Article published Feb 5, 2005

Lake's band aid

By John Bartlett

john.bartlett@timesnews.com

Fund-raising concerts to help environment

Live Aid. Farm Aid. Great Lakes Aid? It could be coming soon to a city near you.

Plans for a Great Lakes Aid foundation and concert series to raise money for environmental projects throughout the region will be announced today at the first Erie Environmental Awards dinner, which will be at 6:15 p.m. at the Avalon Hotel, 16 W. 10th St.

"The time is right for an effort like this," said Terry Stewart, president of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, and a member of the Great Lakes Aid Steering Committee.

The entertainment and music industry is interested in supporting nonprofit activities and the environmental movement.

While it's too soon to say what bands will take part in the concerts, Stewart said some entertainers have already expressed an interest in it.

The effort will help local communities and environmental organizations throughout the Great Lakes region that need money to undertake restoration projects, such as the work in recent years along Cascade Creek, which empties into Presque Isle Bay.

However, Erie is not on tap to host any of the planned annual fund-raising concert extravaganzas.

The concerts are expected to take place on a rotating basis in Toronto, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, and Buffalo, N.Y. The first event is planned in 2006, said Tom Fuhrman, president of the Lake Erie Region Conservancy and a board member of Great Lakes United, a collection of environmental and community relations.

While out of the running for the annual showcase concert, other Great Lakes cities, such as Erie, could have small, localized events, he said.

Of greater significance to Erie is the fact that it will be home to the Great Lakes Aid nonprofit corporation/foundation, for it was here that the idea originated. It's unclear how many jobs would be created by this.

Fuhrman is chairing the Great Lakes Aid Steering Committee and is credited with originating the idea.

"We love this idea. It's a way to raise money that can be used locally to leverage more funds through matching federal and state grants. It will be a completely independent, renewable source of funds," Fuhrman said. "Our goal is to raise at least $2 million annually."

The concerts and ensuing publicity will also help raise awareness throughout the nation to Great Lakes issues, just as the annual Farm Aid concerts have for family farms, Fuhrman said.

The George Gund Foundation in Cleveland thought enough of the idea to provide $10,000 in seed money.

"We see this as an opportunity to take a little risk on a good idea," said Jon Jensen, a program director for the Gund Foundation. "The potential is enormous. It could be a terrific boon to the region."

Jensen said Fuhrman's enthusiasm, well-thought-out proposal and record of success with a variety of projects help sell the foundation.

"We often see projects like this happen because of one person who has a mission," he said "They are people who succeed because they don't know how to fail."

With today's announcement of the planned foundation and concert series, the steering committee will begin soliciting corporate and other sponsors to raise $100,000 to support development of the first concert. It will also begin the formal steps necessary for incorporation.

The steering committee has representatives from environmental and community organizations from both the United States and Canada throughout the Great Lakes region.

"We have a lot of work to do. There is a lot of competition for the dollars and the entertainment to be involved, but I think Tom (Fuhrman) has put a great plan together," Stewart said. "With the major markets around the Great Lakes, we think we can succeed and make a pretty special impact."

JOHN BARTLETT, can be reached at (814) 724-6979, 870-1723 or by e-mail.

Last changed: Feb 5, 2005