Redwood High student produces fundraising concert for Tijuana orphanage
Concert also features dinner; reservation deadline today
Published: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 6:23 PM PDT
Jacob Skaggs has a heart for the children of Casa de la Esperanza orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. To help them, he is producing a Mexican dinner and concert on Sat., May 21, in Corte Madera.
The “Concert for Casa II: We are in this Together” begins at 6:30 p.m. at Hillside Church, 5461 Paradise Dr., Corte Madera. Tickets for the concert are $15.
Skaggs’ mother will prepare a Mexican dinner using her family’s authentic recipes. Tickets for the dinner and concert are $25 for students 18 and under, $30 for adults. To reserve a seat for dinner, e-mail concertforcasa@gmail.com no later than today, May 18. Dinner seating begins at 6 p.m., with music by teen bands from Redwood High School, the Marin Academy and Novato High School from 6:30 to 11 p.m. The bands are Handshake, the Cosmic Shenanigans, POOK, Stone Cold Culture, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, the Jack Straw Band and SoulTree.
Concert tickets may be purchased at the same e-mail address.
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The entire event is preceded by the Songwriter’s Circle at 5 p.m., featuring local Marin youths Andrew Hove, Lucy Krakow and Michael Weinstein performing their own material.
The Redwood High senior’s first fundraiser last year raised $6,500 for the orphanage. “This year I hope to raise $10,000,” said Jacob. “The money from the last concert was used to pay for the college tuition of two orphans, as well as to buy them laptops and provide school uniforms for all the children at the orphanage. The money we raise from this concert will be used to continue to fund these two college students’ educations, as well as begin a fund to make it possible for any Casa child to be able to attend college.”
Skaggs, who graduates in June as Redwood’s Salutatorian, has visited the orphanage five times with members from his church, Hillside Church of Marin. They travel to Tijuana twice a year to spend time with the children, make repairs at the facility, and bring supplies, clothing and gifts.
A 12-year member of Hillside Church, Skaggs has been awarded the Good Tidings Foundation Scholarship for his efforts with the 2010 concert and the IBM Watson scholarship. He will attend Northwestern University in the fall.
Building on the results of last year’s concert, Skaggs once more pulled together local musicians and student artists who donated paintings, drawings, and photographs to sell. Raffle prizes include two tickets to see singer Usher live in concert.
Casa de la Esperanza Orphanage (“House of Hope”) is located in Tijuana, Mexico, and cares for approximately 50 children. The orphanage provides a safe and loving home for these children, some of whom have been abused by their parents, or have parents who are drug addicts and cannot support their children.
Hillside Church has offered financial support to Casa for several years.