GAINESVILLE - The Seventh annual Bruce Burch & Friends benefit concert honoring the late Gainesville songwriter John Jarrard recently announced the disbursement of funds to area charities.
This year's concert grossed about $97,000 through sponsorships, an auction and ticket sales, according to Allen Nivens, chairman of the committee organizing the annual event.
Beneficiaries of the 2008 concert include the Good News At Noon shelter; the Good News Clinic; Boys and Girls Clubs of Gainesville/Hall County; the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Georgia Chapter; the Georgia Mountain Food Bank; the UGA Music Business School; United Way of Hall County and Operation Amenah, a humanitarian aid project headed by U.S. Army Maj. Kevin Jarrard, involving surgery for a young Iraqi girl.
Grants totaling $35,000 were presented at a meeting of the John Jarrard Foundation board to those non-profit organizations, while some $34,000 will be added to the John Jarrard Fund, a permanent endowment established to provide financial assistance to area charitable causes.
Since the first concert in 2002, the foundation has contributed more than $196,000 in grants directly to charities while also contributing more than $220,000 to the endowment for long-term charitable support. The John Jarrard Fund is administered by the North Georgia Community Foundation.
"The concert is truly a Gainesville-Hall County community effort," Nivens said. "About 80 businesses and individuals sponsored tables and donated services to generate a large part of the proceeds. And many other people volunteered their time and energy."
John Jarrard was born in Gainesville, and moved to Nashville in 1977 to pursue a career as a country music songwriter. His hit songs have been recorded by country music greats such as superstar Don Williams, the group Alabama, George Strait, Diamond Rio and Tracy Lawrence. Jarrard passed away in February 2001 after a long battle with diabetes. His widow, Janet Jarrard, resides in Nashville.
Performers at this year's concert included Jim McBride, Randall Bramblett, Rachel Proctor, Mike Dekle, Pat Terry, Colt Ford, Bruce Burch and Nivens. Also performing were Shane Bridges, Josh Carlson and Allison Weiss. All performers donated their time.
The concert was held the first Tuesday in October at the Arts Center Smithgall Arts Depot. Plans are forming for other songwriter shows in Gainesville in upcoming months. More details about dates and performers are available by emailing a request to [email protected].
Advance reservations for tables and sponsorships at the 2009 Bruce Burch & Friends concert honoring John Jarrard, as well as information about donating to the fund, may be obtained through the North Georgia Community Foundation at 770-535-7880. Additional concert details are available online at www.johnjarrardconcert.com.
Wednesday
October 9th, 2024
6:13PM
