ASHLAND – If you’ve ever wondered what United Way of Ashland County is all about, Rock the Park is for you.
The Aug. 18 event at the Guy C. Myers Memorial Bandshell at Brookside Park (209 Parkside Dr.) will feature live music and provide a non-threatening atmosphere for the community to come together to learn about and support the local United Way chapter.
Each year, United Way of Ashland County raises funds to support its partner agencies, including ACCESS, American Red Cross, Appleseed Community Mental Health Safe Haven Shelter, Ashland County Cancer Association, Ashland Christian Health Center, Ashland County Council on Aging, Ashland County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Ashland Parenting Plus, Ashland Y, Associated Charities, Catholic Charities, Hospice of North Central Ohio, Kidney Foundation of Ohio, Olive Tree Care Program and Salvation Army.
Executive Director Stacy Schiemann said the organization has had a long-standing tradition of kicking off its annual fundraising campaign with a breakfast at Ashland University. Breakfast attendees are generally some of United Way’s biggest supporters, including representatives of the partner agencies and the local businesses who serve as campaign Pacesetters.
This year, in hopes of reaching a new audience, the organization’s leaders want to kick off the campaign in a more inclusive way by inviting the entire community to a free event prior to the annual breakfast Sept. 19.
Because the 2020 campaign theme is Rockstars and Legends, the Rock the Park seemed like a good fit for the kickoff event.
Rock the Park will be 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the bandshell. The event will feature an introduction of campaign chairs Brittaney and Joe Reep, live entertainment by The KC Big Band, a preview of “Roxie,” the 2019 Chevrolet Trax that will be raffled off as part of the campaign and various giveaways.
Under the leadership of Neil Ebert, the KC Big Band is the premier performing arts group of the Ashland Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. The band samples jazz artists, including Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Michael Buble and Frank Sinatra.
