On Sunday, December 5, 2010, acclaimed singer/songwriter Ryan Bingham and nonprofit organization StandUp For Kids are teaming up with local area musicians, artists, and vendors to present LA’s 1st Annual ‘STAND UP FOR KIDS’ Benefit concert. Taking place at the James Gray Art Gallery in Santa Monica's Bergamot Station from NOON-4:00PM, this inaugural one-day festival will bring together elements of 'music + art + food' in an effort to raise funds & spread awareness on the currently growing issue of youth homelessness in the US.
Anticipated to be the largest event of the year for the Los Angeles chapter of StandUp For Kids - a national nonprofit volunteer outreach organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk, homeless, and street kids – the afternoon will feature LIVE performances by bands The Americans, Timmy Curran, and headliners Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses. Additional highlights of this year’s benefit to include: PORTRAITS of homeless youth by celebrated documentary photographer Tom Stone; a LIVE STREET ART demonstration courtesy of Viva La Art!; SILENT AUCTIONS; an extraordinary collection of food & beverages from LA’s FINEST VENDORS, and much more. This year’s fundraising event will also serve as a rare opportunity for the local homeless youth themselves to showcase their own unique music/art talents alongside other established musicians and artists.
For recent Oscar®-winner Ryan Bingham, being able to contribute to this event was not only an honor, but also one of particular importance to him. Spending the past several years on the road traveling as a musician, Bingham has all too often witnessed firsthand the harsh reality of the homeless condition in the US – an issue that’s even had an impact on some of his songwriting material – making this opportunity to give back all the more meaningful.
“I've always had this soft spot in my heart for the homeless community, particularly any children that are trying to survive living on the streets,” says Bingham. “When you’re continually traveling around the country, you really begin to see the condition that the country is in and the condition that people are in. You’re constantly encountering people from all different walks of life at all hours of the day - so you’re not always looking at the glossy side of everything - but also seeing the less fortunate side of our cities and communities and towns. I feel a lot of people still often overlook that these days, but it’s an important issue that definitely deserves more attention – and I really admire the work StandUp For Kids is doing to make that happen.”
All proceeds from the event will go directly to benefit the Los Angeles chapter of Stand Up For Kids. Admission to the event will be $20.00 at the door – OR – a donation of a sleeping bag, which will be given to the local homeless youth population. Children under the age of 14 will be admitted free of charge.
The James Gray Art Gallery of Bergamot Station is located at 2525 Michigan Ave in Santa Monica, CA. Doors open at 12:00pm, with the first musical act taking the stage at 12:30pm.
ABOUT STAND UP FOR KIDS
StandUp For Kids is a national non-profit organization that helps homeless and street kids 21 and under. Volunteers across the nation find, stabilize, & assist homeless and street kids in their efforts to improve their lives. The LA Chapter of StandUp For Kids currently conducts outreach in both Venice and Hollywood, with volunteers physically seeking out local youth living on the street (seeing between 150 to 200 kids per week) in order to provide them with food, clothes and adult support. In the Los Angeles area alone, statistics show that there is an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 homeless youth in the area, and roughly 80% of them are unsheltered each night. The funds raised from the Dec. 5th event will be dedicated to support the opening of a new Outreach Center in Venice. www.standupforkids.org
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