2nd Sundays at the Lake returns June 12
SERVE 60 Presents 2nd Sundays-Performers (photo by AQ Images)
Milwaukee in summertime has always been a music lover’s paradise. Musical Mondays. River Rhythms on Wednesdays. Jazz in the Park on Thursdays. Now, music lovers have another reason to rejoice…..literally.
On Sunday June 12, Milwaukee re-launches its newest concert series, “2nd Sundays at the Lake ”. Featuring the best in local and regional Gospel artists, the event promises to offer another great entertainment option for Milwaukeeans. The kick off to the concert series will take place from 2:30 PM until 5:30 PM at The Old Coast Guard Pavilion, 1600 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive (next to McKinley Marina) at the lakefront. Scheduled performers for the kick off include Rodney Cunningham & Company, Ocie Jackson and Janie Boston’s “In the Dance Café” Praise Dancers. Later in the season, there will be performances by the artists, Harris and Tiffany Engibous both of Shine Management Group.
The concert series is being produced by SERVE 60™, a national volunteer initiative that promotes community service and volunteerism for at least 60 minutes at a time. “2nd Sundays at the Lake is very similar to all the other Milwaukee County Parks music events in Milwaukee but with a unique twist. The concert series sets itself apart from the others by combining great music with volunteering and community service efforts every second Sunday of the month during summer. Last year, on September 12, 2010, the organization held a preview of the concert series and raised awareness for the nonprofit, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. In lieu of paid admission, all concert attendees were asked to bring canned goods and nonperishable food items. The concert had a fantastic turnout and raised well over 400 pounds of food for families in Milwaukee.
“This summer we will continue to work with various nonprofit partners to help raise awareness and resources for their organizations,” said SERVE 60™ Founder L. Maxwell McKissick. “For our kick-off on June 12, we have partnered with the nonprofit, Goodwill. Although our event is free just like the other Milwaukee County Parks music events, on June 12, we are asking all concert attendees to donate gently used clothing to our nonprofit partner, Goodwill. Since the mission of SERVE 60™ is to promote volunteerism and community service for at least 60 minutes at a time while raising awareness and resources for nonprofits, we thought what better way to accomplish that mission, provide some great family entertainment and help families in Milwaukee than by bringing together corporations and nonprofits through the family-friendly sounds of Gospel music,” added McKissick.
“Goodwill is extremely pleased to partner with SERVE 60 for this event. Donations of gently used items, and sales of those items in our stores play a vital role in fulfilling Goodwill’s mission of helping people get and keep a job,” stated Pat Boelter, vice president of Marketing for Goodwill. “SERVE 60’s mission of promoting community service and volunteerism and Goodwill’s mission are a perfect fit,” added Boelter.
Throughout the remainder of the summer, the concerts will feature a different nonprofit partner each month. After the kick off concert with Goodwill on June 12, the concert series shifts into high gear. On July 10 the nonprofit partner will be The Salvation Army. Attendees are asked to donate toys to the organization for children during the upcoming holiday season. On August 14, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee will be the featured nonprofit partner. On that date, concert attendees are asked to donate back to school supplies for student programming at the clubs.
On September 11, the concert series wraps up with the return of nonprofit partner, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. “We are absolutely thrilled to have forged this partnership with SERVE 60™”, stated Bonnie Bellehumeur, President of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. “September also happens to be National Hunger Action Month so partnering again with this event and furthering our mission as well as the mission of SERVE 60™ was a natural fit,” added Bellehumeur.
Corporate and community sponsors of the event such as Pizza Hut, American TV, Job Corps, State Farm, Hupy & Abraham, Frito-Lay and DigiCopy as well as the event’s media partner, WJMR (Jammin’ 98.3), are also being asked to take their sponsorship of “2nd Sundays at the Lake” beyond the typical logo on a banner or sign at the event. “That’s the other unique twist on our music event”, stated L. Maxwell McKissick. “All of our corporate sponsors are asked to provide teams of employees to volunteer alongside the nonprofit partners’ staff and help collect the featured resource of the month from concertgoers. The corporate sponsor teams will volunteer and rotate staffers throughout the duration of the concert for…..you guessed it, 60 minute shifts at a time,” he added.
For those concert attendees not lucky enough to win the best seats at the lake, great tasting food and beverages will also be for sale at the event. Additionally, any corporations interested in sponsoring “2nd Sundays at the Lake” or artists interested in performing should contact the offices of SERVE 60™ at (414) 389-9906 or email info@serve60.com for more information.