GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — The Lancer Capital Group Foundation will host its second annual gala on Friday, October 23, 2026, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the General Morgan Inn, 111 N Main Street in downtown Greeneville. Proceeds support JROTC units and cadets in Greeneville and Greene County.
This year’s event, “An Evening of Big Band and Service,” is held in memory of Jack Terry Sams, the single largest supporter in the Foundation’s history. Mr. Sams never served in the military and never went through a JROTC program himself. He came to the cause through his grandson, Foundation Chairman and Founder William Sams, supporting him through his high school JROTC years and later deciding that other students should have access to the same opportunities.
“Papaw believed in this before there was a foundation to believe in,” said William Sams, Chairman and Founder of the Lancer Capital Group Foundation. “He was so proud of my involvement and experiences I had in the program, and when he saw what this work meant to me, he wanted to help other kids in Greene County get the same benefits from JROTC that I did. As a former educator, he knew how important programs like these are. Naming this year’s gala for him is the least we can do.”
The Greeneville Swing Band will open the evening at six, playing through a cocktail hour before a plated dinner and program at seven. The night includes remarks from Foundation leadership, a guest speaker to be announced, and dancing. Guests are asked to dress in cocktail attire, with the big band era as an optional theme. During dinner, the Foundation will hold a brief fund-a-need appeal tied to a specific cadet need. There is no auction or raffle.
General admission tickets are $85 and include dinner with a choice of entree. Table sponsorships range from $300 to $1,200 and include reserved seating, recognition in the event program and on event signage, and a social media feature. Sponsorship supports the Foundation’s grant and scholarship programs directly.
The Lancer Capital Group Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by William Sams, President/CEO of Lancer Capital Group Enterprises and a former AFJROTC cadet at Greeneville High School. Its mission is to empower JROTC programs through strategic investment in essential unit activities, educational experiences, and annual scholarships for exceptional cadets pursuing higher education, building character, leadership, and
lifelong success in young people across Greeneville and Greene County.
The Foundation’s board includes J. Christian Lampe, Assistant United States Attorney; Randy J. Sizemore, President and Chief Financial Officer of Andrew Johnson Bank; MSgt Marcus L. Durden, USAF (Ret.), former Greeneville High School AFJROTC instructor; Sgt Brian J. Click, USMC (Vet.), Managing Partner of Cornerstone Wealth; Lawrence W. “Law” Loving III, Director of Career and Workforce Readiness at the Niswonger Foundation; SgtMaj Victor Mancini, USMC (Ret.); and Steve Spano, former Greeneville Chief of Police.
Tickets and sponsorships are available at zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2nd-annual-gala-in-memory-of-jack-terry sams. Entree selections and sponsor program artwork are due Friday, October 9.
To Learn more about the Foundation, visit lancercgfoundation.org.
