Mayor Tish Colombi is proud of borough residents’ generosity and willingness to help those in need.
More than $6,000 was raised for Hurricane Sandy victims from the Help and Hope concert recently held in the Haddonfield Memorial High School auditorium.
The donations from the concert supported New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie’s Hurricane Relief Fund.
The concert was held on Sunday, Nov.18.
“When you consider we put that together and presented it in 12 days, it’s quite remarkable,” said Colombi.
High school drama teacher and co-host Scott Glading was instrumental in the organization of the concert, she said, through his vast connections in the performing arts world.
“The entertainment was absolutely spectacular,” said Colombi of the roughly two-hour long concert.
According to a release, entertainment and speakers “included former Miss New Jersey, Jill Horner and Maud Laforest and HMHS graduate Benjamin Beirs of the classical guitar group Duo Transatlantique. Doug Knight and Franny Smith offered a medley of tunes on piano and banjo.”
In addition, a 2005 Haddonfield alumnus Stephanie Melzi performed, as well as members of ChildrenSong of New Jersey, among several others.
Colombi said that residents were willing “to step up and do what’s right to help our neighbors.”
In the past, the borough has given disaster relief donations to the American Red Cross, but since Gov. Christie was asking residents to give to a fund initiated to directly help New Jersey residents, Haddonfield decided to change gears, Colombi said.
Christie wrote a letter to thank the borough community, she said.
People were lined up asking one question: “What can I do to help?”
“That’s so refreshing,” said Colombi.
Donations are being accepted to the relief fund at www.sandynjrelieffund.org. Stay current with the fund by liking www.facebook.com/sandynjrelief or follow their Twitter at https://twitter.com/sandynjrelief.
