"Livingston Sings" Virtual Benefit Concert To Fight Coronavirus

Press release from the City of Long Branch:

LIVINGSTON SINGS Benefit Concert: Sunday, April 5

Music brings the community together. LIVINGSTON SINGS is a live virtual music-based fundraising initiative brought "from our home to yours" in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. LIVINGSTON SINGS will be broadcast online LIVE on Sunday evening, April 5, 2020 from 6 pm to 9 pm to benefit Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors (LNHN), an affiliate of Healthy Community Healthy Youth (HCHY), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

LNHN includes the management of Livingston’s Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) in partnership with the Livingston Clergy Association. The LNHN creates opportunities to respectfully help and empower those in need, thereby promoting a strong sense of community and goodwill through its affiliation with HCHY.

The concert will feature a few cameo appearances and musicians from around Livingston (listed alphabetically and subject to change): Brian Bradley, Cris Colicchio, Kimberly Egipciaco, Bailey Grey, Lee Scott Howard, Matthew Lahm, Brian Maloof, Lenny Meranus, Jennifer Raz, Megan Rossilli, Josh Salzman, Kelly Schultz, Jeff Sternstein. Many of the musicians featured are graduates of Livingston High School. Special appearance by Jared Goldsmith, born in Livingston and graduated LHS in 2014. He is currently playing "Jared Kleinman" in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway.

How to Watch and Donate

The live broadcast will be available on Facebook, via this New Media Connection Facebook Event: bit.ly/WatchLivingstonSings. Those who don’t use Facebook can find it here: bit.ly/LivingstonSingsWEB. The concert will be live in both places on Sunday, April 5 starting at 6 pm.
The recording of the Livingston Sings benefit concert will be available on Livingston Television (LTV) shortly after the live event is aired.
To donate to LNHN, please visit bit.ly/LivingstonSings.
For more information, email HolliEhrlich@gmail.com.

Committee Members’ Comments

The committee producing the LIVINGSTON SINGS event includes long-time residents and leaders in Livingston: Martha Ackermann, Robert Allen, Brian Bradley, Holli Ehrlich, Alan Karpas, and Neeli Margolis.

Neeli Margolis – LTown Lowdown Administrator, 11-year Livingston resident

"Music heals the soul, especially at times like these. It brings us together even when we are separated by physical distance. The economic consequences of the pandemic have already touched our community. We wanted to support Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ efforts to provide relief to financial insecure residents. This event is a wonderful opportunity to help them meet some of our residents’ essential needs while bringing the entire community together for a night of much-needed entertainment."

Alan Karpas – President of HCHY, 46-year Livingston resident

"Healthy Community Healthy Youth (HCHY) is the umbrella for so many meaningful organizations in town and this event is a fine example of how we bring our community together."

Martha Ackermann – Vice President-Secretary of HCHY, over-30-year Livingston resident

"Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors is a group of incredible "doers" who provide financial help and food security to our community. The support and partnership that we receive from the Livingston Town Council, Health Department and Livingston Public Schools, and generosity of community members, allows us to "give back" as needed. Livingston Sings promises to bring out the best in all in our community."

Holli Ehrlich – 27-year Livingston resident

"I am grateful to be part of such a caring, compassionate community during these unprecedented, challenging times. We want Livingston Sings to bring people together virtually to lift spirits, healing, and hope. Helen Keller said it best, ’Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.’ I strongly believe that to get through this we need to be there for each other even if we can not be with each other."

Robert Allen – 27-year Livingston resident

"Like any strong relationship, you need to be there for one another in good times and in bad times. We have seen how Livingston responds in times of celebration and it is quite evident we are there for each other in the difficult times as well. This concert is a perfect example of that at so many levels. I am proud to be a part of this project."

Brian Bradley – featured musician & 7-year Livingston resident

"Helping each other in times of crisis is what makes a community stand out from the rest. I am proud to call Livingston my home."

This press release was produced by the City of Long Branch>. The views expressed here are the author’s own.