National grassroots organization launches “2nd Sundays at the Lake”
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, Sept. 12, Milwaukee 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 concert will take place from 2:00 PM until 5:30 PM at The Coast Guard Pavilion 1600 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive (next to McKinley Marina) at the lakefront. Scheduled performers include Phoebe Hines, Rodney Cunningham & Company, Holy Redeemer Sanctuary Choir plus many more including The Voices of Corinthian Baptist Church Choir from North Chicago.
The concert series is being produced by SERVE 60™, a national grassroots 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 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.
“Each summer we will 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 September 12, we have partnered with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. Although our event is free just like the other music events, we are asking all concert attendees to donate canned goods and nonperishable food items to needy families in Milwaukee. The mission of SERVE 60™ is to promote volunteerism and community service for at least 60 minutes at a time, so we thought what better way to accomplish that mission and help needy families in Milwaukee than by bringing together corporations and nonprofits through the family-friendly sounds of Gospel music,” added McKissick.
Feeding America representatives will be onsite at the event collecting canned goods, food items and donations for families in the Milwaukee area. “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 with this event and furthering our mission as well as the mission of SERVE 60™ was a natural fit,” added Bellehumeur. Wondering where you can find a few canned goods to donate? That’s where corporate America comes into play. Concert attendees are encouraged to stop by any area Lena’s Food Markets in Milwaukee to purchase their food items to donate on the day of the concert. “Sponsoring 2nd Sundays at the Lake was an easy decision for us because our grocery stores place a high priority on community and giving back,” stated Derrick Martin, President of Lena’s Food Markets. “This event provided the perfect opportunity to exemplify our commitment to the community,” he added.
Corporate and community sponsors of the event such as Lena’s Food Markets, Airtran Airways, Harris Bank, WHEDA 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 will be providing teams of employees to volunteer alongside the Feeding America staff and help collect the canned goods and other food items from concertgoers. The 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.
Another major sponsor of “2nd Sundays at the Lake ” is AirTran Airways. The airline is co-sponsoring the “Best Seats at the Lake ” which is an on-air promotion with the event’s media partner, WJMR (Jammin’ 98.3). Three lucky listeners will win preferred seating at the concert and also be entered to win one (1) set of round trip tickets to fly anywhere that AirTran Airways flies in the Continental U.S. In addition, anyone that attends the concert and signs up with a pledge to volunteer for at least 60 minutes with a future SERVE 60™ event will be entered to win one (1) set of round trip tickets also courtesy of AirTran Airways. Additional co-sponsors of the “Best Seats at the Lake ” promotion are American TV which is providing the plush, comfortable furniture for the three lucky winners’ seating at the concert, Target which is providing $15 gift cards and JT Bones which will provide dinner for the three lucky winners during the concert.
Although 2nd Sundays at the Lake is being launched at the end of this summer, it will return on the second Sunday of June in 2011 and every second Sunday monthly through September 2011. Food and beverages will also be for sale at the event. 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.
SERVE 60™ is a national grassroots initiative designed to increase service and volunteerism across America for at least 60 minutes at a time……especially twice a year during Daylight Saving Time weekends when we ask all Americans to donate the 60 minutes lost or gained to a nonprofit or serve their communities. The website, www.serve60.com offers a searchable database of volunteer opportunities throughout the country which is powered by Volunteer Match, one of the largest volunteer service organizations in the country.