The Student Nurses Association will be raising money for the Medical Care Access Coalition by hosting “Playing for a Cause,” a benefit concert Friday, March 16 at Upfront & Co.
The SNA is a group that not only organizes charity events but acts as a resource for students interested in the field of nursing.
One of their annual events is a charity ball which benefits a different cause each year. The ball has raised money for the Marquette Children’s museum, the Woman’s Center and breast cancer.
Along with a few others, NMU senior nursing major, Kendall Burt is one of the event coordinators who have been planning “Playing for a Cause” since December.
“We always do the charity ball and this year we knew we wanted to do something more,” Burt said.
The concert will benefit the MCAC, a non-profit organization that assists people who do not have insurance or have low income in finding necessary medical care. Located at the Peninsula Health Center, the MCAC finds doctors to donate their time to help these patients.
Freshman nursing major, Alicia Crouse found support through the coalition when she was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma last March. Crouse has been a member of the SNA for the last year and has been helping plan for the concert.
“We have been posting flyers around campus trying to get the word out,” Crouse said.
Local bands, Stranded, Drone Wolves, Midnight Manuel and The Chanteymen have donated their time to perform at the event. The NMU Constructors have donated a set of Adirondack chairs that they constructed.
Member of the NMU Constructors, senior, Curtis Brown had a hand in building the donated chairs. The chairs were painted by a local artist and will be raffled off at the event.
Brown said Playing for a Cause is one of the first university events the club has been involved with.
“We do projects for anyone in need in Marquette,” Brown said. “We do a lot of renovations to help out the Marquette community.”
Several students are donating services such as yard-work, tutoring and babysitting for patrons to bid on.
According to Crouse the SNA has received a great deal of interest regarding the concert. Xi Sigma has offered to donate the hors d’oeuvres and the Upfront is helping by donating the venue for Friday’s event.
The NMU radio station, Radio X and Marquette’s station WMQT have run advertisements promoting the event. According to senior and Radio X DJ John Naracon, Radio X will be giving away tickets to the event on-air this week. WMQT also is giving away tickets on-air.
“We’re hoping for success,” Crouse said. “This event is something new so more than anything we’re just trying to spread the word about MCAC.”
The concert begins at 6 p.m. and goes until 2 a.m. Tickets are being sold at Snowbound Bookstore on Third Street, at NMU’s campus at the Bookstore and in the Nursing Technology Center located in room 1609, West Science.
Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for the general public if ticket is purchased in advance and $15 for general public at the door.
