This year's Music for the Mind concert is being celebrated as a huge success.
The fundraising concert held for Family Service Kent and the KIDS Team Program in Chatham earlier this month raised another $15,000 to benefit them.
Music for the Mind Founder Elisha Banks told CK News Today it "couldn't have gone any better" and every one had a fun night.
"I couldn't have been happier. It was the perfect event. Everything came together beautifully. It was a fun night, the music, the bands, everything was perfect. The people showed up in droves. Of the 350 tickets sold, 328 people showed up," gushed Banks.
Banks said the $15,000-plus raised February 4, 2023 is the highest total the long running concert has raised so far and it surpassed all expectations. She noted more than $40,000 has been raised to date for the two groups. Half of the money is going to Family Services of Kent to help provide free counselling for those six years of age and older. The other half is to help the KIDS Team Program get local children and youth the much-needed counselling services and psychological assessments they need.
Banks said many who attended the show from Family Services Kent became emotional about the success of the event.
"They were there when we announced the total that we've raised for them to date and I can say they were beyond grateful and in fact many were brought to tears by the generosity of this community and the support that they're being shown," said Banks.
Banks hopes the fundraising concert continues to grow to a point where it can branch out and include more charities and organizations in need to the list of donations.
"My ultimate goal is to be able to spread the help where ever I can, where ever there's a need and do whatever I can to help other organizations who are maybe also in the same position as Family Service Kent," he said.
She said it's $40,000 and counting because an outdoor fundraising concert is being planned for June 24, 2023 at Sons of Kent in downtown Chatham. She said tickets will go on sale in May and urges the public to stay tuned for final details.
Banks said she is very passionate about about mental health and that's what drives her to continue doing good for her beloved community.
"It's always done out of a love for this community, a love and a passion for helping people who are struggling with their mental health. And I'm going to do my part to make accessing resources for people who are struggling easier and eliminating those financial barriers where I can," she said.
The event even managed to raise $500 for Jesse Verleye, a popular local musician who has a long road to recovery following a head-on crash on Queen's Line near Tilbury at the end of January.
