| On Feb. 22, the Warren Township High School Future Business Leaders of America held its fourth annual Concert for Life at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Gurnee.
This event started as a gesture of love and support for a fellow classmate stricken with cancer, and it has grown into a wonderful legacy of music and fellowship. It is a statement of what can be accomplished with one small idea and hard work. Sarah Milewski, Brian Schmidt and Jeremy Witt started this as an FBLA community service project in recognition of Kate Pedersen, a fellow officer and friend. Matt Wessel, a 1999 Warren Township graduate, is the featured performer. His own life has been touched by cancer, and his music displays the joy, hope and sadness of his experience. It is an uplifting concert that provides hope to those currently stricken with the illness, survivors of the illness and recognition to those who have passed on. What is really amazing is how one small idea has now raised more than $40,000 for the American Cancer Society. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the ticket sales, raffle prizes and food donations are donated to the organization. The people of Gurnee/Warren Township should be very proud of our youth. Current FBLA members solicit donations from the area businesses to give as raffle prizes. They sell tickets throughout the community, staff the food and raffle tables the day of the event and emcee the concert. It is a wonderful collaboration of the high school students with the community. In a two-hour event, they raised $15,800 this year. Many thanks to Matt Wessel and his fellow musicians; the St. Paul the Apostle choir; WTHS concert choir under the direction of Allen Myren; Dona Kardush, emcee and FBLA president; FBLA members and advisers; Gurnee/Warren Township businesses for their donations; Sue Walker, FBLA adviser and WTHS teacher, for her guidance and knowing her true "Purpose in Life"; the Warren Township Booster Club for the beverages; and St. Paul the Apostle for opening its doors and hearts to this great cause. A special thank-you is extended to the parents who so generously gave baked goods and Larry Pajakowski, Brian Buehlman, Carolyn Anderson, Kathy Humann, Patrice Wessel-Elacqua and Jim Elacqua. It is a wonderful feeling to sit back and hear Matt's inspirational music and look around and see the youth of our community so actively involved in such a great event. Come out next year and see our youth in action. It will warm your heart and uplift your spirit. |
| mattwesselmusic.com |
| letters (read what people are saying about my music) LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Uplifting Concert Warms The Heart by linda milewski | daily herald (gurnee, IL) | march 12, 2004 |