“We are so thankful to all of the artists, musicians, party-goers, donors, clients, sponsors, and volunteers for making Rave to the Grave a huge success raising over $28,000! The money raised for LEAF will directly benefit our friends and neighbors in need,” says Pam Browning, chair of the LEAF board of directors.
Rave to the Grave is a benefit for LEAF, whose mission is to offer a human services safety net to those in need in the Greater Lyons area. This year, partygoers had an opportunity to experience a visual tour of LEAF created by Peggy Dyer. Powerful photos hung on along the walls of the pavilion with messages such as “Love, Family, and Community – Beating cancer and caring for each other”.
The profit from Rave to the Grave will really help our friends and neighbors in need, such as Betsy, a Lyons elder featured in one of LEAF’s new videos. In the video, Betsy shares “Because of you I’ve been able to eat and I’ve met so many cool people. That’s really important to someone who is kind of homebound. I’ve never had this kind of kindness. I mean, it’s kindness every time you turn around”.
The music by Arthur Lee Land, gogoLab, and special guests was incredible! Along with a video DJ show by Needmore productions, wild costumes, lots of dancing, and great food and drink, this party was epic. Congratulations to Mary Capone for winning the costume contest as the Mona Lisa.
Local artist Kahlie Sue Pinello took the lead on artistic vision and decorations along with her team and wow did they deliver! She transformed the pavilion into an enchanted forest with custom made gravestones featuring sponsors, skulls, antlers, and more.
Planet Bluegrass donated the venue along with the proceeds from alcohol sales directly to LEAF. This event would not have been possible without their generosity. Thank you to Craig Ferguson and all of the planet staffers that helped! Rave to the Grave sponsors covered all of the hard costs of the event, allowing every dollar raised that night to go directly to LEAF’s programs. Thank you to title sponsor Laura Levy, premier sponsors Headquarters Cannabis Company, Bud Depot, Oskar Blues, and Pizza Bar 66. LEAF is also incredibly grateful for the 27 additional sponsors. The business community really stepped up to support LEAF!
LEAF serves over 100 people every week with programs including the Lyons Community Food Pantry, Basic Needs and Resource Matching, and Lyons Meals on Wheels. For more information, go to www.leaflyons.org.
P.S. Are you interested in helping those in need during the holiday season? LEAF is hosting our second annual Giving Tree program. You can pick up ornaments on the Giving Trees at the Stone Cup, the Barking Dog, or the Library from November 18th – December 3rd (or until all ornaments are gone – they go fast!). Also, if your children are in school at Lyons Elementary or Lyons Middle/Senior, be on the lookout for opportunities to give to the food and households goods drive coming up soon.