The Carolina-Clemson rivalry captivates attention statewide each year. It’s also the crux of a perennial local fundraiser.

The Lexington Sertoma Club’s Big Thursday celebration returns Oct. 19 for its 14th annual outing at Icehouse Amphitheater.

While the rivalry is the attention-getter, the purpose is to fund the club’s mission of helping young people with speech and hearing disabilities or impairments. 

“The initial plan was to do one of these in 2009. We got the team captains from both Carolina and Clemson and thought it would be a one-time deal,” said Matthew Quinton, past president of the club. “We had so many people come to us saying they didn’t want to leave. So this is our fourteenth time doing this.”

While this is the fourteenth year, the club skipped 2020 during the pandemic.

The club always has past players from each team come out to the fundraiser, with a buffet-style dinner catered this year byShealy's Bar-B-Que. This year, former players Bru Pender and Toby Cates from the University of South Carolina and Patrick Sapp and Nelson Welch from Clemson are the featured players who will talk during the program.

“We try to get guys from around the same time,” said Quinton. “The opposing players have a strong respect for their opponents. The atmosphere and the way we have both fans every year is a friendly non-rivalry feeling atmosphere. Carolina fans are laughing about Clemson and vice versa.”

The former players will talk about memories from their time in the rivalry game, and the club’s officers will discuss their causes and projects, including Laces for Love, Meals on Wheels, Lexington Kids Day and other kid-focused efforts, particularly in Lexington County School District 1.

This year, they are putting a big focus on the in-the-works Miracle League Baseball field, which will provide social and recreational opportunities for kids with physical and intellectual disabilities. 

“The Miracle League is the largest undertaking our club will take on,” said Kevin Monaghan, president of the Lexington Sertoma Club. “It will make a big impact in the Lexington community.”

“The money, to some extent, goes to getting this initiative off the ground,” he added.

The location of the field has not been set, Quinton said. 

The money raised from the event comes from ticket sales as well as a silent auction. In the past, the club said it has averaged around $10,000 earned, with last year hitting at right around that mark. The best year raked in more than $125,000.

“Our club has a real focus on serving people with speech and hearing disabilities,” Quinton said. “We do a lot in the Lexington (1) school district and do a lot to supply supplies for teachers. We send four kids to Camp Sertoma in the Upstate. We have also gotten involved in Laces for Love to help children who need shoes.”

Table sponsorships and tickets are available by contacting Quinton at (803) 260-7178 or mquinton@smcins.com. General admission tickets for the 5:30 p.m. event at the amphitheater (107 W Main St.) are $65 and seating is limited. Learn more about Lexington Sertoma Club by calling (803) 529-7992 or visiting facebook.com/sertomaclublexingtonsc.