By Lisa Morgan
With this local community-involved musical benefit going on its 7th year, founders Josh and Linda Heinz have been a force of nature in raising the Coachella Valley’s awareness and understanding of Autism as well as raising funding for families living with the disability. The statistics were staggering the first year they launched the benefit concert, and the numbers continue to climb. This complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life, affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. The Centers for Disease Control now estimates that Autism now occurs in 1 out of every 68 children. The statistic is even steeper for boys: a gasp-worthy 1 in 42. The Heinz family has been living with autism for more than a decade, both with children on the autism spectrum from previous marriages. This year has brought Linda and Josh an incredible blessing in the birth of their healthy, vivacious and energetic, adorable, ever-smiling and engaging son Jack. But for the Heinz family, this joyous event does not come without a deep, brooding concern, lurking daily as they watch their son and little brother grow and develop. Will Jack be one of the 42?
Linda and Josh’s hands are, needless to say, very full with the latest addition to their incredible family, so they are asking for your help in making the 7th year of the Autism Benefit another huge success. They are in need of a street team to help them obtain sponsors for the raffle and silent auctions, hands on help before and during the event and, of course, sponsors who can donate items of value that will be the foundation of funds raised at the two day concert.
This year the proceeds will again benefit the Lumpy’s Foundation for Autism. This organization provides financial assistance to families with Autistic children to help them afford vital therapies and programs. Several of the musicians performing at the benefit concert have children and family members living with this developmental struggle. The concert will launch with amazing performances from music students whom Linda Heinz teaches, who are on the Autism Spectrum. They will be followed by some of our most popular local bands, many of whom have Autistic children and family members themselves. The benefit will take place on Friday, October 3rd and Saturday, October 4th at Schmidy’s Tavern, 72286 HWY 111, Palm Desert, CA. Performances begin at 7 pm both nights and conclude at 1 am. The concert is all ages until 10pm. The Pedestrians, Mighty Jack, Waxy, The Hellions, Machin’, You Know Who, Dali’s Llama, Michael Keeth, Giselle Woo and Heinz’s own band, Blasting Echo are among the lineup. Donations to this charity are tax deductible. The Lumpy’s Foundation for Autism charitable tax ID EIN #is 26-3350260.
If you want to be part of this worthy event either through hands on help or by becoming a sponsor, contact Josh Heinz of Blasting Echo at concertforautism@hotmail.com or call him at (760) 702-4110.
To hear music from some of the bands, please visit the following links:
www.reverbnation.com/blastingecho
www.reverbnation.com/waxymusic
www.reverbnation.com/thehellions
www.facebook.com/youknowwhomusic
www.facebook.com/michaelkeethmusicpage
www.reverbnation.com/johnnyelsewhere
www.facebook.com/GiselleWooandTheNightOwls
www.facebook.com/dalisllama
www.facebook.com/Mightyjackband
