Newspaper Page Text
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and
Chili’s restaurants are once again teaming up
to spread awareness for National Childhood
Cancer Month as they have every September
since 2002. The partnership has raised more
than $lO million to benefit research in this
valuable area by selling T-shirts, dog tags and
Chili’s coloring sheets. We think this is a
cause you can get behind because, above a11...
So you’re probably asking,
“how can I get involved?”
That’s the easy part. Just
show up for their benefit
concert at the 40 Watt
Club Friday night, which
features Blue Flashing
Light, Red Letter Agent,
Save Grand Canyon and a
Chili’s waitress date auc
tion. Sound fun? We think
so, too. Last year, St. Jude
raised more than $1,300,
and they look to double
that mark Friday night.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Listings, Page 5B
Critics Comer, Page 2B
Pnumn Trio rocks Go. Theatre, Page 4B
Richard Roth returns, Page 3B
Movie Previews moved, Pagesß
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St. Jude’s fundraiser
to rock 40 Watt Club
By MANDY RODGERS
The Red & Black
Since 2002, St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital has raised more
than $lO million every September
because of its nationwide partner
ship with Chili’s Bar & Grill.
During National Childhood
Cancer Awareness Month, restau
rant patrons donate money through
buying T-shirts, dog tags and color
ing chili pepper sheets.
When Paul Aycock, general man
ager of the Athens location, was
directly affected by St. Jude’s work,
he enlisted the help of his employees
to think of fundraising ideas. Julie
Strom, an English education major
from Snellville, was one of the
employees to help organize a benefit
concert for the cause.
“Last year, we raised about $1,300,
and this year, we hope to possibly
double that,” Strom said.
Friday night, the 40 Watt Club
hosts the concert, featuring Red
Letter Agent, Blue Flashing Light
and Save Grand Canyon, with all
proceeds benefiting the hospital.
St. Jude accepts all patients,
regardless of the family’s ability to
pay, and has become America’s
third-largest health-care charity with
exploration into children’s cancer
and other deadly diseases, according
to its Web site, www.stjude.org.
“It’s the best charity around. No
one can deny that children don’t
deserve to have cancer,” said lan
Schwarber, lead singer of Blue
Flashing Light, comprised of Adam
Monica (guitars), Ryan Cattie (gui
tars), Sheldon Wolfe (bass), JJ
Bower (drums) and Joshua
Schwarber (keyboards).
“I designed the tickets,” he said.
“At the bottom they say, ‘Every
penny helps a child fight cancer to
live.’”
Schwarber and his brother,
Joshua, always wanted to form a
KIRK’S WEIRD HOURS
There’s anew late-night food
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our covert review of the latest
sandwich shop to grace your
walk home from downtown.
BENEFIT FOR ST. JUDE’S
CHILDRENS’ RESEARCH
HOSPTIAL
With Red Letter Agent, Blue Flashing
Light and Save Grand Canyon
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: 40 Watt Club
Price: $5
band like the British group Oasis.
“I’m the most die-hard Oasis
freak,” said Schwarber, but he
doesn’t want to emulate the infa
mous dysfunction the Gallagher
brothers faced.
After a chance meeting on a train
with a woman working for Virgin
Records, Schwarber started the ball
rolling and scored a trip to Monaco
and the World Music Awards to pro
mote his music.
The brothers’ first band, Turn,
broke up, forcing themto start ffrom
scratch and reevaluate the music
industry. Blue Flashing Light was
formed from random bar encounters
and open auditions and named after
a hidden track on an album by UK
band Travis.
“That song is raw and angry and
so unbelievably appalled at how
good people can do such horrible
things to you,” said Schwarber. “You
have to choose who you trust, tell
them you love them and let them
into your life.”
Being raised in a Catholic church
and having knowledge of the charity,
Schwarber said he wanted to help
with the concert and teamed up with
Strom to find the other bands and
ask hospitals to buy 50 tickets each.
Schwarber also convinced the
guys of Atlanta-based Red Letter
Agent to hop on board.
“I was going to pay out of my
pocket for their gas money,” said
Schwarber. “I don’t have any money,
but I could do that.”
See BENEFIT, Page 3B
TAKE-HOME TREATS
Ever have a late-night crav
ing for your favorite Athens
gourmet dish? Problem
solved. Bring home your
favorite local restaurant’s
recipes in our newest
weekly column.
#ut&Abu
September 6, 2007