Summit County Citizens Voice

Haitians carry coffins near the Haitian National Palace. An earthquake rocked Port au Prince on January 12. Photo Marco Dormino/ The United Nations, courtesy Flickr Creative Commons. Click on the image to see a Flickr gallery from Haiti posted by the United Nations Development Programme.

Local artists and musicians will gather at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge to raise money for building new homes on the quake-ravaged island nation

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Community activists are hoping to raise $50,000 to $60,000 for relief efforts in Haiti with a local all-star fundraiser tentatively set for April 24 at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge.

A small ad hoc group has been discussing plans for a fundraising event since early January. The idea for gathering all of Summit County’s talented musicians and artisans together for a cause was born before the Haiti earthquake. At first, the idea was to create an event that would help support local nonprofits facing challenges in the current economy.

More details on the event will be released at a Jan. 18 press conference at High Country Real Estate (60 Main Street, Frisco) at 3 p.m. The venue could be changed to Frisco’s town hall if the turnout warrants, said former Frisco mayor Bernie Zurbriggen.

“Our original plan was to distribute the funds raised to nonprofit organizations who assisted in making the event a success. But in light of the devastation on the island nation of Haiti and its impoverished population, we plan to direct all funds raised at this first event through the Summit Foundation to one of the local Rotary Clubs,” Zurbriggen explained.

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