Hope for Youth Benefit

This Friday, May 13th, is...well...it's Friday the 13th. Yes, yes, I think of a masked Jason Voorhees and Camp Crystal Lake too. Pop culture has infiltrated my soul. Before I get to the point of this post, I will take a moment to grace you with some interesting information about this presumably inauspicious day, brought to you by our friends at Wikipedia. The fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia, which in and of itself, is a pretty interesting word. Also, there is no written evidence regarding the negative superstitions associated with Friday the 13th prior to the 19th C. That wasn't that long ago. So, that being understood, we will carry on perceiving this as simply Friday, May 13th, when Mr. Beery's in Bethpage will be holding a benefit show for Hope for Youth from 8PM-2AM. The line-up will include my summer, All New Episode, Riot Punch, The Kid Henry, AfroDJMac (who creates quite the dance party), Glen and the Boys and Vision Through Sound.

According to the show's Facebook.com invitation, the goal of Friday's event is to "reunite families, by providing services from parenting skills, to financial help and much more."With administrative offices based in Amityville, Hope for Youth has been "serving the children and families of Long Island since 1969." It was then that Judge Elizabeth Bass Golding of the Nassau County Family Court created "a group home program for adolescent boys." Hfhy.org also states that "Judge Golding envisioned a community based alternative for Nassau County youth placed in residential treatment centers, but capable of living in the community with appropriate supports." Currently, Hope for Youth offers "7 residential facilities, over 50 foster homes and 130 staff" members. They sustain contractual relationships with agencies throughout both Nassau and Suffolk counties, and accept referrals from those such institutions listed on their website. In addition, Hope for Youth provides diagnostic and emergency services, a therapeutic group home program, foster care and outpatient/preventive services.
May 13th will not be the 1st time Mr. Beery's has hosted a fundraising program. The popular watering hole has a history of contributing to the greater good of the Long Island community. This past March, they were the organizers of the Benefit for the People of Japan, raising money to send to the nation after it was ravaged by both an earthquake and tsunami. Below are a few photographs taken that night. Many of the performers featured here are also on Friday night's bill.

my summer
All New Episode
Imaginary Weapons
Playing Dead
AfroDJMac
The Terence Marciano Band
So, Wikipedia has spoken; you've learned a little about Hope for Youth; have seen photos from a previous benefit show. In case you missed the key information mixed in with all of this, here it is again: Friday, May 13th, Mr. Beery's, Bethpage, 8PM-2AM. Hope to see you there.