Rock For Hunger Fest 2 has already topped the earnings of its inaugural year by $3,800, and will rock for a 10-hour stretch to end poverty at downtown Orlando's BackBooth Saturday, Nov. 10, starting at 2 p.m.
Sage Francis, a rapper and poet, will headline the two-stage benefit concert that features 24 local bands, including Social Ghost, The Legendary JC's, KG & the Band, Band Marino, Milka, Gasoline Heart and Cori Yarckin.
"I'm excited about seeing KG and the Band. They've been helping us out since day one," said Community and Outreach Director Ben Bergholtz, an English major at UCF. "KG is a person that's really interested in helping the community. He's done more for us than anyone else has on their own. He sold over 100 tickets [for the benefit] and he's been going out of his way to promote our show."
Tickets are $10 before the show and $12 at the door. Rock for Hunger has sold 500 tickets toward their goal of 800.
"Our vision is community standing together as one to end the cycle of poverty, both locally and globally, with music and peace," said Rock For Hunger President Chris Goyzueta, a 25-year-old UCF alumnus. "There's a quote from Bono, he said: 'Music can change the world because music can change people.'
"We can't end poverty totally, but if we help one person, we ended poverty for that person. The more people we help, the more we end poverty."
The Rock for Hunger benefit concert began last year when Goyzueta wanted to expand the influence and capacity of the Volunteer UCF Hunger and Homelessness Initiative and decided a concert was the best way to raise money and awareness.
"After it was all over, we decided to start an organization and named it after the first concert," Goyzueta said.
Goyzueta said he hopes to further expand the project to 501.C3 non-profit status, which covers corporations founded for religious, charitable, scientific or literary purposes and would allow them exemption from federal income taxes. He said they would also like a permanent location for their services.
The organization has 27 members, consisting of 12 board members and 15 regular volunteers.
Last year's concert, held in the Pegasus Ballroom, was not as successful as the group thought it would be. Not many people showed up or donated money.
"You can't charge for attendance [because of the Student Union's all-inclusive policies], which doesn't help raise money," said Director of Operations Tristen Anderson, a 20-year-old interdisciplinary studies major. "It was the first time we had ever attempted to put on a concert, and we scheduled it right before Thanksgiving break."
The organization aims to raise more money with this year's bigger venue and ticket sales.
BackBooth's capacity is 350 inside and 1,300 outside, which has the potential of raising $18,800 at door price or $16,500 at pre-show price. Tickets can be purchased at Park Avenue CDs or at the Rock for Hunger Web site: www.rockforhunger.org
Many services have been donated by outside organizations. SGA donated $1,000 toward the $13,000 budget. Bud Light donated money for the stage. B.I.C. Sounds donated sound equipment, and Metromix Orlando paid for the Church Street lot rental. Other sponsors include O-Rock 105.9 FM, Create Magazine, EmploymentGuide.com, Second Harvest Food Bank and the ONE Campaign.
The proceeds from the concert will go to Second Harvest Food Bank, the Rock For Hunger Tuesday job training program at the Orlando Public Library in downtown Orlando, the Friday Tutor and Meals program at the Jefferson Center in the Parramore district, where the group provides one-on-one tutoring to underprivileged children along with a hot meal. The money will also go to the group's weekly Monday feedings at the downtown Post Office.
The organization estimates that $10 can feed 40 people one meal. If the $5,000 raised so far was to go directly toward alleviating hunger, it could feed 18 people until November 2009.
At this week's meeting, the group stapled fliers titled "Help Fight Poverty in Orlando" to plastic grocery bags to be distributed on doorknobs in downtown Orlando in the Thornton Park area. The fliers invited residents to come to the event and fill the bags with non-perishable food, used clothing - including sweaters, blankets and pillows - and hygiene products for the homeless.
"On Monday nights, people are always asking for [specific] stuff, like jean sizes," Anderson said. "Even during the summer months they're asking for blankets because when it rains the blanket is ruined, and they have no place to dry it, so they have to throw it away. They don't have the money to wash their clothes, so they constantly need clothes. The need for all of these things week after week is because they don't have a proper place to bathe and wash their clothes."
All concert attendees are encouraged to donate materials and buy an event T-shirt for $10. You must be 18 or older to attend.
For more information on the Rock for Hunger Fest, go to www.rockforhunger.org or www.BackBooth.com.
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