Habitat for Humanity Benefit Concert at College Will Feature Second Annual Americana Music Celebration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: October 17, 2008

CONTACT: Lisa Saunders

(845) 574 - 4244

Habitat for Humanity Benefit Concert at SUNY Rockland Community College
Will Feature Second Annual Americana Music Celebration

Suffern, NY - A benefit concert to raise funds for a home in Hillburn will bring authentic Americana music to the SUNY Rockland Community College stage.

Students of SUNY Rockland Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter plan to build an entire house by raising $100,000 for a qualifying family in Hillburn. Towards that goal, the Chapter is sponsoring an original and moving musical performance by Amy Speace & the Tearjerks on Saturday, November 8, 8:00 p.m. in the Cultural Arts Theater on the main campus in Suffern. Tickets: $10.00 for open seating. To purchase tickets, call 845-574-4531/4373. All proceeds go directly to Habitat for Humanity.

Aside from raising funds, students of the College Habitat Chapter will also be supplying some of the labor. “Everything from foundation to roof, with professionals on site,” says Mike Ver’Schneider, Campus Chapter Advisor. Howard Hellman ’72, President of RCC’s Alumni Association and owner of All Bright Electric, has offered to donate $3,000 in materials and $2,000 in labor to install conduits, fixtures, and outlets.

The College Habitat Chapter has already raised more than $13,000 through bake sales, ongoing candy sales, and past benefit concerts.

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that works in partnership with families in need, without regard to religion or ethnicity.

The College Chapter works under the umbrella of the local Rockland Habitat affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. In selecting a family for a home, "Primary considerations are the need for housing, the ability to repay the loan and the family’s willingness to volunteer the required sweat equity hours…This unique partnership greatly reduces the cost of each house, increases the value of home ownership among all family members and fosters the development of positive relationships within the community for years to come."

For more information about the SUNY Rockland Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter, contact Mike Ver'Schneider at (845) 574-4531 or visit www.sunyrockland.edu. For more information about Amy Speace, visit www.sunyrockland.edu. For more information about Amy Speace, visit www.amyspeace.com

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Rockland Community College, a unit of the State University of New York, is located 25 miles northwest of NYC. The majority of its students transfer to four-year colleges, and many find immediate employment upon earning their associate's degree or certificate. The College also offers others, from preschoolers to senior citizens, the opportunity to simply learn something new. Quality education...at a price you can afford.