Donate to Charity to Win Tickets to LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015; Auction Ends 1/8

A pair of tickets to the sold-out LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015 "Main Event" at the Paramount Theater, with headliners LaBAMBA'S BIG BAND featuring Southside Johnny and Gary U.S. Bonds kicks off the first of two Charitybuzz fundraising auctions benefiting the Light of Day Foundation, 15 years strong in its global battle against Parkinson's Disease and related illnesses.

Also on Light of Day's Charitybuzz auction block are 35 limited edition, autographed, classic Rock & Roll photographs from the '70s and '80s, donated by renowned photographer Mark Weiss (who shot Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet and Twisted Sister's Stay Hungry album covers). Photo sales are moving briskly at www.charitybuzz.com/lightofday. The auction ends Jan. 8, 2015.

Charitybuzz will kick off a second online auction Jan. 9, 2015 for two weeks only. This second auction will spotlight two very special LIGHT OF DAY movie posters signed by Bruce Springsteen, Joan Jett and Michael J. Fox. Springsteen wrote the powerful anthem "Light Of Day," performed in the 1987 movie of the same name by Joan Jett, who starred alongside Michael J. Fox. Fox has bravely battled Parkinson's since the early '90s, and on one legendary night in November 2003, at the fourth annual LOD show, he brought the house down when he joined Springsteen on stage at the Stone Pony for a rousing rendition of "Light of Day." Also featured in this auction is a signed photograph of 2015 Hall of Fame Inductee Joan Jett, shot by Weiss in 1981; along with photos of previous Light of Day performers including Springsteen, Richie "LaBamba" Rosenberg, Gary U.S. Bonds, Southside Johnny, Glen Burtnik, John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, Willie Nile, John Eddie, Garland Jeffreys, Jesse Malin, Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem and Joe Grushecky.

Proceeds from all auctions solely benefit the Light of Day Foundation.

With a goal of bringing in a record half million dollars for its 15th anniversary edition, LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST, raised a record $425,000 to combat Parkinson's disease last year alone, by far the most of any previous year. In honor of this 15th anniversary, the push is on to exceed a half million dollars, bringing the 15-year total above $3 million!

Mark Weiss is passionate about his photo campaign, FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME, which he started to benefit Lunch Break, the soup kitchen in Red Bank, NJ. When his photographs raised over $25,000 for Lunch Break after just two annual Charitybuzz auctions, Weiss realized another foundation close to his heart and hometown could benefit as well.

"I never imagined when I was 16 and sneaking my camera into concerts, that I could make a living out of it, much less help out those in need by donating the sales of these photos some three decades later," says Weiss. "My career as a photographer has been a dream come true, and it's time to give back."

His campaign is a selection of photographs from the first time Weiss shot the artists, going back to the '70s. He has pulled the photos from his extensive archives and reached out to the musicians to sign a few to help these amazing organizations. Some highlights of the collection include Aerosmith live at Madison Square Garden in 1976, signed by all five band members. Also up for grabs are three KISS photographs which actually changed Mark's life: In 1977, while still in high school, he was arrested for selling his photos outside the Garden for a buck a piece. After a night in jail, he headed over to Circus Magazine with his portfolio, and within six months he'd become a staff photographer.

Other classic photos up for auction are Ozzy Osbourne taking a bath at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1981; Debbie Harry of Blondie in 1978; Ted Nugent in 1978 and Johnny Winter from his 1991 album cover shoot Let Me In; plus 30 more, all signed by the actual artists.

"Whether helping the people in my hometown with life's basic necessities or helping find a cure for a deadly disease, we all do whatever we can," Weiss continues. "I am honored to stand alongside the generous and talented musicians I have worked with for decades to help make this year's LIGHT OF DAY a monumental success. We all remember the great memories of first times, but there also are memories of the first times we've heard disheartening news. I have been humbled and inspired by Bob Benjamin's story and by the powerful snowballing impact LOD has had for the last 15 years."

Benjamin, an artist manager and music industry veteran, has been living with Parkinson's since 1996, two years before he co-founded Light of Day with concert promoter Tony Pallagrosi and musician Joe D'Urso. Benjamin put together the first fundraiser show on his 40th birthday at the Downtown Cafe in Red Bank, NJ, and raised $2,000. From that small event, the LIGHT OF DAY Foundation was born in 2000. Benjamin named the Foundation after the Springsteen anthem with the fitting lyrics: Well I'm a little down under, but I'm feeling okay - I got a little lost along the way - I'm just around the corner to the light of day.

Light of Day Winterfest has gained international acclaim for surprise performances by Bruce Springsteen in 10 of the previous 14 years, including last year's event, and always at the Paramount since "The Main Event" was added to the festivities. LaBamba, an original member of Southside Johnny's Asbury Jukes and a late night TV fixture for the past 20 years anchoring the horn section in Conan O'Brien's house band, has assembled a 20-piece unit that will include a 13-piece horn section. LaBamba's Big Band will feature the horn players from Conan's Basic Cable Band, and nine other current and former members of the Jukes - among them Mark "The Love Man" Pender, Rick "G the G" Gazda and Stan Harrison - for a night LaBamba promises "is going to be legendary."

Bob Benjamin & Bruce Springsteen - Light of Day in 2012, Paramount Theater

Except for the Paramount show, tickets are on sale NOW for the Asbury Park portion of LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015, where the bulk of the action will occur, being held Jan. 11-19, 2015 at such fabled rock venues as the Stone Pony and the Wonder Bar, among others. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com), Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and all Ticketmaster outlets (including select Walmart stores). A wide variety of combination ticket packages - as well as single tickets to each show - will be available.

Tickets are on sale NOW for LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015 - NORTH JERSEY, and LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015 - SOUTH JERSEY. Light of Day WinterFest 2015 - South Jersey, starring Dramarama's John Easdale, Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan, Stone Baby, Ben Arnold, Soraia, and NYTROUS, hosted by radio legend Michael Tearson (Sirius XM), will be held Friday, Jan. 9, 2015 at Hebe Music Lounge at Big Shots Bar and Grill, 835 Route 130 South, Burlington, NJ. Tickets are $10 in advance; $14 day of show at Brown Paper tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/946073. More info at www.hebemusic.com. Light of Day WinterFest 2015 - North Jersey, a Songwriter's Circle starring Willie Nile (just added!), Garland Jeffreys, James Maddock, Steve Conte (New York Dolls guitarist), and Joe D'Urso, will be held Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015 at Outpost in the Burbs @ Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 67 Church St., Montclair, NJ. Tickets are $35 in advance; $40 at the door; $75 VIP at Outpost Ticketleap, www.outpost.ticketleap.com, and all other Outpost in the Burbs ticket outlets. More info at www.outpostintheburbs.org.

Tickets are on sale NOW for LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST NYC 2015, starring Suzanne Vega with Dramarama's John Easdale, John Eddie and His Dirty Ol' Band, Joe D'Urso and Stone Caravan, and more to be announced, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015 at the Cutting Room, 44 E. 32nd St., NYC. Tickets are $45 for General Admission Seats; $75 for Limited VIP Upfront Table Seats. Doors 6 p.m.; Show time 7 p.m. For info and tickets, call (212) 691-1900 or go to www.thecuttingroomnyc.com.

For more about Light of Day Foundation, go to www.lightofday.org.

For more about Mark Weiss, go to www.WEISSGUYgallery.com.

ABOUT THE LIGHT OF DAY FOUNDATION - The Light of Day Foundation, Inc., utilizes the power of music to raise money and awareness in its continuing battle to defeat Parkinson's disease and related illnesses such as PSP and ALS within our lifetime. The Foundation's mission is to fund research into possible cures, improved treatments and support for patients who suffer from those illnesses, their families and their caregivers to help improve their quality of life. Gifts to the Light of Day Foundation, Inc. are tax-deductible to the full extent of the Internal Revenue Code. The Light of Day Foundation, Inc. is designated by the IRS as a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization. The Light of Day Foundation, Inc.'s Federal ID # is 20-1560386. Light of Day - the concerts and the organization - grew from a birthday party and fund-raiser held in 1998 at the Downtown Cafe in Red Bank to celebrate the 40th birthday of artist manager and music industry veteran Bob Benjamin, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1996.