Benefit concert Thursday night features five bands
MIDDLETOWN — Like millions of people around the globe, Katie Egan was moved by the news and images of post-earthquake Haiti. Then she spoke to her grandmother.
A resident of Naples, Fla., Ms. Egan’s grandmother told her granddaughter about someone she knows who lost nearly every member of his family in the quake. The sorrowful story and her grandmother’s plea for Katie to do anything she could to help, pushed the Newport native to action. “She pretty much put me up to it,” Ms. Egan said. “As soon as I heard her, I had to do something.”
Two weeks later, five local bands and Ms. Egan and friends teamed up to present a benefit concert for Haitian relief, “RI Rocks for Haiti,” on Thursday, Feb. 4, at Easton’s Point, 116 Aquidneck Ave. in Middletown.
Ms. Egan is not an event promoter, nor does she have any experience in organizing something like this. Instead, she has a lot of passion and a lot of friends.
A junior public relations and communications student at the University of Rhode Island, Ms. Egan said, “I wanted to give myself a dry run to see if I have the capabilities to plan something like this ... It turns out I do.”
Ms. Egan got commitments from five local bands to play for free (a lifelong Newport resident, she had the advantage of knowing someone in most of the bands). She landed free airtime on several Rhode Island radio stations. She connected with the American Red Cross to receive and disburse all proceeds. And she got dozens of businesses to donate prizes for a raffle. It’s been a nearly full-time commitment for a college student who admits she has fallen behind in her studies. She’s hoping her professors understand.
“It’s been a ton of work, but it’s been so much fun,” Ms. Egan said.
Featured bands were Cliffs and Bangers, The Brunt of it, Bloody Knuckles, Wellstrung and Mongo. The minimum donation was $5 at the door, but Ms. Egan was hoping people would give generously. They gave enough to raise about $2,700, and all proceeds are going to the Rhode Island Red Cross for Haitian relief efforts.
The raffle featured dozens of prizes donated from retail stores, restaurants and many local businesses. There was a free food buffet, and Newport Storm, Magic Hat and Moonshot offered beer specials, with a special microbrew bar set up.
“RI Rocks for Haiti” wristbands were be sold before, during and after the event.
Ms. Egan was born and raised in Newport, the daughter of Newport firefighter Lt. David Egan and Elaine Egan. She attended St. Philomena’s School in Portsmouth and graduated high school from St. Mary Academy-Bay View.
Speaking from her cell phone as she darted from one class to another on the Kingston campus Tuesday afternoon, Ms. Egan said she has been bothered by hearing people say the American public should not support Haiti because other nations did not support America following the Hurricane Katrina devastation in New Orleans.
“That just upsets me,” she said. “I want to show people that this is the right thing to do.”
Boy, these college kids claim to be so smart and in touch with the world, but sure don't show it. Hey college kid! Ever hear of the internet? Let me help you.....here's a story about how the money will be wasted.
http://www.economist.com/world/americas/displayStory.cfm?story_id=15350474
Here are some people RIGHT IN YOUR OWN STATE that could use some help and compassion. (Again on the internet)
http://www.projo.com/news/content/HOPE_CITY_03-29-09_HFDQG8Q_v29.341a631.html
Or is helping our own just not a noble enough cause for a 'world citizen'?
Ridiculous, self-centered crap.
Looks like someone hasn't been doing enough internet searching themselves. Why don't you search what is going on in Haiti right now -- so many homeless....CHILDREN, without mothers and fathers who are being recovered in rubble...helpless but...with Katie's help will never be hopeless. It's so awful to think there are people like you in the world that can change such a positive thing into something so negative.
If you're so concerned about the problems going on in our state....please, do me a favor and start a fundraiser -- I will be more than happy to attend.
GREAT JOB KATIE!! You are such an amazing and caring person. I can't think of a more selfless act than what you have done.
"Since the things we do determine the character of life, no blessed person can become unhappy. For he will never do the things which are hateful and petty." - Aristotle
Another self-centered half-wit chiming in to show off it's brand of selfish stupid.
Obviously a follower of the hopey-changey dolt mantra.
sorry watchman have to disagree regardless of anything over 200,000 people dead and millions homeless regardless of the politics or ideologies charity is a noble calling and should be respected. they are the messangers of moral character and should be championed not derided.
Also it is after all the religios thing to do as many beliefs practice including my own.
Least ways thats how I see it.
Good job miss Egan every bit helps no matter what happens to the money either good or bad, Those who not see with healthy eyes hide from the reality of horror and tragedy. Damn I like that one.
Jack ;-}
Plug in the old hoverchair and go for a ride outside for fresh air,trust me you need it.
Criticizing people who are doing good for humanity and not causing harm to anyone is being selfish in my book
Cynics wouldn't recognize hope and altruism if it kicked them in the teeth. Wrap your closed mind around this folks - I happen to know this great bunch of folks who pulled off this event. Charity does start at home. They raise funds on a regular basis locally and nationally as well. These kids have been giving back since they were very young.
Watchman, would you like to grab coffee sometime and clear up any misconceptions you have about myself and my generation? My treat. I am sorry that you have such a misguided view of my character and the motivations behind this fundraiser. I am already extremely involved in local community fundraising, but I am willing to listen to any ideas you may have. You can find me on facebook in the white pages. All of my information is in the article.
I look forward to meeting with you!
Katie Egan
response to rydersofthestorm
Geeze you never got a free drink or what. You saying the same thing about the red cross, george cluny and all those hollywood types, you forgot to pick on the salvation army santa's also. Wow hope you never need charity, I bet you would be humble no matter who gave you a leg up.
Me thinks perhaps you asked for a date and got turned down, or tried to get in one of the bands and failed. LOL
Jack
Oh wait a minute you are picking on the red cross since thats where the money is going. Now thats low low low.
Jack
WM is just angry that Scott Brown is not interesting in overturning Roe vs/ Wade and that he believes in the Ma. Universal Health Care system.
Must be tough being a teabagger - you lose even when you win!
As to his lack of compassion, this is what should be expected from South Carolina (where he also lives)....Gov. Sanford there tried to turn down help for education and poor people in his state - while he was loving it up in Argentina!
Oh, thou hypocrites.
I'm afraid it is too late for WD and his ilk to become human. Their hate is too entrenched.
Huh?? Must suck to be so stupid....good luck with that! Obongo's approval ratings as reported by CNN, are now in the 30% range....seems like the idiots are back in the minority.
Watchman, why would you feel the need to be critical of this young lady. She is doing a good thing to help people who are hurting. Are you going to have coffee with the young lady like she asked? That would be a good chance for you to show her why she should not raise money for people in need. Must suck to be so heartless and to have no soul. Put your politics and and nasty feelings aside and realize that doing a good thing should be commended. It sounds like you are angry that this young lady is motivated to help and is active in her community like we want all of our kids to be.
It's that S. Carolina "leave the union, enslave the people and make money from them...don't allow them to vote, etc." mentality, FD.
WD is still mad at Haiti for fighting themselves out of slavery. He wanted to use them on his plantations to profit so he could buy a bigger mansion in RI...and then come up here with his "southern values". Well, it's good for people to see how disgusting these selfish teabaggers are. Money for HIM is all he wants. If this nice young lady would send him a few bucks, he might be quiet.
In short, why was the press release issued AFTER the party, instead of before?
THINK.
The best way to help Haiti is to send them blocks and cement. Make them work instead of waiting for their free handouts.
AKA_Watchman says:
In short, why was the press release issued AFTER the party, instead of before?
THINK.
I have done some thinking and I cant really seem to figure out why it would matter so much to you when a press release was issued. The young lady did a good thing and you can't seem to wrap your brain around that fact. She states that she has done good things for people here at home and abroad. Lighten up Watchman. This is what makes America the great country that it is.
Alrighty then. We'll break it down to a 2nd grade level so the special needs students here can catch up.
This 'event' was overtly nothing more than personal self-promotion. If Egan was purely interested in raising money for this cause, she would've issued a press release BEFORE the 'event' to get MORE people, to get MORE money. Instead, it was release AFTER as a 'LOOK AT ME' piece.
Egan, save your dollar 'treat' for the next American soldier that comes home missing a limb after defending you 'right' to be self absorbed.
fisherdog says, "This is what makes America the great country that it is."
Oh really? Throwing a party for her friends and calling it charity while falling behind in her studies to send money to a foreign country that historically hates America?
Perhaps both you and Egan should take a class on world history....or at least read a newspaper once in a while.
Wow Watchman you sure are a snippy guy. you must know the young lady very well to be so sure that she is falling behind on her studies. Today I have already read the Washington Post and the Drudge report and I am sure that I am as well educated as you or most anybody else on this site. Where you probably have me beat is in your overwhelming cynicism and negativity.
This young lady has done a good thing, raising money for a country rocked by natural disaster and poverty. She also claims to do work on a local level. Maybe some of the posters are right about you, maybe you really are a racist moron. Do you know for a fact that she sent out a press release herself. You claim she is looking for publicity what proof do you provide with that statement.
As to your claim that Haiti has always hated America, that seems strange since so many of the Haitian people risk life and limb to come to our great country of perhaps you are talking about the Haitian government and it super strong military posing a threat to us. Lighten up there grumpy its clowns like you that give this nation a bad name.
