MU Battle of the Bands benefits non-profit organization

On Saturday, March 21st in the Student Memorial Center, 10 local bands battled to be voted the best by three judges and the audience members.

All of the proceeds from the battle of the bands went to the Children Deserve a Chance Foundation. This organization is devoted to helping underprivileged youth in Lancaster by providing moral support and helping to build character.

Each of the bands played about three songs, most of which were originals with a few cover songs thrown in the mix.

Cinder Hill placed first and won a gift bag with music supplies and gift cards. Native Maze and Bailey Park placed second and third respectively; their prize was the return of their $20 entry fee. However, both of the bands immediately decided to donate the money to the Children Deserve a Chance Foundation.

The Little Ivory Blues Band, Ivan Swangren, and Ramble all received honorary mention.

The Battle of the Bands was orchestrated by the Millersville University chapter of the foundation as a way to raise money for the Power in Numbers campaign. A total of over $1,300 was raised from the event.

“I thought it was great,” said Cristen Curran, a junior and president of the Children Deserve a Chance chapter at MU. “The most important part about it was that we had really good support from the people who came.”

The Power in Numbers campaign has been started by the Children Deserve a Chance Foundation to raise $500,000 for a developmental center in Lancaster. There are 50 small fundraising teams and each team is to raise $10,000.

So far, the foundation has raised $71,000 for the center. Hopes for the center include academic tutoring, art and computer classes, life skills coaching and athletic and wellness programs, according the foundation’s website.

As an organization devoted to helping the city youth, the foundation wants the children that they interact with gain a sense of self-worth, accountability and pride in their community.

The Children Deserve a Chance Foundation was founded by Jordan Steffy after he read an article in the paper about a boy at his high school who needed brain surgery. Steffy and his family decided they needed to help him and raised enough money so that the boy could get the surgery. A few months later, the boy showed up at Steffy’s door a changed person.

In 2004, Steffy decided that he needed to help people on a larger scale. By 2007, the Children Deserve a Chance Foundation officially became the non-profit organization it is today.

Family to Steffy, Curran also became involved with the organization with their family members. She started up the chapter at MU this semester, which now has 20 members.

Steffy was present at the Battle of the Bands.

“I think they did an unbelievable job,” said Steffy. “A lot of credit goes to Cristen and her team for pulling something off like that.”
According to Curran, the MU chapter is focused on helping out with the Power in Numbers campaign for this year; more goals for the chapter will come.

The coming developmental center is one of four beneficiaries. The foundation contributes to the Epilepsy Foundation, motivational speakers for schools in Lancaster and three scholarships a year.
Overall, the Battle of the Bands was a successful venture for the foundation’s MU chapter. Junior Sarah Billings, vice president of the MU chapter, said that the Battle of the Bands “turned out to be a great event.”  Billings became involved with the foundation before it was established at MU.

“I feel like we have a responsibility in the community,” said Billings.
If you are interested in helping with the Children Deserve a Chance Foundation, the MU chapter has been meeting in the Student Memorial Center at 9 p.m. every other Wednesday. To find out more information on the foundation or to contact the organization, visit www.childrendeserveachance.com.

“We just want to raise awareness for what we’re trying to do and how important it is,” said Curran. “Our biggest goal of the campaign besides raising money is raising awareness.”