Holiday Band Charity Concert

The title alone, ‘Holiday Band Charity Concert’ does not seem incredibly significant . . . however, the impact that this concert has had on our community (and continues to have) is immeasurable.

The Jensen Beach HS Band Program hosts their holiday concert in our performing arts center every December. This concert features small ensembles, jazz band, concert band, symphonic band, color guard, and concludes with a marching band finale. Each year, the attendance has grown for this event and we continue to see community support for its purpose and reason.

Unlike many band programs who charge admission for their winter concerts, we collect donations that are IMMEDIATELY put back into the community. We do not accept a single dollar for admission into the concert . . . . rather, every donation is put back into EXTREMELY valuable programs in our community.

Patrons for our concert can make a cash donation for the ‘Toys for Tots’ Program AND/OR they can donate non-perishable or canned good food items that are donated back to our local food pantry, “House of Hope”.

This program began at Jensen Beach HS in 2007 and since then we have donated over $10,000 to the Toys for Tots Program and almost 7,500 pounds of food to the House of Hope.

Our director works with the local director of Toys for Tots and purchases the EXACT items that are in desperate need for the community children. Some years, we need toys for infants and some years we need toys for boys aged 12-15…… but each year, we make a point and sincere effort to focus on the needs of the Toys for Tots program to ensure that the children in our community have as special and exciting of a Holiday opportunity as they can.

We are also extremely proud to know that 7500 pounds of donated food equates to 6,225 healthy well-balanced meals, given to the Martin County residents facing hunger each year.

This wonderful concert has become almost a cornerstone of our program and something that our director, the students, band families, and school community are extremely proud to be a part of. We look forward to its continued growth in our community and are excited to also know that several other schools (in our area) are doing similar ‘giveback’ concerts to the residents in our area.

The donations for this project directly benefit the families and children of the Treasure Coast (Southeast Florida). Indirectly, the students, families, and community members that attend (and donate) at our concert also benefit greatly from the ability to giveback to our amazingly supportive and encouraging community.

See above for some comments about planning. This is an annual event and we look forward to seeing it continue to grow in the future.

Success is in the faces of our students when they hear the amount of money/weight of food collected each year.

Countless lives have been impacted by this event. Having the ability to provide gifts to children at Christmas that otherwise would have no presents is an incredibly satisfying and humbling feeling. Having the ability to provide nourishing meals to the needy is equally as satisfying and humbling. I am honored to have this program within our band family and honored to know that we have impacted countless lives in our community.

Do it! Why not??? I can’t think of a better way to give back and take care of your community than a concert event like this during the holiday season.