Valley Partnership’s inaugural Rock For A Cause benefit concert raised more than $8,000 to purchase outdoor musical instruments for 2014 Community Project recipient Arizona Foundation for the Handicapped (AFH).

Detail shot of instruments between acts.
Detail shot of instruments between acts.

The concert at the Monarch Theatre in Downtown Phoenix drew an estimated crowd of 300. More than 250 tickets were sold in advance. A total of 34 musicians performed, including Valley bands Soul Country, Heartlyn Rae, Ty Lusk, Ruca, The Nate Nathan Band and Honeygirl.

Inviting local musicians associated with Valley Partnership to perform in a benefit raising money to build a sensory experience at Perry Rehabilitation Center that includes a musical instrument garden seemed like a natural fit,” said Community Project Committee Co-Chair Dena Jones. “I am blown away by the support we received from our partners, the talented musicians and our generous sponsors.

The community project planning committee made our inaugural fundraiser for the 27th community project a huge success. I have already been approached to start planning the next one,” Jones said.

Crowd shot inside the Monarch Theatre in downtown Phoenix.
Crowd shot inside the Monarch Theatre in downtown Phoenix.

In addition to ticket sales, money also was raised at the concert through a “50-50” raffle and silent auction. Auction items included hotel stays, restaurant gift cards, courtside seats at a Suns game, and autographed sports memorabilia.

Valley Partnership, which represents the commercial, industrial and master-planned real estate development industry in Metro Phoenix, undertakes a community project each year. Rock For A Cause raised money to build a sensory garden that includes permanent, outdoor musical instruments and other therapeutically integrated elements as part of the project.

The goal of the 27th community project is to enhance the quality of life for those served at AFH which will include many therapeutic elements, a sensory garden, a built-in grill, seating for outside dining, the re-purposing of a sports court and a landscape screen. Community Project day is Nov. 8 at the Perry Rehabilitation Center, 3164 E. Windsor Ave., Phoenix.

The huge success of Rock For A Cause is due to the tremendous effort of Dena, her entire committee and the volunteer musicians,” said Richard Hubbard, President and CEO of Valley Partnership. “That success will only be surpassed by the great effort Valley Partnership will put into the 2014 Community Project at Arizona Foundation for the Handicapped. We are looking forward to it.”

AFH is a human services organization whose primary mission is to provide quality, individualized services to those with physical or intellectual challenges in the least restrictive environment.  It offers programs for adults with physical or intellectual challenges to assist them in achieving desired outcomes.

One of Valley Partnership’s cornerstones is community service. Each year, it selects a non-profit organization that can benefit from the skills, efforts and supplies provided by its partners to renovate and enhance facilities for children and those in need. Over the past 27 years, Valley Partnership has contributed more than $3.5 million to the community through these projects.