Benefit News (11/7/12)

As our friends in the northeast begin the long recovery process from Hurricane Sandy, some talented people from down South are pitching in to help with the effort:

• Texas fave James McMurtry performed at Austin’s Continental Club dressed as Dorothy (from the Wizard of Oz) for Halloween, and is now auctioning off his ruby slippers to the Red Cross for hurricane relief. Bid on the shoes here.

• Closer to Nashville, the “Thursday Night Fishing Club” music series at Cafe Fontanella will benefit the areas on Long Island hardest hit by Sandy. Guests are asked to bring gift cards of $10 or greater value from Visa, MasterCard, Amex, or retailers such as Home Depot, Costco, etc. “I am from Long Island and have never seen this kind of devastation from a storm,” said Thursday Night Fishing Club founder Gary Shiebler. “The great thing about gift cards is that they give folks a small sense of control and normalcy in a world turned upside down, even if it means just buying a bottle of shampoo or a cup of coffee.”

• • • • •

Inspired by the message of “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” Martina McBride’s fan club members have raised over $25,000 to fund cancer research. The club members formed Team Martina and dedicated the amount for a grant in McBride’s name at that Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville through the T.J. Martell Foundation.

• • • • •

The artwork of Peter Max will be on display and available for acquisition at the Rymer Gallery, starting with a special uncrating event Friday, November 9. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Additionally, Max will be present at the gallery for receptions on Nov. 17 and 18. More info here.

• • • • •

Belmont University, along with Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins, will host Nashville Family Day on Sunday, Nov. 11, 1-4 pm at Curb Event Center. American Idol finalist Colton Dixon and Disney’s Coco Jones are scheduled to attend the event, which benefits the T.J. Martell Foundation. Tickets are $50 for a family of four, or $15 for an individual, and available here.

• • • • •

Also Sunday, Nov. 11 is the “Orleans & Friends” show at the Mercy Lounge. The popular ‘70s band behind “Still the One” lost its lead-singer Larry Hoppen suddenly in July 2012, and the show will benefit his children through the Hoppen Family Benefit Fund. Guests include John Ford Coley, Henry Paul (Blackhawk), Jonell Mosser, Kathie Baillie & Michael Bonagura, Bill Lloyd, Alyssa Bonagura, and Pete Huttlinger. There is a $20 minimum donation, and tickets are available here.

• • • • •

Songwriters Spotlight will present a special concert featuring the talents of Even Stevens, Leslie Satcher, Tim Rushlow (Little Texas), Larry Stewart (Restless Heart) and Raven Cliff on Sunday, Nov. 11 at the Franklin Theatre. The event will benefit Landstuhl Hospital Care Project, the largest overseas US military hospital. Limited tickets are available here.