Health & Fitness
Fair Lawn Musicians, Families, Music Studio and Businesses Team Up for a Hurricane Sandy Benefit Concert
Fair Lawn Musicians, Families, Music Studio and Businesses Team Up for a Hurricane Sandy Benefit Concert
Believe in Music Studio, a Fair Lawn-based music school directed by Marina Belkin raised $1,755 for those affected by Hurricane Sandy. When pictures and stories surfaced of the devastated areas, the Studio used music as a rallying cry to unite music-lovers and families alike. It raised awareness and funds for the cause; deciding to partner with the Robin Hood Foundation (which also organized the 12/12/12 charity concert).
As a result, the Studio organized a benefit concert, which was held on Dec. 16 at the Fair Lawn Jewish Center. The concert drew over 200 people and featured over 20 performers. Local businesses also contributed to the fundraising effort with a big help from Russell Weiser CPA, Zadies, Fair Lawn Pharmacy and Garden Pharmacy.
The concert's host was David Belkin, a local talented pianist who also performed at the event. David has previously performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and various international competitions.
On this night, he graced the crowd with his first-hand stories of fundraising in the blistering cold with Alice Loukianova (a friend who also performed) and his mom. "The $70 we raised was a great motivation to making a difference in every way and level that we could," he said.
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In addition to the musical portion, the concert also included a bake sale and a nail design station; all of these also helped the fundraising effort and added a greater community feel to the event. Each participant was helping in their own way towards a greater goal.
This was the second benefit concert Believe in Music Studio has hosted in the wake of a tragedy. In 2005, right after Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area, the Studio reached out to Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation through which they raised over $2,000 to help musicians displaced by the Hurricane.
The Studio also tries to balance these performances with recitals in senior centers and assisted living homes and book drives and collections for local charities. "It feels good to give back," David Belkin said. "I am glad that I have music as a means to unite people and to see the brighter side in these sometimes difficult times".
