'Shine A Light' Fundraiser To Help Asbury Park Restaurants

ASBURY PARK – When help is needed, Light of Day’s musical family is always there to lend a hand — and a tune, organizers say.

That’s been the case countless times, and will be once again beginning at 11:15 a.m. Sunday as 19 Garden State music makers combine their talents for "Shine A Light," a streaming musical event in support of Asbury Park Dinner Table.

The non-profit organization is dedicated to helping Asbury Park’s dining industry — a key component of the town’s rebirth as a leisure and entertainment destination — which has been severely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The organization also is helping local residents who are experiencing food insecurity as the pandemic rages.

The concept behind APDT is that donations it receives are spent at local eateries to purchase meals for those in need.

Heading up the formidable talent roster is Johnny Rzeznik, lead singer of superstar rock act, The Goo Goo Dolls.

He’ll be joined by 18 other artists including longtime Bruce Springsteen collaborator Joe Grushecky and his band, The Houserockers, Jim Babjak of The Smithereens, Jersey Shore favorites The Weeklings and a host of singer-songwriters, among them Richard Barone of The Bongos, James Maddock, Ben Arnold and Danielia Cotton. Each artist will perform one song.

See below for the complete list of participants.

The event will formally kick off right before 11 a.m. as Tom Cunningham, host of the Jersey Shore Sunday morning radio institution Springsteen on Sunday on 107.1 “The Boss,” will “shine a light” on the presentation and direct his listeners to Light of Day’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxn20nnBJoPVkfyiqxjcLg) channel and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LOD2000).

You can also join the APDT Watch Party at https://www.facebook.com/APDinnerTable.

This event is being staged by the Asbury Park-based Light of Day Foundation (LOD), whose annual January-long concert series in support of Parkinson’s Disease research and treatment have been a Jersey staple for more than two decades.

“As winter approaches and the issue of food insecurity during this COVID crisis grows, The Light of Day Foundation will ‘shine its light’ in an effort to raise money and awareness to support its spiritual hometown and the great work of Asbury Park Dinner Table,” said Tony Pallagrosi, LOD’s executive director and co-founder.

“The Asbury Park Dinner Table is honored to have the Light of Day Foundation “shine a light” on us as we now face the Winter months, which normally are stark in Asbury Park, but now are at a crisis stage with the addition of the pandemic. We also thank and appreciate the artists donating their time and talent to this concert fundraiser in the Asbury Park community spirit that many of us know is something very special,” added Allison Kolarik, co-founder, Asbury Park Dinner Table.

‘SHINE A LIGHT’ PERFORMERS:

• Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls)
• Jim Babjak of The Smithereens
• Brian Dunne
• Lisa Bouchelle
• Matt & Eryn O’Ree
• Danielia Cotton
• Williams Honor
• Richard Barone (The Bongos)
• Peter Elkas
• Ben Arnold
• Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers
• John Easdale (Dramarama)
• Emily Grove
• James Maddock
• Scott Elk & Kyle Ward
• Bobby Mahoney
• Billy Hector
• The Weeklings
• Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local non-profits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know about a local organization that should be profiled, contact tom.davis@patch.com.