OUR STORY
Founded in 2018, Fun with Friends Knoxville (FwF) is a highly active social community in East Tennessee with thousands of members. What began as a simple meetup concept between Dusty Foust and a friend quickly grew into something much larger. Built entirely through volunteering time, inviting others in, and intentionally bringing people together. In 2019, Dusty fully took over the group and focused on expanding its reach after seeing the profound positive impact it could have on individuals and the Knoxville community as a whole.
In the early days, FwF was just a small group of friends meeting twice a week. Each time we gathered, we invited people around us at local establishments to join in that night as we played games, socialized, and connected. As the momentum and interest grew, we created a Facebook group to give the community a home.
In 2020, Fun with Friends launched its own social coed sports and gaming division: Fun with Friends Sports LLC. What started with a bowling league, followed by cornhole, has since expanded to include softball, kickball, volleyball, youth sports, and much more. With additional leagues always on the horizon. (For more information, visit fwfsportsknoxville.com)
That same year, we rebranded our community outreach efforts as Fun with Friends Helping Hands, an official 501(c)(3) organization. Our focus is primarily on serving the local Knoxville and FwF communities, while also partnering with other organizations to support fundraising efforts and causes focused on finding cures. More details can be found under the Fun with Friends Helping Hands tab on this site.
In 2021, FwF expanded again with the launch of FwF Productions. Its first venture, FwF LIVE!, is a weekly talk show that airs live in our Facebook group and is later edited for our YouTube channel. The show highlights members of the FwF community as well as voices from Knoxville and surrounding areas. Keeping things fun while also bringing awareness to meaningful and sometimes serious topics. That same year, we introduced the FwF Impact Awards, an annual gala created to recognize outstanding individuals within both our community and the greater Knoxville area.
At its core, Fun with Friends Knoxville exists to help create friendships in a safe, welcoming environment. We bring locals together for all types of group outings and experiences, with a special focus on helping new residents find their place and their people here in Knoxville. Making friends as an adult isn’t easy, and we understand the anxiety that can come with stepping into a new group. Many of us have been there: driving to an event only to turn around, feeling overlooked, or unsure where we belong. Because we’ve lived it, we work hard to make sure FwF feels different.
We call ourselves a community because that’s exactly what we are. We aren’t just a meetup group, a sports league, or a charity. We’re a community of friends. We can’t wait to meet you. There is real therapy in friendship, and it’s a powerful thing.
Be sure to check out our events tab here but especially within our Facebook group. That is where most are posted.
“There are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t yet met.”
— William Butler Yeats