A local teenager whose family holds close ties to a young victim of the Newtown shooting has organized a concert benefiting the WWDD (What Would Daniel Do) Foundation. This is the second consecutive year for the event, which will be held on Sunday, March 29, from 4-6 pm at The Acoustic in Bridgeport, CT.
Amber Schaper, a student dually enrolled at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, and Fairfield Regional Center for the Arts, organized the WWDD concert to honor the memory of her friend Daniel Barden, and raise funds for the non-profit organization named for him. She also recently co-wrote and recorded, “Counting on You,” a song for the Sandy Hook Foundation. “Everyday is another day passed since Sandy Hook,” she said, “and more and more people may forget. This is why, after a year, I am happy to do another concert in Daniel's name.”
In addition to Ms. Schaper, performers scheduled to appear are: Jared Bovine, 15-year-old piano prodigy; bluegrass musician G. Rockwell, and the award-winning band Jam Theory. “All the performers for the fundraiser are children,” Ms. Schaper noted. “Daniel was a child performer, a drummer, and the last time I saw him before the tragedy was on the stage at my Open Mic event.”
All proceeds from the concert will be donated to the WWDD Foundation, a non-profit organization that funds programs that build a sense of community and reduce social isolation. The Benefit Concert will also include a bake sale and raffle featuring goods and services from local Fairfield merchants. Ms. Schaper said that, “The majority of the lives taken on 12/14 were children, so it seems very appropriate to give other children the opportunity to help give back to those lost, and their families.”
Tickets for the WWDD Benefit Concert are (suggested donation) $15 for adults, and $10 for students and children under 13. The Acoustic is located at 2926 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport, 203-335-3655. Doors open at 3:30 pm for tickets, raffle viewing, and the bake sale. All proceeds will go to the WWDD. For more information, write to wwdd.concert@gmail.com.
About the WWDD Foundation
“Our mission is to inspire and empower every person to act with kindness in order to make a positive cultural change. Our goal is to help individuals build a sense of community and reduce social isolation. We believe by bringing awareness to these issues and providing opportunities for interaction and acceptance, cultural change will occur.” For more information, visit www.whatwoulddanieldo.com.