The 6th Annual Concert for Kids Presented by the Garden State Community Bank will feature legendary performers Kool & The Gang on Thursday, November 13, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. The Concert for Kids is the annual fundraiser that benefits the 25 local Boys & Girls Clubs’ organizations in New Jersey. The funds raised are distributed to local Boys & Girls Clubs to assist youngsters in cultivating a special talent or interest and encourage them reach their full potential as productive citizens.
Kool & The Gang’s music is a unique blend of jazz, rhythm & blues, funk and pop performed by the same core of players for over 30 years. Robert “Kool” Bell, Khalis Bayyan, Dennis “DT” Thomas, and George “Funky” Brown are alumni of the Jersey City Boys & Girls Club. The group started as teenagers in the Jersey City projects and jammed in the Boys & Girls Club basement before making their first record.
In 1964, Robert formed an instrumental band called the Jazziacs with five high school friends. They changed their name to Kool & the Gang and were signed to De-Lite Records in 1969. Their #1 hit was 1980s “Celebration” and international hits followed in the early 1980s, including “Big Fun”, “Get Down on It” and “Joanna”. Their 1984 album Emergency yielded four top 20 hits, including “Fresh” and “Cherish.”
This year’s event, which will be hosted by Boys & Girls Club spokesperson and entertainer Joe Piscopo, will honor Ed Cruz, president of EE Cruz & Company Inc., noted community leader, alumnus of the Ironbound Boys & Girls Club, and past chair of the Concert for Kids Committee for his commitment and dedication to Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey.
Sponsorships are available from $1,000 – $25,000 and include a reception and the show. Individual tickets can be purchased at the NJPAC box office at 1-888-GONJPAC or online at www.njpac.org. For more information on the Concert for Kids, visit www.bgcnj.org or call 201-882-3812.
Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey are part of a national network of local Clubs and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. There are 25 Club organizations in more than 60 communities who work daily to assist youth from all backgrounds achieve their full potential as productive adults and responsible citizens. Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey serve 120,000 children ages 6-18. More information about Boys & Girls Clubs is available at www.bgcnj.org.
Public Relations Contact: Rosica Strategic Public Relations