Nelson Odeon to host Concert for a Cause/Moms Demand Action

Imagine if you will, eight veteran working musicians, who play in more than a dozen bands, getting together for the love of the music. If you can, then you are thinking of The Merry Pranksters. The Pranksters play only a handful of concerts each year. Yet, each seems to be a night to remember.

Concert for a Cause returns to the Nelson Odeon Friday, May 18, featuring Skip Murphy and the Merry Pranksters. Doors open at 7:30pm for the 8pm show.

Concert for a Cause began in 2017 as a grassroots initiative led by local advocate, Mo Campanie of Bridgeport. With the belief that music is a common, uniting language, Campanie utilized that idea to start a series of events that raises both funds and awareness of local organizations working to benefit the local community.

The Concert for a Cause Series last year raised awareness of local organizations and approximately $8,000 in funding support. Organizations supported included: Citizens Campaign for the Environment, an organization that works to build widespread citizen understanding and advocacy for policies and actions designed to manage and protect our natural resources and public health, Pathways Wellness Center and Samaritan House, both organizations support those with mental health disorders, and Interfaith Works, Center for New Americans program which provides resettlement and post-resettlement services to help refugee families reestablish their lives and overcome the barriers to successful integration in their new communities. In 2018, Campanie was awarded the 2018 CNY Women Makers Award from WCNY for her work on the series.

The May 18 Concert for Cause will raise funds and awareness of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, which has a chapter in Syracuse. Much like Mothers Against Drunk Driving was created to reduce drunk driving, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America was created to demand action from legislators, state and federal companies, and educational institutions to establish common-sense gun reforms. Moms Demand Action is a non-partisan grassroots movement, of EveryTown for Gun Safety, with over 4.5 million supporters and chapters in all 50 states.

To learn more visit: www.momsdemandaction.org.

“We’re thrilled that Concert for a Cause is raising funds for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America,” said Kevin McClave, co-local group leader for Moms Demand Action Central New York. “The public health crisis that is gun violence in America requires widespread and cohesive solutions. Through human history, few things have been more communal than music, and we look forward to sharing those things we have in common.”

“No parent should have a pit in their stomach as they drop their child off to school about whether or not they will see their child again due to gun violence,” Campanie, mother of two young children, said. “This has to end and we must demand that our politicians and leaders take strong, swift action to protect our children through common sense gun laws and restriction of access to weapons of war. There are restrictions on the First amendment; why are we debating restrictions to the Second Amendment that can save the lives of our children?”
“Moms know best,” said Skip Murphy of the band featured at the next concert. “Now they need our help to end this culture of gun violence. It is obvious that the government cannot do this alone. I ask that all who can help, please do so. That is why The Merry Pranksters are thrilled to help. Come join us for this concert for a very important cause. Let’s end gun violence now, together.”

Tickets for the event are on sale now via the Nelson Odeon website (www.nelsonodeon.com). Campanie also suggests visiting the Concert for a Cause Facebook page for event details.

By martha

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