Media Contacts: Mark Prasuhn, President & General Manager, WPBS TV (mprasuhn@wpbstv.org; 315-921-1023);
Caroline Gomersall, Manager, Events and Special Projects | Gestionnaire, Événements et projets spéciaux – United Way East Ontario | Centraide de l’Est de l’Ontario (cgomersall@unitedwayeo.ca; 613-807-2942)
Music Across the Border: A United Way Benefit Concert
At this time like no other we have known – many citizens, organizations and associations are asking – what can we do to help?
At WPBS-TV, we asked ourselves the same question – and came up with a special initiative that celebrates the many talented musicians and artists in our community while benefiting the United Way organizations that serve our region across Eastern Ontario and Northern New York.
We are very excited to announce “Music Across the Border: A Benefit Concert for the United Way”, a fundraising event to support the COVID-19 initiatives currently underway through the four area United Way organizations (East Ontario; Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington; Northern New York; and Greater Oswego County).
This 90-minute special will be broadcast on WPBS-TV Tuesday, May 5th, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. Fifteen musicians from across the region have contributed performances including Joe Bouchard, guitarist/bassist and a founding member of Blue Oyster Cult; Paul Langlois, guitarist and former member of The Tragically Hip; Andy Taylor; keyboardist Noah Landers; guitarist Trevor Gordon Hall; vocalist Donald George and keyboardist Rosemarie Suniga, both faculty members at the Crane School of Music; harpist Esther Underhay; musician and deejay Craig Foster; violinist Lin Call; artist Wilson Bickford; singer-songwriter Miss Emily; and musical groups Smoke and Shadows, Bread and Circuses, and Annie in the Water.
In addition to the performances, the special will include short videos profiling the work being done by the four United Way organizations and the dozens of non-profits they support across our region, to provide help to those in need at this unprecedented time.
Viewers can pledge their support during the program by calling into a central toll-free number which will route their call to the United Way serving their region, or online.
Coming together to enjoy great music is one of life’s essential pleasures, and WPBS and great musicians from across our region are working together to offer that experience “virtually”, while at the same time making a contribution to those who need help at this challenging time.
Please tune in to WPBS on Tuesday, May 5th, enjoy some superb music and pledge your support to the critical work your United Way is doing in our community.
About WPBS TV
WPBS TV (Rogers channel 64; Bell Fibe channel 226) is a PBS station serving approximately 650,000 households throughout Northern New York and Eastern Ontario via cable, satellite, Internet and over-the-air distribution. WPBS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate, entertain and inform its audience through superior local and national content and media engagement, in order to enhance the lives of those it serves. WPBS has perhaps the most comprehensive and diverse weekly lineup of music performance programming on broadcast television – encompassing many genres including pop, country, folk, gospel, classical, Broadway, jazz and bluegrass. The broadcast home of Austin City Limits, Great Performances, Saturday Night Concerts, The Kate and Barnegie Hall – WPBS is also a long-time supporter of musicians, artists and cultural organizations and institutions across our region. More information about WPBS, including a full channel listing, is available at wpbstv.org, or by following WPBS on Twitter and Facebook.
About United Ways in Canada (East Ontario; Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington)
United Way is working locally to build great communities for everyone. Through research, consultation and experience, we know where the need is greatest in each community – and we invest our efforts and your donations where they will have the greatest results. We make sure the right people, organizations and skills are at the table to solve the tough problems. We work together with nonprofits, government, community agencies, corporate partners, labour and donors to improve lives in local communities. 100% of donations to United Way are put to work in the communities where they are raised to help those most in need.
