Tryon International and Stuller Power Solutions Present $8,868 Donation to Safelight through Tryon Cares Presented by Duke Energy
Winner of 22k Home Standby Generator by Generac Announced
For Immediate Release
Hendersonville, NC - January 25, 2024 - Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International), together with Stuller Power Solutions, presenting sponsor of 2023 Winterfest at Tryon International, gathered together with members of the media and representatives from Duke Energy and Safelight to present a check for nearly $9,000 to the Western NC nonprofit. Tryon Cares presented by Duke Energy is a giveback initiative which launched in 2022, as part of Tryon International’s Winterfest events, partnering corporate sponsors with local nonprofits to give back each holiday season, and provide the opportunity to spread awareness for each nonprofit. As the title sponsor of 2023 Winterfest at Tryon International, Stuller Power Solutions partnered with Safelight to donate back one dollar of every paying vehicle that drove through the Shadrack’s Winter Wonderland Drive-through Light Show.
Pictured from L-R: Sharon Decker, Craig DeBrew, Lauren Wilkie, Cheryl, Brian and Kyle Stuller, Doug Grondahl, and Lynn Penny.
©Madison Ibach for Tryon International
The total amount presented to Safelight on Thursday morning on site at Stuller Power Solutions totaled $8,868. As part of their three-year partnership with Tryon International, the goal for Stuller Power Solutions is to donate a minimum of $30,000 to Safelight.
As Lynn Penny, Tryon International’s Director of Business Development, explained, “This donation will be the down payment for Safelight’s new, 15 passenger vehicle, to be used for transportation of their clients to special events and general activities, plus their “Camp Hope” program this summer for children at Green River Preserve. This will also enable Safelight to bring their kids and families to Tryon International for our events, and to easily drive through the light show!”
Safelight Executive Director, Lauren Wilkie, was on hand to receive the donation. “We so value our partnership with Stuller Power solutions; they truly care about our community and helping save survivors.” Wilkie elaborated that the support given to Safelight through the Tryon Cares program has a deep and lasting impact on current and future Safelight clients, both through funding and special events. “The dollar back program will help us continue to grow and better serve survivors. We just can't thank Tryon International and Stuller Power Solutions enough!”
Sharon Decker, President, Tryon Equestrian Partners Carolinas Operations, offered her excitement and appreciation for the Tryon Cares program. “We're so excited about this. Tryon Cares is an initiative that we started with Duke Energy two years ago to really build upon our community and make something happen in a positive way for those around us as we celebrated the holiday season. And so, we're so thankful for their support, and so thankful for Stuller Power Solutions’ support as well. This year, they gave us a challenge to really draw people into our light show, and as a result, we're able to provide a check today to Safelight, for more than $8,000, so that they can buy new transportation that carries their clients to places that they need to go, and to do it in a safe way.
“We're excited about that, because our success and this community's success is symbiotic,” Decker emphasized. “We need to work together to provide for those who have special needs of all types, and we're very happy to be able to do that. Our Christmas light show was sponsored by Stuller Power Solutions - appropriate, to sponsor a light show! - and we are giving $1 for every car that came through the light show. So, over 8000 cars visited us this holiday season, and every one of those donated $1 each with Stuller's challenge that is going today to Safelight. We’re excited to continue doing this over the next three years.”
Stuller Power Solutions not only partnered with Tryon International to present Winterfest activities November 17, 2023-January 1, 2024, but also offered the chance for light show attendees to enter to win a 22k Home Standby Generator by Generac. The winner of the light show, Meghan Crews of Rutherfordton, NC, was announced at the check presentation.
“Working with Tryon International has been a wonderful experience for us,” emphasized Cheryl Stuller of Stuller Power Solutions. “To be able to donate to Safelight and help them reach their dreams for people that have been in a situation that they need help with is a great thing for us.” Cheryl emphasized that her organization’s partnership with Tryon International has been a valuable investment for their team, beyond investment returns and numbers. “We're in this for as long as you guys will have us, because it's been great for us as a company. We bring our staff to events and they've gotten to know you guys, and they've gotten to know Tryon International. It's a place where families can go and enjoy and have a good time together. Everything is there: you've got restaurants, activities, the beautiful outdoors and landscaping. It's just beautiful there!”
“The partnership has been great,” Brian Stuller echoed. “Cheryl has been volunteering for Safelight for many years, and it's a passion of hers, and being able to include Safelight in this partnership is a huge deal for us.”
Representing Duke Energy, Craig BeBrew, Local Government and Community Relations Manager, shared his excitement to be able to participate in the donation to Safelight and for the Tryon Cares program as a whole.
“Today is an opportunity to celebrate the partnership with Tryon International, and the Tryon Cares program. We're proud to have been the presenting sponsor for the last two years, a program that really provides an opportunity to highlight the great work that nonprofits do in our community,” he shared. “This year, we were excited to recognize Polk County Schools and help them in their work to attract and retain high quality teachers for their school system. Duke Energy is big in philanthropic work, and we support nonprofits all across the Carolinas.”
Through Tryon Cares presented by Duke Energy, the following corporate sponsors provided support to the following nonprofits:
Duke Energy to Polk County Schools
Stuller Power Solutions to Safelight
Nth Degree Orthodontics to Healthy Smiles
Marthaler Jewelers to PS I love You
Tryon Horse & Home to Paws, Prayers & Promises
To learn more about the Tryon Cares program presented by Duke Energy, click here.
Contacts and Resources:
Media Requests: Sarah Madden, media@tryon.com
Sponsorship: Lynn Penny, sponsorship@tryon.com
Tryon International: www.resort.tryon.com.