Benefit Concert Will Raise Money for the Local United Way
December 25, 2011

 

The United Way of St. Francois County will benefit from a concert dubbed “Rock United,” to be held on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Centene Center in Farmington, Mo. The event, sponsored by Edward Jones and 3rd District Sen. Kevin Engler, will feature the band GTO along with Dr. Kevin White and the Baby Boomer Band.

Tickets are $10 for general admission seating and are available at the front desk of the Farmington Civic Center as well as Engler's Edward Jones office at 108 W. Columbia in downtown Farmington.

“At first, we looked at having a small reception, but we decided that doing something to benefit and include the community would be a better way to celebrate this occasion,” said Engler, a financial advisor for Edward Jones since 1986 and a state legislator since 2003.

Proceeds from the ticket sales will go to the United Way to aid the work they do for agencies in St. Francois County that help people in need.

“My wife Chris and I helped start the United Way and we’ve always supported it,” said Engler. “We thought doing this fundraiser for United Way would be a great way to mark my 25th year with Edward Jones.”

United Way Board President Paula Jackson said, “Kevin’s vision for United Way helped get us to where we are today. We are just delighted he has chosen to make us the beneficiary of his anniversary event.”

Both bands will play classic rock and GTO will have copies of its newest CD for sale. It’s called “Old Days,” and band member Colleen Mitchell said the sale of the CDs during the concert will also benefit United Way.

“The CD will sell for $12 and $2 from every CD sold at the concert will go to the United Way of St. Francois County,” Mitchell said.

Every ticket sold will have a space where the purchaser can enter their name for door prizes that includes tickets to a St. Louis Cardinals game and a St. Louis Blues game. Engler said he hopes to have many more door prizes to give away.

“This is designed to be a celebration, so whatever we can do to add a little more fun to the event, we’re going to try to do,” said Engler, adding, “and all the while we’ll be raising money for a great cause.”

The United Way has its roots in the holiday bell-ringing campaign which Engler helped begin in 1988 to raise money for Farmington food pantries and the Salvation Army.

Now, that campaign is helping raise $175,000 pledged to 28 local agencies in 2012. To find out more about the concert, go to the United Way’s web site at www.unitedwayofsfc.org or find the United Way of St. Francois County on Facebook.