Locked Down On the Outside to raise funds for program, scholarships

Locked Down On the Outside, which works to reach youths before they head down a path of trouble, is holding a fundraiser for the organization Thursday, July 11, in Knoxville.

Supporters can sponsor a table of eight for $200 or purchase a single ticket for $25. Tickets also will be available at the door of the event, which will be held at Bearden Banquet Hall, located at 5806 Kingston Pike.

“We try to save our children from the street and incarceration and provide them with necessary life skills that they can use to become good future citizens and valuable members of our community,” said Thurman Kinnebrew, founder of Locked Down On the Outside and a graduate of Leadership Knoxville in 1993. “We have reached over 600 children since 2002 and hope to continue our mission with the support of our local community.”

The July 11 event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a silent auction, followed by a 6 p.m. buffet dinner and entertainment by youths participating in the program. The keynote speaker will be Alphonso Richard, owner of a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia, and former football defensive tackle at Clemson from 1988-1992.

Kinnebrew has expanded the program to reach nearly 40 participants a year. Two groups, divided into boys and girls ages 10-17, engage in a weekend of activities that emphasize discipline, teamwork and religion. The organization and its 13 volunteer leaders follow up with 11 months of mentoring activities with the participants.

For additional information about sponsorships, tickets and Locked Down On the Outside, email ldo.org@comcast.net or call 865-637-7280. The nonprofit also is seeking volunteers and mentors for the program and events.

The July fundraiser will raise money for $1,000 scholarships for participants who complete the main program and maintain a 3.0 grade point average each semester in college.

About Locked Down On the Outside

Locked Down On the Outside is a non-profit organization based in Knoxville, Tennessee, that tries to reach young people before they become incarcerated. The program is designed to engage our youth in a weekend of activities which include discipline, teamwork, and an introduction to Christ. We then follow up with 11 months of mentoring activities with the young people in our program. We have been actively involved in the community since 2002. For more information, visit https://www.lockeddownontheoutside.org/.