Some proceeds from Pistols at the Prison, a recent gun show and live auction at the former Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, went to non-profit groups.
The proceeds from two Dawn of Defense rifles featured in Pistols at the Prison went to two different organizations located in Morgan County. Brushy Mountain designated MoCo Mutts Rescue Center as its chosen charity, while Compass Auction chose the Morgan County STEM Program as its beneficiary.
MoCo Mutts was founded in 2018 by its current President, Lisa Hill, after she and her husband Jeff moved to Sunbright, Tn., from Washington State.
Morgan county lacked an animal shelter and animal control services at the time, motivating Ms. Hill to create MoCo Mutts to fill a void in her new community.
Officials said, “Since 2018, MoCo Mutts has helped over 1,000 dogs and puppies with medical care, sanctuary housing, fostering and adoption. We see firsthand the horror that many of these animals encounter every day. We are a small non-profit trying to make a big impact in an area with few resources, but we believe that through caring and education we can change lives one wag at a time!”
Officials of Compass Auction, which is based in Chattanooga, said, "We are proud to have taken part in raising funds to help support a great cause like MoCo Mutts, who cares for an average of 80 dogs and 40 cats every day.
The Morgan County STEM program aims to develop education for local students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The program aims to “not only engage students with real-world problem solving in the classroom but provides them with the opportunity to develop creative and critical thinking skills that will prepare them for post-secondary success,” according to the Tennessee Department of Education.
In 2020, Petros-Joyner Elementary, a school located in Morgan County, received a STEM designation from the Tennessee Department of Education. Compass is humbled to have been a partner in advancing educational programming in its home state of Tennessee and is excited to witness the future development of Morgan County Schools.
For more information on the MoCo Mutts Rescue Center, visit their official website. To learn more about the Morgan County STEM Program, visit the website for Morgan County Schools. For those interested in learning more about Brushy Mountain, visit TourBrushy.com.