Community fundraiser kicks off annual showcase for local talent
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PAM BLISS OCG CEO
Attleboro, Massachusetts?? -??The local nonprofit organization On Common Ground hosted their annual People for People fundraiser which showcased a community talent show.??
On Common Ground brought together a room full of community members at the Bristol Lodge in North Attleboro for a night of music, poetry, and laughter in order to raise funds for their Mentor Center Program which is critical??to helping individuals struggling within the community.??
Attleboro’s own rock star??George Leonard hosted and sang at the event with attendants remarking his engaging personality was “hilarious!” Judy Berard and Kathryn Regan played the flute and sung a heart warming song about a “bridge to the heart” in memory of her friend Ann Marie Kurkos who had hoped to be in attendance and sudden passing was remembered. Carolyn Decker and Lucas Pralle of Endless Beauty captured the audience with a short story reading entitled “Transmission.” North Attleboro resident Edmund Clavette took everyone back to the coffee house days with his telling of a poem about car traffic utilizing a gong between stanzas. Kait and the Best Buds sang and played contemporary acoustic rock. Attleboro High School senior and comedian Ally Beard headlined with jokes about her upcoming move from High School to College culture. Beard has been recognized recently for her freelance writing contributions to NBC’s Saturday Night Live. The highlight of the night came when Attleboro’s School of Rock instructor Michael Bazzinotti with his student Brian Johnstone wailed??on the guitar improvising before??bringing the audience to clap and sing along to Steppenwolf’s Born to be Wild.
People for People successfully hosted a live auction conducted by veteran auctioneer Rick Conti. Amazing donated items like an??autographed football from Patriots Linebacker Rob Ninkovich and a handcrafted beautiful birdhouse by Bob Savoy of Savoy Designs went to the highest bidders after an escalating bidding war.????
This annual event hopes to bring new talent to the community from the community. On Common Ground often tries to bring entertainment to the community, their next fundraising event The Blessing of the Bikes, a motorcycling blessing at LaSalette and 40 mile bike run ending in a concert at the Attleboro Elks, is coming up in May on the 13th (20th rain date) is looking for bands to participate in the hard rocking after party concert.??Those interested in participating this year at the Blessing of the Bikes or next year at People for People should reach out to fundraising coordinator, Jax Adele, by email at??OnCommonGroundMarketing@gmail.com or by phone at??508-226-0801.
The mission of On Common Ground is to improve the lives of individuals who are experiencing economic, social and/or familial poverty in the Attleboro Area. They do so by fostering and encouraging the active involvement of the local community in 1:1 relationships.
The program was supported in part by a grant from the Attleboro and Norton Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
All photos by Jim Koepfler available here:
??http://www.oncommongroundinc.org/portfolio-items/p4p2017/