BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — It's only been a few months, but alumni of Maryville's Lanier Elementary School have come up with tens of thousands of dollars to make sure students have updated technology in classrooms.
The Lanier Elementary Technology Campaign started a few months ago and since then, more than $55,000 has been raised toward the $75,000 goal. Another fundraising push happens at the elementary school on Saturday when Lanier graduates will be taking the stage for the Lanier Music Fest.
Robin Bailey, known professionally as musician Robinella, will be playing the show.
She's been making music in Blount County for years and said it's important for her to give back to her elementary school.
"I am proud of where I'm from, and there's a lot of productive, capable, good people that live and have sprung out the Lanier community," Bailey said. "And my sister teaches at an afterschool program there. Here, being tied to Lanier is of course a major, major reason that I would do the show, but I would do it otherwise as well."
Other music acts with Lanier roots, including Dixie Highway, Johno Clayton and the Young Fables are set to play at the event.
Entry is free and there will be craft sales booths and food trucks on site.
"I think there's going to be a lot of talented musicians," Bailey said, adding she's expecting a large crowd.
Bailey has been singing since she was a little girl and said people may have heard her music online.
"I've played many shows locally, and do shows at Dollywood," Bailey said. "And my records have been around, I have a record on Columbia and also on Dualtone out in Nashville. And so, they've traveled a little further than some of my own independent albums."
It's also important for Bailey to give back to her community as a Blount County resident.
"That's true," she said. "I care about my community. So as a Christian, I want to be a good steward to to my neighbors as well."
Lanier Elementary alumni are a close-knit group, so Bailey and fundraising organizer Jasmine Satterfield know a lot of people in common. Satterfield is a registered nurse, who helps connect seniors in the area with resources and does a lot of community action work. She's involved with the school and said she knew that some of the technology there could use an update.
"I was praying about it, and a group of moms came together and started brainstorming ways to raise money," Satterfield said.
Over the past few months, the group has been able to raise more than $50,000 through church fundraising challenges and politician fundraising challenges. Satterfield said the goal was to take the fundraising to the next level, which is how the idea for the music festival came about.
"The thought occurred to me, we have a lot of people who went to Lanier who are very successful musicians," Satterfield said. "And they've been blessed with a lot of talent. And so, I know, that these people are active in our community, and they're still part of our community."
She said she encourages people to take an active role in their local schools.
"The schools can't do everything for everyone," she said. "So if you see there's a gap there, step up and feel it. It's a lot easier to get things taken care of than you really think it is."
Blount County Schools also sent WBIR a statement about the festival. It is available below.
"It is exciting to see talented Lanier alumni give back to our great community," the statement said. "By supporting the Lanier community, these artists are showing how to continue to make Blount County strong through serving others. Blount County Schools is committed to graduating students equipped to achieve excellence. "
The Lanier Music Fest goes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. Admission is free and people are asked to bring a lawn chair.
