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The Sportsmen and Businessmen’s Charitable Organization will host its annual charitable event 5:30- 10 p.m. Saturday Nov. 4 at the Manchester Coffee County Conference Center.

The long established fundraiser includes dinner, live music, dancing, as well as both a silent and live auction and $5,000 grand prize reverse raffle.

“It is heartwarming to see this organization continue to play a significant role supporting this community and those in need over the last four decades,” SBCO President Carter Sain said.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit has donated more than $2 million in support to individuals, families, and school programs in the Manchester and Coffee County community.

Sain is one of several second-generation members of the organization, which was founded by a group of community-minded businessmen four decades ago.

“My dad was one of the founders and he and at least a dozen other people were integral,” he said. “They passed the hat the first year and did some food baskets and what have you. The year that we actually call the start of this they had a more formal event on the farm.”

That first turkey shoot and barbecue raised $18,000 for the community in 1984, and while the event has grown and morphed from its turkey shoot days, that same feeling of community giving continues today.

For about the last 20 years, the SBCO charitable event has been hosted at the Manchester Coffee County Conference Center.

Dinner reservations for the event cost $50 per person.

“That gets you a meal and basically a seat to watch this amazing show and fundraising effort,” Sain said.

Raffle tickets for the $5,000 grand prize reverse raffle are available for $25 each or five tickets for $100. Tickets can be purchased at The Manchester Times office, 300 N. Spring St., Manchester.

Sain said the organization is also still accepting auction item donations from individuals or businesses that might want to contribute.

Donations are accepted via cash, check and Venmo. For Venmo payments, press pay or request, search username @sbco1984 and select the business tab.

Sain said more than $190,000 was raised during last year’s event.

Like Sain, Eric West is another SBCO member, following in the footsteps of his father Ricky West.

“I have always had it instilled in me to help when I can and I don’t really have the financial means to help as much as I would like to, but being involved in this, at least it gives me a chance to help with people who need it,” West said.

Member Carla Bloom said she worked with the first generation when they were at the helm, and now has seen many of their children step up to the plate to keep the SBCO thriving.

“I worked with all the first generation because I started helping with it, so it is really cool for me to sit around and see all these children of the people that I kind of followed around and helped get going,” she said. “It is really special for me to see these children come back and have that passion that started 40 years ago.”

Brad Riddle said the SBCO was something he grew up with, and he enjoys being able to continue to be a part of it.

“We grew up in it with our families, as a kid running around on the farm and just watching and being there and helping, growing up,” Riddle said. “Then being able to give back to the community now where we live and to people that are in need, that is what we are all here for.”

Sain said the SBCO has been able to give back to the community in numerous ways throughout the years, with projects ranging from new wheelchair ramps to playgrounds to helping a family during a tragedy.

“These folks have now had the opportunity to make the decisions of how the money is being injected back into the community,” he said. “They are seeing the needs and it is our peers, our folks within our community, our counterparts that need the help.”

For more information about the SBCO, contact 931-581-7909 or visit the Sportsmen and Businessmen’s Charitable Organization Facebook page.