The Knoxville Community Foundation presented a $10,000 check to THRIVE Knoxville on Thursday to be used for their Gateway Project.

The Knoxville Community Foundation receives donations throughout the year to be able to provide grants to local non-profit brick-and-mortar projects. The Gateway Project which THRIVE has received the grant for is an effort to beautify the south entrance of Knoxville with a long term goal of all four entrances. The first phase of the Gateway Project is focused on the south entrance, where they recently planted trees, shrubs, and perennials along Hwy 14 between the Hwy 92 on/off ramps and Bell Ave. 

A group of volunteers gathered together this past Saturday for a community planting day. In the future, THRIVE has plans to continue this beautification process at all four entrances. Knoxville Community Foundation President Aaron Fuller says the organization is all in on supporting projects that will improve the local community. 

“Anything that could help a non-profit group out that will make their lives easier or beautify our community, make it look better, make it more accessible, we’re all in.”

The foundation also recently presented a check to the Knoxville Federated Garden Club for a shade feature at the Bessie Spaur Butterfly Garden.