The 9th annual Voices: Stars for Foster Kids benefit concert brought together folks to share the stories of foster youth and spread their message through an emotional benefit concert.
On Monday, September 18, folks from all over New York gathered at Town Hall in NYC for a good cause. It’s the 9th annual You Gotta Believe “Voices: Stars for Foster Kids” benefit concert and the red carpet is in full swing. Created and hosted by “Stars In The House’s” Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, the benefit concert featured special performances and appearances by Donna Murphy, Patina Miller, Adam Pascal, Sharon Catherine Brown, Javier Colon, Ta’Nika Gibson, Matt Gould, Norm Lewis, Griffin Matthews, Gracie McGraw, Krysta Rodriguez, Cody Saintgnue, NaTasa Yvette Williams, Bellamy Young, Andrea McArdle and Executive Director of You Gotta Believe Jennifer Pinder.
You Gotta Believe (YGB) was founded in 1995 and is a New York City-based national organization that focuses exclusively on finding permanent parents and families for older kids in foster care.
Since its inception in 2015, Voices: Stars for Foster Kids has raised over an impressive $3.39 million for YGB. In addition to the money raised via generous donations, the benefit concert raises awareness for YGB’s mission, and can act as a catalyst for families who are unsure about fostering or seeking to learn more.
The concert opened with an upbeat song performed by the entire cast and was filled with memorable moments. Various foster families were invited on stage to share their stories that shed light on the many different backgrounds that can be found within the foster care system and each family’s unique journey. Many members of the audience were brought to tears by the stories and love that was spread from the stage. Some of the notable moments from the night include:
- Actor & model Cody Saintgnue sharing his own story about being in foster care, being adopted, and what his family means to him. Following Cody’s story, the “Voice” winner Javier Colon sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – a song that held sentimental significance for Cody.
- Bellamy Young shares her personal story of being a foster child and after she shared her touching story with the crowd, the original “Annie,” Andrea McArdle surprised Bellamy on-stage and sang “Maybe” to her.
- Sharon Catherine Brown gave an emotional speech and ode to her son Elijah, and followed up with a performance where her strong voice echoed through the auditorium, and earned her a standing ovation.
- Griffin Matthews & Matt Gould sharing their family’s story of adopting their two children and Gould performs a song highlighting the experience
The evening was directed by Brenda Braxton with music direction by Seth Rudetsky. Other guests in attendance included: Jackie Hoffman, Our Lady Jay, Tom Cavanaugh, Juwan Crawley, Jackson Walker, and others.
YGB offers families perpetual support, including counseling and mental health services, to ensure permanency. Over the last 28 years, YGB has trained thousands of families to be foster families and have successfully helped 375 older youth be adopted into families trained by YGB. For more information on You Gotta Believe, VIP tickets, and sponsorship opportunities, visit their website at YouGottaBelieve.org.