On Saturday, August 22, NewBo City Market and The Olympic South Side Theater will host NewBo Derecho Show, a fundraiser event to benefit the Catherine McAuley Center.
“Cedar Rapids has experienced an unprecedented amount of devastation,” said Steve Shriver, owner of the Olympic. “This will be the first of many fundraising events that we will see in our city so we are hoping to gain some momentum of support.”
The event will begin at 3 p.m. in the NewBo City Market Yard with live music and comedy taking the Bankers Trust Stage. Justin Goodchild and the Evan Stock Band, along with other musicians, will provide live music and improv comedy will perform in between sets. These acts will perform until 7 p.m. for free.
At 7 p.m. the party continues across the street at The Olympic South Side Theater with a ticketed concert, limited to 50 guests. You'll receive a table with your group, two drink tickets per ticket purchase, a snack, and time to mingle with the bands before and after the show. Tickets are $75 per person for the second half of the evening and can be purchased here.
More bands and performers will be announced soon!
Social distancing measures will be taken at both locations. Masks are strongly encouraged, especially in common areas while not seated.
“The NewBohemia District was one of the first areas to get power back and we are excited to share the strength of our neighborhood with surrounding communities in our city,” Shriver said. “This is a great opportunity for people to show their support of derecho victims while taking some time to enjoy themselves.”
All the proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit the Catherine McAuley Center as they try to rebuild after the derecho. Further donations can be made to @newbo-derecho on the Venmo app.
The Catherine McAuley Center offers one-on-one tutoring and small group learning opportunities to adult learners, and provides refugees and immigrants with employment-readiness education and job-seeking support, as well as assistance navigating community resources like transportation, healthcare, and housing. Additionally, women who have experienced trauma find individualized support, housing and basic needs assistance, and therapeutic and skill-building opportunities.
Donations to the Catherine McAuley Center help staff operate the shelter, fund future supply needs, and allow us to continue adapting to meet community needs.