Last fall, Huntsville musician Jamie Clarke (of local band Myrle) turned a family tragedy into a positive. After his dad died from cancer on June 25, 2016, Clarke was “at a loss and for lack of a better expression, wanted to turn myself inside-out,” he wrote on the Myrle Facebook page. “I decided to take all if the negative energy I was feeling and try to do something good with it. And trust me, it was not out of strength or goodwill; it was out of necessity.”
That something good was the Rock & Roll Black Tie, held at the Algonquin Theatre on October 15. Clarke’s friends Mike Shaver, Brent Ellerson and Matthew Phillips jumped in to help, as did the other Myrle musicians and a host of local acts, businesses, sponsors and volunteers. The red-carpet entrance, stellar food and beverages, stellar acts, and rock n’ roll black tie attire created an exciting buzz that had the event’s more than 300 attendees talking for weeks afterward.
As a fundraiser, the Rock & Roll Black Tie was a vast departure from the events Hospice Huntsville usually benefits from – and that’s a great thing says Melissa Polischuk, Hospice Huntsville’s Public Relations & Fundraising Coordinator.
“It was a different type of event than what we normally have for Hospice which made it really special. It was so much fun,” she says. “We were extremely pleased with how well received the event was. The support that we received from all the musicians and the organizers and the community was amazing. So many people in the community for a few months after mentioned what a great evening it was.”
It’s exactly what Clarke and his fellow organizers had hoped for.
“After my father passed away and I decided to do this, inside of three months a couple buddies jumped on board and we threw it together, shooting from the hip, in the busiest season of the year for all of us,” says Clarke. “It was nothing short of a miracle that it did as well as it did. As soon as you say Hospice, everyone wants to help.”
The event raised a total of $19,628 for Hospice Huntsville from ticket sales, food and drink sales and the silent auction.
“Hospice does very important work and they deal with serious issues,” adds Ellerson. “Because it’s a fun event wanted to have a fun approach so younger people would come out and have a fun night for a good cause.”
The second annual Rock & Roll Black Tie will be even better, says Ellerson. “We’re going to have more of a feature in front of the theatre and have an even more fun, energetic scene on the red carpet this year.” They are busy lining up a slate of entertainers – to be announced in the next few months – and more great food and drink options.
I need to thank all of our generous folks who donated to the auction and all the wonderful people, old and young, who bid as well as bought tickets, supported our event and made it so successful in helping us raise a grand total of $19,628 for Hospice Huntsville. I sit here, staring at my computer screen through tear-filled eyes thinking about my father and how even after death he continues to inspire me and make me a better man. We are going to do it all over again on October 14, 2017. I’ll see you then if not before.
Jamie Clarke on the Myrle Facebook page
Save the date and watch for details on ticket sales for the event. “We would love to have support from people coming out to enjoy the evening and we also have a pretty nice silent auction if anyone would like to contribute to it,” says Polischuk, noting that Hospice must raise 50 per cent of its operating budget ($534,000) every year.
In the meantime, if you want to support Hospice Huntsville further, you can:
- Drop your spare change in the purple boots at community businesses starting in mid-March until the end of April
- Get a purple painted pedicure at area salons, who are donating a portion of manicure and pedicure proceeds to Hospice
- Attend the Purple Tea Party fundraiser on April 8 at Huntsville Place Mall
- Take a hike at the Hike for Hospice on May 7
- Take the plunge at Swim for Hospice on August 27
- Join the 500 Club, a group of generous people who have committed to making an annual $500 contribution to Hospice
- Make an In Memoriam donation
You’ll find details on these Hospice Huntsville fundraising events and ways to give at hospicehuntsville.com.
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This was truly a privilege to be a part of, Jamie!!! Hands down the best and most entertaining fundraiser I’ve ever been to or a part of.
Looking forward to this year’s event!
Jamie, your Dad would be very proud of you for your caring heart and motivation to do something remarkable in his memory. Such a worthy cause to support our Hospice.