$112K Raised For Hurricane Ian Recovery Efforts Through Sarasota Orchestra and Van Wezel Concert

Sarasota Orchestra and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall held a special concert on Friday evening to benefit Hurricane Ian recovery efforts. Through ticket purchases, additional onsite donations and online fundraising, $56,226.78 was raised for the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. With the dollar-for-dollar match from The Patterson Foundation, the total amount raised was more than $112,000.

"We are so grateful to the Sarasota Orchestra and Van Wezel for their heroic efforts in this incredible collaboration," shares Roxie Jerde, CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. "To witness our community united to support disaster recovery by filling the Van Wezel was so heartwarming and rewarding, especially knowing that miraculously the concert came together in less than a week."

The local community came out for an evening of music and charity. The concert program showcased a broad range of inspiring music, including Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, John Williams' Summon the Heroes - originally composed for the 1996 Olympics -and the theme from The Incredibles. Crafted by Conductor Christopher Confessore, a Sarasota native and Principal Pops conductor of the Alabama Symphony, the concert served as a salute to extraordinary first responders.

Those who are still wishing to donate can do so at https://www.cfsarasota.org/donors/support-our-community#donate