Holiday Express Raises $170,000 At Red Bank Benefit Concerts

RED BANK, NJ — The holidays are behind us, but the work of Holiday Express will begin for a whole new year after two successful benefit concerts in December.

The mission of Holiday Express - now in its 30th year - is to deliver "music, food, gifts, financial support and friendship to those with the greatest need for the gift of human kindness during the holiday season and throughout the year," its website says.

And the organization raised more than $170,000 at its annual benefit concerts at the Count Basie Center in Red Bank to do just that. The funds help brighten the holidays for nearly 30,000 children and adults struggling with mental health, physical disabilities, poverty, homelessness and other challenges.

The nonprofit organization reported that more than 1,700 people attended the festive concerts Dec. 19 and 20. The concerts were presented by Stillwell-Hansen, Inc., and Investors Bank, a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group. They were also supported by 16 community and corporate sponsors.

And the benefit concerts celebrated the charity’s 30th season of delivering “the gift of human kindness,” said founder Tim McLoone of Little Silver.

The restaurateur and musician established the concept of a music-sharing and gift-giving organization in 1993 to bring joy to the “isolated and often forgotten during the holidays,” the organization said.

In honor of its 30th anniversary, longtime supporter Carol Stillwell, president and CEO of Stillwell-Hansen, presented a surprise $30,000 donation at the Dec. 19 show to support the Holiday Express mission.

“We’re deeply grateful for the incredible support from Carol Stillwell, Stillwell-Hansen, Investors Bank and for all the sponsors and community supporters throughout the years,” McLoone said. “Their generosity has helped Holiday Express increase our impact here in New Jersey and in New York and Pennsylvania, making it possible for us to deliver over 1,500 shows since our start 30 years ago.”

And the shows at the Basie were a rollicking way to celebrate the holidays. Audiences at the Basie got to experience the shows Holiday Express brings to soup kitchens, homeless shelters, special needs programs and other locations during the holiday season.

Some of the highlights of the two-hour concerts featured:

• A mix of traditional, gospel and rock’n soul holiday music performed by Holiday Express’ volunteer professional musicians and singers, while the Grinch, and other costumed characters entertained the audience with playful antics.
• Performances by singers Julio Ramos and Annie Weir, who grew up watching Holiday Express perform at day programs that they participated in as children.
• An appearance by Dr. Elmo Shropshire, who traveled from California to sing his novelty Christmas song "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer." In 1983, it hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Christmas Songs chart and has since become a holiday standard.
• A visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus and the audience singing along to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" closed the show.

Eileen Higgins, executive director of Holiday Express, said event proceeds will support costs associated with the traveling shows, including transportation to over 100 stops in the tri-state region, lighting, sound equipment and costumes.

All gifts and meals shared with the organizations are donated and 2,500 volunteers give their time and talents at the seasonal shows and throughout the year. Additional fundraising events are scheduled in 2023, Higgins said.

To learn more about volunteering or supporting Holiday Express visit www.holidayexpress.org.