Band Together

ABOUT US

Band Together's mission is to raise funds and awareness for select nonprofits through events that showcase and support musical talent.

Band Together is the largest 100% charitable music event in NC and we’re run entirely by volunteer efforts. 100% of net proceeds from our events go directly to a carefully selected nonprofit each year. Every year, our organization puts on events featuring local bands and national/international headliners. Since our inception in 2001, Band Together has donated more than $1,460,000 to 13 charities.

“A small group of people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

–Margaret Mead

HOW IT ALL STARTED

On September 12th, 2001, five friends—Phil and Shellie Gruber, Danny Rosin, Tom Lyon and Skip Mangum—got together in an attempt to digest and possibly find a way to respond to the terrors that had taken place the previous day. None of us were firemen. And because we lived in Raleigh, NC, far from where the horrific tragedies occurred, we knew onsite assistance would not be an option. There were no existing, trusted charitable outlets that we could put our giving efforts into. Nonetheless, we had a deep sense that we could do—that we had to do—something to help.

Over the next several weeks, our small huddle of friends brought together a group of more than 40 young business leaders from across the Triangle to raise funds and awareness for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. We created an organization called Band Together for Our Heroes. In October 2001, through the collective efforts of a community of volunteers, we produced a four-band event that brought more than 1000 people together, raising over $60,000 for NYC and DC Family Relief efforts.

In the ensuing years, Band Together formed a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization run 100% by volunteers. Band Together has raised money and awareness for select charities, including Urban Ministries, Alliance Medical, StepUP Ministry, The Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood, SAFEchild, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle, Wake County Boys and Girls Clubs, Special Olympics North Carolina, Operation Smile, Music Maker Relief Foundation, Stop Hunger Now for Tsunami and Haiti Relief, and The Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina for local and Gulf Coast Katrina Relief.

Collectively, Band Together’s 23,000 event-goers, hundreds of volunteers and numerous sponsors donated more than $1,460,000 in NET proceeds to these charities.

HOW FAR WE’RE GOING

Next year – 2012– will mark the 11th anniversary since Band Together went from an extraordinary vision to a $1,460,000 reality. Music continues to be our gateway into giving back to the community, and we recognize the power it has to bring people together and affect positive change in the world.  

Band Together has selected Urban Ministries (http://www.urbanmin.org/), a nonprofit organization dedicated to proving affordable healthcare to the uninsured in Wake County, as our 2012 nonprofit partner. We have set a net fundraising goal of $600,000 for our spring concert. Please join us in making a diference!