Local talent performs to support youth programs

Beth Bondy first dabbled in fund-raising when she organized a spaghetti dinner and silent auction to raise money for an older sister diagnosed with breast cancer.

At that charity event in November, Bondy arranged for some musicians and singers to perform while those in attendance feasted on pasta.

"I just thought, Why not put in music?'" Bondy, 33, said. "You may as well entertain people while they're eating."

When she and a co-worker from the Human Resources Development Council in Havre needed to raise money for two juvenile programs, Bondy recalled her older sister's fund-raiser.

Bondy and Shannon Martin, a youth employment specialist at HRDC, chose to focus on entertainment rather than a meal or auction. "People just loved the entertainment," Bondy said.

On Friday, the tandem from the HRDC will hold the Benefit Concert, featuring 10 musical acts at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church. Tickets for the event, which starts at 7 p.m., cost $5 for adults and $3 for children.

Proceeds will go toward HRDC's mentoring program and Juvenile Justices Youth and Opportunities program. Bondy, a mentoring coordinator at HRDC, and Martin run the respective programs.

Darla Cook, a music teacher at Havre Middle School, has also helped them organize the event.

Both juvenile programs started last July, and this is the first concert Bondy and Martin have ever coordinated to raise money. Last summer, they had a rummage sale to generate funds.

"This is all about getting the youth to be productive members of our community," said Bondy, who supervises 14 volunteer mentors in her program.

The church can hold about 600 people, and Bondy hopes to reach half that number.

To get local youth involved, Bondy invited the winners of a recent Havre Middle School talent show to perform their acts.

Havre resident Bobby Horn and his 12-year-old daughter, Rosa, will sing contemporary Christian music. Horn has sung the national anthem several times at Montana State University-Northern basketball games.

Brian Jackson, a disc jockey from KXEI, the Christian radio station in Havre, plans to play his guitar and sing.

Some local bands, including the Sax Cadillac Band, are also on the schedule.

"It will be fun," Bondy said. "If you've heard any of these people (perform), they are very, very good."

A local flute player, Geanie Kolis, will play with the accompaniment of two pianists, Kay Hammler and Mary Stevens.

One of the more charismatic acts, Bondy said, will be Russ Danreuther and his wife, Nona, who play in a band. The announcer for MSU-N basketball games, Russ Danreuther has already established himself as a crowd favorite.

"If you've seen him at the college, you'd know he's pretty entertaining," Bondy said. "He's the one who starts the wave and rides the scooters around. He gets the crowd going."

Tickets are available at the Havre Daily News, HRDC and at the door.