selling and the using of these books and eagerly await the new edition each year.  Thank you for all you do in putting together a first class book each year and thanks to all the restaurants and businesses who participate each year. 

Sincerely,

Becky Duncan Massey

Executive Director

Sertoma Center

Dear Dennis,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you and the
Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™ for the wonderful chance you have afforded us.  For several years, now, you have helped our group to raise funds to enable us to carry out our mission.  You have helped in every way you could to assist us in our endeavors.  The New Heart Society, along with many of our repeat customers look forward to the publishing of the “Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™ Book” each year.  We sincerely hope you intend to continue publishing the Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™ book in the years to come, and to continue offering us your assistance to make the sale of it a success for our organization as you have in the past. 

Sincerely,

Stephen Palermo

Treasurer

New Heart Society

Dear Dennis,

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to sell Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™.  It was the perfect fundraiser for our youth group.  Many of our teenagers were able to sell enough of the Knoxville Lifestyle™ books to pay for their entire Youth Bible Camp within just a couple of weeks.  We look forward to next year when we again hope to use Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™ for our fundraising needs. 

Sincerely,

John Davis

Minister of Students

Dear Dennis,

Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to fundraise from the sell of your Knoxville Lifestyle™ books.  We have sold these books for the past several years and we always have a great opportunity to raise money from these books.  We find that the books sell really fast and some of our girls have a waiting list to turn to as soon as the books are printed!  This book is a great way to visit several new restaurants and maybe try a few new ones! We hope you continue to supply these books for many years to come!

Thanks again!

Becky Grubb

Clinton High School Cheerleaders

All the members of the church did so well because the books sell themselves.

Basswood Baptist Church

I’d never even heard of Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™ before our fundraiser, but the more I asked around, the more people I’d run into who said they had used the book in the past and the more I’d sell.

Clinton Middle School Soccer

One goal of the American Business Women’s Association is to assist college students with their financial needs.  We have been able to meet this objective by marketing the Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™ book to our friends and co-workers.  We feel this is one of the best “WIN-WIN-WIN” situations available.  Owners of the book appreciate the money-savings, our club raises the needed funds, and our college students benefit for a lifetime. 

ABWA-American Business Women’s Association 

Restaurant Testimonials

Dear Greater Knoxville Lifestyle:

This past year has been our restaurant’s first experience with
Greater Knoxville Lifestyle.  With a new restaurant, exposure is always your first priority in attracting the general public.  We look at customers who use the Knoxville Lifestyle card as an opportunity to impress someone who might be trying us out for the first time.  Building repeat business has been key to our concept development.  Knoxville Lifestyle has boosted the awareness of our restaurant in the community and continues to do so everyday. In my opinion, there is no substitute currently available to restaurant owners and operators in this area which can provide such measurable and result-driven responses.  We don’t look at Greater Knoxville Lifestyle as giving away food, but rather, identifying the customer and getting them in our door, bottom-line.  Advertising is expensive.  This doesn’t cost us anything.  Thank you for your program.

Sincerely,

Brent Thompson

General Manager

Stir Fry Café in Turkey Creek

11001 Parkside Drive

Knoxville, TN 37922

http://www.stirfrycafe.com

Dear Dennis and Bryan:

We have been very pleased over the past three years in our relationship with Knoxville Lifestyle. We have seen the best redemption rate with
Greater Knoxville Lifestyle versus any other advertising format attempted. We have created a lot of repeat customers that would have never initially come into our restaurants without Greater Knoxville Lifestyle.

The professional manner in which you and your team conduct yourselves is much appreciated. We feel very comfortable doing business with your organization and we realize that you have your customers’ needs at the top of your priority list.

Thanks again for all that you have done to assist us in making our company continue to be a successful and profitable business.

Respectfully,

Jack Simpson, FMP

Regional Director

Claremont Restaurant Group

Dear Dennis:

I want to thank you for being persistent and convincing me that Lifestyle would be a great investment for my restaurant. I have to admit; when you first approached me I didn’t think much of it. However, after being in the issue for just a few short months, I have gained a multitude of new guests at CHA CHA, and my business is steadily growing.  We are on the 10% Discount for return visits, and we are also seeing many return guests.

It is my plan to continue with Lifestyle. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in growing their business.

Thank you again not only for your persistence, but for all the great people that I otherwise would never have the opportunity of meeting.

Sincerely,

Janet Robinson Owner/Operator

CHA CHA Tapas Restaurant & Bar

To Whom It May Concern:

In the last three years that we have honored the Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™ card, we have shown an increase of 30 to 35% in overall restaurant sales.  This trend is particularly noticeable on weeknights, when our dining room business is sporadic, usually made up of business travelers and other out-of-towners.  Lifestyle seems to provide an excellent incentive for locals to come “look and see” during these off-nights.  With the multitude of promotional choices available to us,  we sincerely feel that the Lifestyle card is the most cost-effective, and guarantees each promotional dollar is spent directly on a potential return customer, who in turn, may possibly relate his/her dining experience with us to friends and family.  This we feel, offers a substantial cost and targeting advantage to mass-broadcast and printed media. 

Sincerely,

Eric M. Georgeson

President

Knoxville Restaurant Entertainment Group, Inc.

Thank you Greater Knoxville Lifestyle!

It has been a pleasure to work with lifestyle for several years. 
Greater Knoxville Lifestyle continues to be a great avenue to introduce our company to new guests.  We see the Greater Knoxville Lifestyle card redeemed every lunch and dinner and the program is consistent in that it brings in guests every day, week and month of the year.  We find that every year that we participate in Greater Knoxville Lifestyle, the number of new guests we are introduced to increases.  The book is well received in the community and Greater Knoxville Lifestyle contributes greatly to local causes and charities!  The Greater Knoxville Lifestyle program is great in that they do all the photography, layout and work for you! We appreciate the great job by Dennis and the Lifestyle’s staff! 

Italian Market & Grill

Dear Dennis,

The Greater Knoxville Lifestyle™ card is truly a great way to advertise.  Of all the ways that we do get our name out (television, newspaper coupons, etc.) the Lifestyle’s coupon is the one that we get the most business from!  There is not a day that goes by that we haven’t received diners because of the Greater Knoxville Lifestyle!  We are deciding where to put our advertising dollars in the third and fourth quarters of this year, and not using Greater Knoxville Lifestyle was not even an option.  Thanks for all you do, and we look forward to doing business with you for many, many years to come!

Sincerely,

Rene’e Costanzo

General Manager

T.G.I. Friday’s

Dear Dennis,

I wanted to thank you for inviting us to be part of your
Greater Knoxville Lifestyle book this year! It has been a win-win for both of us.  We spent thousands of dollars this year on various types of advertising.  Newspaper, radio, cable commercials, etc… Greater Knoxville Lifestyle was without a question our best bang for the buck.  We were able to expose hundreds of new customers to our restaurants.  My partner and I feel this is vital for long-term growth.  Combined we own 5 restaurants.  Because we felt this was such a successful venture we will be adding our “Fox-n-Hounds” location this year! Thank you for inviting us to be part of the Lifestyle family. 

Tom Shampine

Dandridge Seafood Restaurants

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in regard to the Greater Knoxville Lifestyle program.  Baker-Peters Jazz Club has participated in said program for two years with pleasurable results.  The Greater Knoxville Lifestyle program provides the Jazz Club with the opportunity to serve customers that might not otherwise visit our establishment.  This aids in increasing the amount of Baker-Peters guests per night, increasing our total sales.  We feel confident that any restaurant could benefit from participating in the Greater Knoxville Lifestyle program and are happy to recommend it to any restaurant in the area. 

Sincerely,

Baker-Peters Jazz Club

Dear Dennis,

We just added up the numbers for the last quarter and were amazed at the jump in revenues over the prior years.  Lifestyle came out strong in August and was definitely a key part to our best 4^th quarter in 5 years.  The new customers that Lifestyle brought in plus a bonus for the regular customers was all positive in building a catalyst for a new future in an existing, well-rooted business.  Thanks for finally convincing us that a discount card could have class. 

Sincerely,

Robert Luper

Naples Italian Restaurant