Fall for Greenville board members announced Bank of America as the 2019 title sponsor of the festival scheduled for October 11-13 in downtown Greenville.

“Bank of America is excited to help support Fall for Greenville. Not only is it a beautiful way to showcase our amazing city, but it also benefits dozens of local nonprofit organizations,” said Stacy Brandon, president for Bank of America in the Upstate. “Every day, the Bank of America team is working to give our customers and the community the power to improve and reach their goals. We are thrilled to be part of this year’s event and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”

With the success of the 2018 festival, Fall for Greenville board members also announced that $45,200 will be awarded to six nonprofit organizations through its Fall for Giving program. The grant program was created to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations whose programs directly impact the areas of culinary and food, cultural diversity, family and music.

“Bank of America Fall for Greenville is committed to supporting local organizations that enhance the lives of those who live and work in Greenville,” said Tony McGuirt, 2019 Fall for Greenville board chair. “The continued success of the festival allows us to give back even more, providing funds that make meaningful impacts in the community.”

Fall for Giving award recipients include:

· Gateway House, Inc. - $20,000 to purchase kitchen equipment for the facility’s new clubhouse dining area. The facility provides an opportunity for the organization to expand its efforts to teach valuable culinary and life skills to those suffering from mental illness in Greenville County.

· The Salvation Army - $11,000 to replace the facility’s dining hall equipment, which has been used in the preparation of 130,000 meals for hungry men, women, and children in Greenville County.

· Greenville Technical College - $5,000 toward the Fall for Greenville Culinary Arts Institute Scholarship Endowment Fund. The festival established the scholarship in 2006 to provide tuition for students in the culinary arts field. The increase in funds will help serve more students.

· Thrive Upstate - $5,000 to purchase drums and hand-held instruments and train staff members in therapeutic drum therapy. The organization supports individuals with disabilities and special needs with meaningful services, opportunities and support, so they may thrive in life, work, and play.

· Boy Scout Troop 266 at St. Giles Presbyterian Church - $2,400 to provide meals through Triune Mercy Center’s food assistance program. In addition, funds will help with the replacement of camping equipment for the troop.

· Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate, Inc. - $1,800 to upgrade computer equipment for the facility. The new equipment will assist staff in effectively executing the organization’s mentoring program for at-risk youth.

This year’s festival will kick off Thursday night, October 10 with a free concert and continue October 11-13 with Greenville’s premier restaurants showcasing more than 250 unique menu items. Throughout the weekend, festival-goers can also enjoy free concerts from more than 70 popular national and local entertainers on five different stages. Additional festival attractions include the Carolina Ale House Beer Garden featuring a variety of craft brews; the Total Wine Garden, where beverage professionals will be on-hand throughout the weekend to assist in matching fine wines to personal taste; culinary demonstrations on the Challenge Butter Culinary Stage; a Kids’ Area filled with children’s rides and activities; and interactive mobile tours. 

Festival taste tickets can be pre-purchased online beginning August 2 and running through October 10. Tickets can be used throughout the festival weekend to purchase festival food and beverages, merchandise, and rides in the Shipt Kids’ Area. No refunds will be given for pre-purchase sales.

Named a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society, Bank of America Fall for Greenville continues to support the local community by partnering with local nonprofits. Over the past 15 years, the festival has donated more than $680,000 to local charities.

Beginning in August, festival-goers can visit fallforgreenville.net to customize their schedule for the weekend. In addition, attendees are encouraged to stay connected with this year’s event on social media and use the hashtag “fallforgreenville” to join in the Bank of America Fall for Greenville conversation.