November 13, 2024
This week will close with some important dates for two charitable organizations long supported by Bruce Springsteen. On Friday November 15, beginning at 10am ET, the general on-sale for tickets to Light of Day Winterfest 2025 will commence. The Winterfest 2025 events, scheduled for mid-January of next year, also will mark the 25th anniversary of the organization's main event. Over the past quarter-century, Light of Day will have raised more than $6.5 million to combat Parkinson’s disease, ALS and PSP. The first official Light of Day concert was held at Asbury Park’s legendary Stone Pony venue in November 2000 and primarily featured local, unsigned artists. Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers (managed by Light of Day founder Bob Benjamin) headlined the show, which featured a surprise appearance by Bruce Springsteen, who joined the Houserockers for a raucous, hour-long set.
The announced lineup for the January 18 "Main Event - Bob's Birthday Bash," taking place at The Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, NJ, includes John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls,) Brian Fallon (The Gaslight Anthem,) Brian Baker (Bad Religion,) Pete Steinkopf (The Bouncing Souls,) Dramarama, Willie Nile, and Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, with additional special guests yet to be announced. Ticket packages will be available via theBASIE.org, the Basie Center box office onsite at 99 Monmouth Street in Red Bank, and through Ticketmaster.com. Click here for more information on purchasing Light of Day Winterfest 2025 ticket packages.
On Saturday night, November 15, the Kristen Ann Carr Fund (KACF) will hold its annual "A Night to Remember" fundraising event at Tribeca Grill in New York City. More than three decades have passed now since Bruce Springsteen first supported KACF with a sold-out benefit concert in New York City's Madison Square Garden arena. The fund was organized in memory of the older daughter of former longtime Springsteen co-manager Barbara Carr and music-writer/Springsteen-biographer Dave Marsh. In early January of 1993, Kristen Ann Carr died at 21 of sarcoma.
This year's "A Night To Remember" event will be the first to honor a sarcoma survivor: Jeff Gendel, who will be honored along with his wife Wendy. "We honor this family," reads the official event announcement from KACF, "that has been the direct beneficiary of the wonderful work of KACF and can truly trace their successful outcome back to the doctors and researchers that have received funding from our generous donors.
"Jeff Gendel was diagnosed with a difficult case of dedifferentiated liposarcoma in July 2018. Almost immediately after the diagnosis, he and Wendy connected with KACF. Virtually their entire medical team has received funding from KACF – and since the initial diagnosis and surgery, they have benefitted from expanded knowledge and treatment options for rare sarcomas. During treatment, Wendy and Jeff agreed to allow his cancer cells to be researched in the Sam Singer Lab at MSK, funded by KACF, to help others impacted by sarcoma. The entire Gendel extended family have been enthusiastic supporters of our organization ever since that first diagnosis and have jumped in with an attitude of 'how can we help?'
"Wendy and Jeff are a shining example of how KACF’s efforts can literally save lives, and bring a tangible component to the specific impact of your donations over the years. It is our extreme pleasure to celebrate them as our honorees at this year’s A Night to Remember."
The event also will feature musical performances from special guest Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem and house band JO & the Highland Express. And whether you purchase a ticket-package to attend or not, you still can support this important fundraising effort through the online-auction option, featuring lots of cool items (more than a few of them Springsteen-related) at a variety of bidding levels. Click here for more information.