RIFA celebrates 20th annual Canstruction 2025: An Evening with Jonnie W.

RIFA CELEBRATES 20TH ANNUAL CANSTRUCTION 2025: AN EVENING WITH JONNIE W.

JACKSON, Tenn. – August 29, 2025 – The Regional Inter-Faith Association (RIFA) is hosting Canstruction 2025: An Evening with Jonnie W, presented by Foundation Bank. The 20th annual event will be held on Thursday, September 25th, 2025, at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Downtown Jackson.

In this design competition, Jackson-based businesses, churches, schools, and organizations form teams to showcase their talents by creating giant sculptures entirely out of unopened cans of food. All the canned food used to make the structures is donated to RIFA for distribution to people in our community. At the 20th Canstruction gala on September 25th, the structures are on display for guests to view the teams’ creative efforts toward RIFA’s mission. The gala also includes a formal dinner, awards ceremony, and entertainment by Jonnie W.

In a world where more and more people are choosing to stay home and binge-watch their entertainment, Jonnie W. represents an anomaly – an artist whose show needs to be experienced LIVE. Combining music, off-beat standup, and a skewed view of the world unfolding around him, Jonnie crafts a comedy experience that you and your family will be quoting in the car on the way home.

“We’re excited to have Jonnie W. at Canstruction this year,” says Lisa Tillman, Executive Director at RIFA. “Canstruction is our signature event, and to celebrate 20 years is amazing. Just as in the 19 years before, the funds from this event will go a long way in helping fight hunger in our community, and we are so grateful. We hope to see you there.”

Prior to the Canstruction gala, RIFA will host its annual Canstruction Buildout Event Tuesday, September 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at The Carl Perkins Civic Center (Downtown Jackson).

Seventeen teams from businesses, schools, and churches in the community will build structures entirely out of canned food in the lobby of the Civic Center. These structures will be featured at the Canstruction 2025: An Evening with Jonnie W. gala on Thursday, September 25. The structures from Buildout will be available for public viewing during business hours on Wednesday, September 24.

RIFA staff members will be available at each event for interviews.

Opportunities are available for balcony tickets and full table purchases. For more information, please contact Erin Mount at 731-427-7963 or emount@rifajackson.org.

The seventeen teams competing in this year’s Canstruction competition are as follows:

• BlueScope Steel Buildings
• Delta Faucet
• Family Christian School
• Fellowship Bible Church
• First Methodist – Downtown Jackson
• First Presbyterian Church
• Georgia Pacific – Dixie Jackson
• Gerdau
• Hitachi Energy Alamo
• Jackson-Madison County School System
• Jackson State Community College
• Kellanova
• LyondellBasell
• Owens Corning
• Regions Bank
• Tennalum
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Tennessee

The following Jackson-based businesses, churches, schools, and organizations are proud partners of RIFA by contributing more than $5,500 to Canstruction:

• Presenting Sponsor
  • Foundation Bank
• Limelight Sponsor
  • TVA
• Dinner Sponsors
  • Hometowne Capital
  • Toyota Tennessee
• People’s Choice Sponsor
  • Tim Ferguson Plumbing Air and Electric
• Gold Sponsors
  • BlueScope Foundation
  • CRS CPAs
  • Fellowship Bible Church
  • First Horizon Bank
  • H&M Construction Company, Inc.
  • HORNE Community Foundation
  • Jackson Energy Authority
  • JMS Russel Metals
  • Kroger
  • Tennalum

About RIFA
In 1976, local churches and community leaders formed the Regional Inter-Faith Association (RIFA) to address the needs of the growing number of people living in poverty in Jackson, Tennessee. Today, RIFA’s vision is to lead and engage the community in the fight against hunger with the love of Christ by providing physical and spiritual nourishment.

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