The University television station,Hawk TV, will be hosting a Rock ‘N Relief fundraiser outside of the Jules L. Plangere Center for Communication on Sept. 27 to benefit Habitat for Humanity.
Rock ‘N Relief will be held on campus from 1 to 4 to raise money for Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization that helps people who are in need afford a safe place to live. Habitat for Humanity is focusing on the 500 homes in Union Beach that were destroyed in Hurricane Sandy, according to Hawk TV Station Manager, Katie Meyer.
Bands will play during this event to a live audience. University communication club, Hawk TV will record the event and play it back over the semester. Artists who are confirmed include Natalie Zeller, who is under the University’s record label, Blue Hawk Records; and students Bri Merriman and Joey Affatato. A total of six bands will perform at the event.
Hawk TV and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), as well as the University’s chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, will host tables with games, activities and prizes for audience members.
According toHawk TVadvisor, Chris Cavallaro,Hawk TVmade its connection to Habitat for Humanity through PRSSA, which had already been working with the organization. Habitat for Humanity is also one of Alpha Sigma Tau’s philanthropies.
According to Kelly Brockett, Co-President of PRSSA, Habitat for Humanity reached out to the University’s chapter of PRSSA because e-board member, Lauren Pollara, interned with the organization over the summer. “[Laura Lella-Smith of Habitat for Humanity] needed all the help they could get from students, local communities—anything and everything,” said Brockett. Pollara is the account executive handling PRSSA’s involvement with Habitat for Humanity.
To create awareness for Rock ‘N Relief, PRSSA has reached out to presidents and faculty advisors of other PRSSA chapters in New Jersey, according to Brockett. “We actually heard back really quickly from Montclair and Seton Hall, and we’re going to put together teams,” Brockett added.
Rock ‘N Relief is helping the broader Monmouth County community as well as the on campus community, according to Meyer. “[Rock ‘N Relief is] the first event that new members have a chance to really get involved with our organizations,” said Meyer.
“The expectations are that we do reach at least the campus,” said Cavallaro. “…There’s 6,000 students and over 1,000 staff, employees, faculty. If we could get most of those 7,000 people aware of this problem, that would be incredible.”
Cavallaro strongly supports the cause of helping local residents of Union Beach. “Monmouth County is one of the wealthiest counties in the country; one of the most educated,” said Cavallaro.
“…To find out that just a few miles away people are still suffering, it kind of makes me mad, besides inspires me to do something,” Cavallaro added.
Meyer encourages students to join her andHawk TVin supporting the campus community. “Students should attend because it’s a free concert featuring Monmouth University students,” said Meyer. “They should come out and support their peers and learn a little bit more about Habitat for Humanity and what they can do to help out those who are still feeling the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.”
IMAGE TAKEN from bluehawkrecords.com
